Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-29
LONGER HUMAN LIFE EXTEND CAR TRACKS
insurance Men Think Govern
ment Should Help Cause.
TO CONDUCT VAST INQUIRY
Declare It Will Be Greatest Under.
taking in ALI Medical
History.

That the leading life insurance com.
panies have Joined in a plan to investi.
gate causes of mortality In this country
based on their own stat Of 15.OOO.O COX
insured lives covering the last forty
years, was stated by Robert Lynn Cox OF
New York. general counsel Of the Asso.
citation of Life Insurance Presidents, in
advocating the principle of the Owen bill
at hearing before the Senate health
committee today.
There were so many to be heard that
the committee decided to continue the
hearing at o'clock tonight in the Sem
ate Office building.
Those heard TO-DAY were DR.. Joseph Y
Porter. president of the Conference OF
state and Provincial Boards of Health
IN session here: Lee Frankel, nober,
Lynn Cox, DR.. William H. WEIGH, T. c.
Wells. Hiram ]. Messenger and Prof
Fisher.
DIR. Porter was the first speaker
1T has long been the hope of medical
men generally that they snouid have a
representative in the cabinet OF the Pres
ident." he remarked. I'm advocating d
department OF public health however
| am not overlooking good work done b,
the present bureaus of health"
Asked for some definite suggestion as t.
the scope Of the work of the proposed de
partment. he replied that the bill of Sena
tor owen, which was the specinc suo1ec
OF the hearing. met his approval 1t /!
hoped, he said, to give the health prob
lem OF the nation the same importance
as that given similar problems.
1t was explained at this point that q
general outline for the presentation Of tn,
topic by ;frerent experts had Deen pre-
pared, and Chairman Martin gave instruc
tons that 1t be carried out.
There was nothing in the medical his
tory of the world that approached the
magnitude OF this inquiry. said Mr.. Cox
who cited the investigation. which Is sooI
to be begun, as an instance of the neces
sity for federal health department, te
the end that various health reforms
which the research Of the life insurance
companies will doubtless suggest nigh,
be put into effect all over the country
As Business Proposition.
In speaking in favor Of the bill in be-
half of the life insurance business Mr.
Cox said: II hope my appearance will
serve to emphasize the economic aspect
OF prolonging human life. II the senti-
mental side is permitted to dominate in
the consideration Of this question, as il
has heretofore. tears will again consti-
tute our main contribution to the finan-
cial problems presented by untimely and
unnecessary deaths.
I'VE confess to viewing this matter "
said Mr.. Cox, largely from its business
side, and ask Congress to do likewlse,
1t is because of the Importance of its
business aspect that we believe the gov
eminent can without question AFFORD tC
do all that this bill contemplates.
while / urge you to engage acttvei!
in the movement to prodong human life.
must not leave the impression Of its un
due importance to the particular bust
ness 1 represent. We can. and largely do
protect ourselves by medical examination:
which diSclOS cases Of fncipient disease
and bad hereditary tendencies.
Problem for Government.
I'VE reject such cases. and that may
save US financially. but it totally dis
regards the problem Of what should be
done for the unfortunates who are thus
rel, cted-those who need protection most
This is a problem Of government. We
may point it out, but the burden of solv-
ing it rests upon you.
1T is not, however, a question OF ask
ing the federal government to carry the
W hole load. 1t is rather the question o
whether 1t will cooper ate with forces al
ready at work-whether it will lend tbs
encouragement of governmental Leader
ship to a movement well under way and
containing vertiable army OF voluntee S
equipped for battle against all kinds o.
prev, ntable diseases which affiict man
kind"