The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-29
HEALTH BILLS
ARE At TACkED
Opposition Aroused to Estab-
lishment of New Department
by Government.
AFFECTS TO SEE MENACE
IN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
Reputable Physicians Ridicule
Assertion That Plan Is
Subtle Scheme"

Tho proposed legislation in congress
looking to the creation of department
OF public health has aroused much op'
position. The opposition sees IN the
proposed legislation a "big graft on
the part of the DOCTORS, and the fur
ther cinching of the power of the med
ical trust" Christian Scientists, the
New Thought school, osteopaths, anti
vivisectionists and other healers out
side the so-called "regular' school see
in the move a scheme to put them out
OF business forever,
The doctors, on the other hand, de-
clare that the department IS crying
necessity They assert that this coun'
try is away and far behind the nations
of Europe; that. while the government
spends millions in the protection OF Its
live stock, not -practIcally-ls
spent for the conservation of the health
of human beings. They assert that 6OO.-
600 preventable deaths occur every
year They hold that the government
only can effectively tackle the tuber-
culosis question and other grave prob
lens affecting the health of the public.
They say that there is no system for
the collection of data and statistics and
.hat when these data are wanted they
have to go 10 the European books and
records. There is no money for re-
search, they say, except that which
comes from donations, such as gifts
from Rockefeller, Carnegie and per
sons who have a kindred feeling for suf-
fering humanity and the money to give
for the purpose.
Movement Is Endorsed.
The doctors say there is no thought
in the minds of medical men OF gaining
power for their profession, and that
the talk CT Crust and graft is all
nonsense There would be no more
graft in department of public health
than there is in the department of war
OF the agricultural department, they
maintain.
The movement has the Endorsement
of all of the medical societies OF the
country. it is said. and this Endorsement
comes from sincere desire TO bring
ABOUT II DeGleT CoDlltlOO WIN respect
to the health of the nation, and is not
prompted by selfish motlves-not for
minute,
The chief bill with the aim in view Of
ests sblishipg a department of public
health is the Owen bill introduced in the
senate. 1t provides for the creation of
a full-fedged department, with a sec
retary TO be named by the president
and to be member of the president s
l., ~ T1a, nh 1ofd adj
cal, surgical, biological or sanitary serv-
ice by various branches and bureaus
at present is to be turned over to the
new department, and the secretary Is
to establish a "bureau OF biology, a
bureau of chemistry, bureau Of vet
erinary service, a bureau of sanitary
engineering Moreover, the depart
ment is to "gather data concerning
such matters, impose and enforce
quarantine regulations; establish chem
zeal, biological and other standards nee
essary TO the efficient administration OF
said department, and give publicity TO
the same
For and Against.
On Thursday, May 10, a hearing was
had by the committee IN charge of this
bill. 1t is reported that the support
ers OF the measure were heard in the
morning and the antagonists In the af-
tciuooH, sNo WiutiG dI NdiiduCe HSie
the views presented. according to re.
port, that the committee is said to have
concluded that the question was too
big to settle at the present session of
congress and that it was permitted
TO go over.
In the house bill was introduced by
Mr. Mann. which provides that the
'public health and marine hospital
service' shall hereafter be known as
the public health service, and
that it shall be in effect, a
bureau of the department OF
the treasury. The 1lll provides .het
the service shall gather practical infor-
nation concerning the prevention OF
suppression of tuberculosis, typhoid fe-
yer. rabies, leprosy and "other diseases
pertaining to man. One or the pro
visions is for The establishment of A
school of hygiene, for which the facili
ties Of hygieuic laboratory shall be
available. Admissions to this school
shall be decided by the surgeon-gen
eral in charge of the bureau. A hear
ing on this bill has been set for June 2
Another bill has been introduced by