The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-06
HEALTH BILL COMING
Congress May Be Asked to
Create a Bureau.
TAFT FAVORS THE PROJECT
American Health LeaEne Wants
Campaign Against Drug Habit and
cate People of Country Through
Constant Publicity.

New York. Feb. 12.-Cailing upon all
Americans to urge Congress to prevent
loss of life and health by creating a ma
tionaI bureau OF public health. the Amer
lean Health League has announced that
legislation would soon he introduced TO
this end al Washington on a nonpartisan
basis
Responding TO general demands for
such a scientific check to preventable
disease and death that is now known 10
cost the nation S1.5oO.OOo.Oo0 in life and
labor each year. officers Of this organize
ton 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 campaign and has been advo-
Gated by leaders OF every political faith
ever since.
Taft said to BE Favorable.
President Taft has just assured repre-
sentatves of the American Medical Asso-
citation and American Health League,
they declare, that he is heartily in favor
Of the plan. II the people Of every sec
ton of the land viii declare themselves
on this vital question in the next few
weeks. ii is asserted. Uncle Sam may
soon be brought TO give the same atten-
ton TO the physical welfare OF human
beings that he now does TO that of sheep.
cattle hens, and hogs.
Showing the immediate need Of Fed
eral health bureau to warn the people OF
this country Of the dangers that menace
their vitality in the common walks OF
life. the American Health League is call
ing attention to drugs as well as diseases
with which every American may come in
harmful contact through lack of knowl-
edge Of the principles OF personal hygiene.
Numerous farms of the drug habit are
becoming more prevalent everywhere in
the United states The dangers of CO.
came morphine and opium have been
prominently brought before the public by
the American Health League, and vigor-
Gus efforts are being made to control and
minimize their sale. In a recent address
at Washington, DR.. Harvey W. Wiley
called attention not only to these drugs,
but TO the general use of caffeine. which.
he asserts, is the most common habit
forming drug in this country, where over
100000 pounds OF coffee containing It
are consumed each year, according 10 re-
cent statistics, besides temperance drinks
in which caffeine Is sometimes found.
Disease Might BE Checked.
tuberculosis and other dread diseases
might be checked and avoided in America
through the educational activities OF the
proposed national bureau of health.
Fully 10000 Of the deaths due each year
TO the white plague In this country could
be prevented. the American Health
League declares, while systematic activi-
ties by the government might result in
lengthening the average life in this coun-
try as much as fifteen years. When Con-
sTess is brought to realize the benefit 10
human life that must follow the creation
OF a national health bureau this project
Of the people should be at once assured.
it is predicted.
NO political consideration should enter
INTO the action Of Congress on the health
bureau bill that We are urging. because
the whole people and every one of the
principal parties have already Endorsed
IT. said an officer OF the American
Health League to-day fractional feel
ms and party lines must be wiped out in
approaching so universally important a
humanitarian measure. we believe. II
every American who prizes human life
and health will join US in urging the
creation of this highly necessary bureau
to increase the nations vitality. the sue
cess of the movement win be assured"