Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-03-25
With Proper Sanitation Speaker Says
We Can Live Much Longer.
IGNORANCE CAUSES BIG SACRIFICE
Six Hundred Thousand Deaths Each
Year Unnecessary, He Says.
WANTS THE BUREAUS COMBINED
Measure Provides for "a Department
with Cabinet officer at Its Head
GaIIinEer Retorts that Figures
Are All Imagination.

WASHINGTON, March A.-That 5Oo0Oo
lives are sacrificed annually to the altar
OF this country's ignorance and neglect Of
sanitary health laws was asserted by sena-
tor owen in the course of a speech in the
senate today In support Of his bill creating
a department of health with a cabinet
officer at it's head
Mr.. owens address was based on the
theory that the various health agencies Of
the government should be consolidated.
He declared that with proper attention to
the prevention Of contagion and to the
protection of the people against the use
Of polluted water and impure and adulter-
ated food human life could be greatly ex-
tended ana with all the safeguards applied
the average life might be increased to the
extent OF twenty-seven years within the
century. tt
In addition to the 100000 cases of fatal
illness annually, Mr.. owen asserted that
an average of 100000 people were con-
stantly sick in this country with prevent
able diseases.
Hook Worm Plague.
Mr. owen said had been informed by
en- expert that 30 per cent Of the children
OF one Of the southern states were affected
with the hook worm
Il don't care who the expert is" re-
marked Mr.. Money of Mississippi, Il don't
believe word he says"
Mr.. owens said the hook worm could be
cured by two doses of thymol at cost
of 25 cents Senator Hepburn suggested
that there was 100000 NOW on tap" for
the eradication OF hook worms.
Mr.. Ganinger thought that since it had
become known that there was so much
money available for chasing the mysteri-
Gus hookworm there would be corre-
spending Increase in the disease.
Mr.. owen charged that there had been
suppression OF facts about the bubonic
plague in San Francisco a few years ago
and he asserted that such course would
not have been pursued If the matter had
been lin charge OF health department
and not of a mere health bureau.
$40. ,saYs Tf,s TrnaSanataen. q
ppm afraid the senator is drawing on his
imagination for his facts, objected Mr..
Gallinger.
II will give the senate the whole record, ="
the Oklahoma senator retorted. "ir the
senator invites It."
II do invite IT," Mr.. Gallinger said.
''You shall have all the facts within two
days" said Mr.. owen.
In conclusion Mr.. owen spoke OF 4e
prevalence of malaria in Oklahoma. He
declared that every school teacher should
be armed with a pamphlet instructing
against the ravages Of poisonous flies and
mosquitoes
Replying to the Oklahoma senator, Mr..
Ganinger expressed the opinion that the
government should go slow in establishing
a department Of health. He thought the
public health, marine service hospital and
the health departments Of the different
states were doing reasonably well. AS rol
the contention that the period of life could
be materially heightened he regarded It
"a dream, pure and simple"
Natural Resources VS.. Life.
Senator owen declared that while he was
in favor of the conservation of natural
resources Of the nation, "the conservation
OF the life of our people is Of far greater
Importance, and the conservation OF the
vitality Of our people is a problem Of the
first magnitude, demanding immediate In
WAigent attention"
Vac spoke against the bureau system of
looRing out for the public health, assert
ing that the question was of such great
Importance that It could not be handled
efficiently except by separate depart
nent with powers as great as those now
enjoyed by a.. OF the other departments OF
the governmel.
we have bureaus for 100 years,
he said. "Il are scattered in eight de-
partments - have been disconnected
and without coordination. They ever have
been Jealous OF each other the one nullify-
ing and hampering the work Of the other.
They have been without a responsible
head because of this subdivision and be-
cause the chief OF the public health and
marine hospital service cannot express an
opinion or give information until he has
consulted the secretary OF the treasury"
The secretary Of the treasury was selected
as cabinet officer, he added, mot be-
cause OF his knowledge of the public health,
but because he was an expert on finance. -
this government officer. he thought. should
uO. direct government activities In fight
- disease. He declared that IN the case
tam reports on the bubonic plague
.D Facific coast the bureau dealing
sU0iic health was easily suppressed
..nercalism and its supposed inter
esls, putting in jeopardy the national
hs4lth the national interests ana the ma
tioual wealtn and was required to with
h6ld and suppress the truth in violation OF
I-etion OF the quarantine laws"
Combat against Disease.
Under a subordinate bureau cooperation
In the fight against disease is impraeue
able, he declared. The bureau has moi
sufficient dignity or power in an emerg
enoy he continued. 1t has no nationa
standing, IL cannot take the initiative, bu
must always stand subject to the Orderi
OF a secretary TOO greatly influenced bl
mere apparent commercial and fiscal in
terest
The bill introduced by Senator over
would coordinate into one working bod!
all " the various health agencies OF tn,
g0Y mment. IL proposes no new officers
sxcN the secretary and his assistant, an,
calls for no new Appropriation aside from
she salaries OF the secretaries IL will pro
vide number OF effieleneies, said ssaato
Owen by preventing duplication.
A commercial nation, he said, 'shouC