Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-10
HEALTH BILL COMING.
Congress Asked TO- Guard Peoples
Lives-Americans Warned.

New York. Feb. 9-Calling upon all
Americans to urge Congress to pre-
vent loss of life and health by Great
ing national Bureau of Public
Health, leaders OF the American Health
League announced in this city today,
after meeting of their executive
committee, that legislation would soon
be introduced to this end at WASH
ington on a non-partlsan basis. Re-
spending to general demands for such
q scientific check to the preventable
disease and death that is now known
to cost the nation $f,500,000,000 in life
and labor each year, officers of this
organization are making every effort
to have law speedily made of their
recommendation, that was contained
in the platform of the three leading
parties in the last presidential cam
paign and has been advocated by
leaders of every political faith ever
since. President Taft has just assured
representatives of the American Med
zeal Association ana American Health
League. they declare, that he is heart
lily in favor OF this plan. If the people
of every section OF the land will de-
clare themselves on thi., vital question
in the next few weeks. it is asserted.
Uncle Sam may soon be brought to
give the same attention to the physi-
cal welfare of human. beings that he
now does to that of sheen, cattle, hens
and hogs.
Showing the immediate need of a
| federal health bureau to warn the
people of this country of the dangers
that menace their vitality in the most
| common walks of every lay life, the
American Health League is calling at
tentlon to drugs as we'll as diseases
| with which every American may come
IN harmful contact through lack Of
hIoWleuge or the principles of per-
Sonal hygiene. Numerous forms OF
druS habits are becoming more prcVa-
lent everywhere in the United States
than most people realize. it's officers
assert. The dangers of cocaine, NOR
phine and opium have been promi-
| nently brought before the public by
| the American Health League and Wig
| orous efforts are being made to con-
troll and minimize their sale. In re-
cent address at Washington Dr. Har-
Vey w. Wiley has called attention not
| N''-'N
| general use of caffeine, which he as
SertS is the most common habit form
| ing drug in this country, where over
! 500, 000,0o0 pounds of coffee containing
| it are consumed each year. according
| to recent statistics. besides temper
ance drinks in WHICH caffeine is some
| timeS found.
| tuberculosis and manNo other dread
| diseases might be checked and avoid
| ed in America through the education
al activities Of the proposed rational
bureau of health, i. is pointed out.
Fully 100000 of the deaths due each
ye:r to the Great White Plague in
this country could De prevented, the
American Health League declares,
while systematic activities by the gov
eminent might result in lengthening
the average life IN this country as
much as Is years. When Congress is
brought to realize the benefit to hr-
man life that must follow the creation
of national health bureau. this pro-
lect of the people should be at once
assured, it is :.rrdicted
NO political consideration should
enter into the action Of Congress on
The health bureau dill that we are
urging, because the whole people and
every ore of the principal parties have
already endorsed it," said an officer of
the American Health League today
Fractional feeling and party lines
must be wiped out in approaching So
universally important a humanitarian
measure, we believe If every Ameri-
can who prizes human life and health
will iOin in llppjno Of
this highly necessary bureau to in
crease the nations vitality, the success
of the movement will be assured"