The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-25
TO STOP NEEDLESS
SACRIFICE OF LIFE
Senator Owen Of Oklahoma Says
100000 Are Yearly Vic
Tins NeedIessly.
SEEKING TO ESTABLISH
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Is for Conservation of Re-
sources. but Holds COnserya-
ton Of Life More Important.

WASHINGTON. March 2i-That six
hundred thousand lives are sacrificed an
nually In this country on the altar of
Ignorance and neglect OF sanitary laws
vas asserted by Senator Owen of Okla
homa in speech In the senate today in
support Of his bill creating depart
ment OF health, with cabinet officer at
its head.
Mr. OWENS address was based on the
theory that the various health agencies
OF the government should be concentrat-
ed. lie declared with proper attention
10 the prevention Of contagion and to
protection against the use of polluted
water and impure and adulterated food.
human life could be greatly extended.
In addition TO the 600 600 cases OF fatal
illness annually, Mr.. owen asserted an
average OF 5000, 600 were constantly sick
in this country with preventable dis
eases.
Mr.. Owen said he had been informed
by an expert that 60 per cent OF the chill
dren OF one of the southern states were
afflicted with the hookworm
don't care who the expert is." re-
marked Mr. Money of Mississippi II don
believe word OF what he says"
Mr.. owen having asserted hookwor
could be cured by two doses OF thymol.
at cost OF % cents, Senator Hepburn
suggested there was one million dollars
now on tap for the eradication OF hook
worm.
Gallinger Sarcastic.
Mr., Gallinger thought that since there
| was SO much money dNull3 hle TO CItCk
| the mysterious hoolsworm there would br
| a corresponding increase in the disease.
Mr.. Owen charged that there had been
| suppression OF facts about the bubonc
| plague In San Francisco few years ago
and he asserted such a course would not
have heen pursued II the matter had been
| In charge OF health department instead
| OF q mere health bureau.
81 am afraid the senator is drawing on
his imagination for his facts" objected
| Mr.. Gallingcr
Il will give the senate the whole rec
ord" the Oklahoma senator retorted. ell
| the senate invites IT.
II do invite IT." Mr.. Gallager said,
You shall have all the facts within
two days" said MIR, Owen.
| In conclusion Mr.. owen spoke OF the
prevalence of malaria in oklahoma He
declared every school teacher should be
| armed with a pamphlet OF instruction
| against the ravagcs Of poisonous flies and
| mosquitoes.
Replying TO the Oklahoma senator. Mir.
Gallinger expressed the opinion that the
government should go slow IN establish
| ing a department. of health. He thought
The public health and marine hospital
service and health departments In tn
The contention that the period OF NE
could he materially heightened he re-
| gavded as n dream. pure and simple
Senator owen declared that, while he
was in favor OF the conservation OF the
natural resources OF tho nation. THE con-
scrvation OF the life of our people is of
far greater Importance. and the conser-
walton OF the vitality and efficiency OF
our people Is a problem OF the first mag
nltude, demanding Immediate intelligent
| attention"
OF looking out for the public health. as
! serting that the question was of such
great Importance that it could not be
handled efficiently except by a separate
those now enjoyed by any of the other
| departments of the government.
| 'sWe have had bureaus for one hun
dred years" he said They are seat
| tered in eight departments. They have
been disconnected and without co-ordi-
nation. They ever have been Jealous OF
perInS the work Of the other. They have
| been without n responsible head be-
cause OF this subdivision and because
the chief OF the most important OF these
bureaus the surgeon general OF the pub
| lie health and marine hospital service.
| cannot express an opinion or give infor
| nation until he has consulted the secTe-
| tary OF the treasury"
Need for an Expert.
The secretary of the treasury was Sc
mot because OF his knowledge of the
public health but because he was an
expert on finance" This government Of
hcer, he thought. should not direct gov
ernment activities In fighting disease. He
| declared that in the case OF certain re-
| ports on the bubonic plague on the Pa
cifc coast "the bureau dealing with pub
lie health was easily suppressed by. com
mercialism and It's supposed interests,
putting Ia jeopardy the national health.
| the national interests and the nattonal
| suppress the truth In violation OF sec
| ton OF the quarantine laws"
Under n subordinate bureau co-opera-
| tion In the fight against disease Is Inn
| practicable, he declared, The bureau has
not sufficient dignity or power In an
emergency. he continued. II has no ma
| N,1.z INl
tive. but must always stand subject to
the orders of q secretary too greatly in
Gluenced by mere apparent commercial
and fiscal interest.
The bill introduced by Senator owen
would coordinate into one working body
all OF the various health agencies OF
officeTs. except the secretary and his as
sistant and calls for no new appropria-
tion aside from the salaries of the sec
retaries, II win provide number OF
effciencies, said Senator owen, by pre-
4 Commercial nation. he said. should
value OF the saving OF all life and eff
cheney possible, which is worth
$4,000. 10000 per annum A humane ma
ton will not fail to act when II Is known
that we could save the lives OF 600.0 900
OF our people annually. prevent the sick
ness Of 100000 of people per annum.
who now suffer from preventable DIS
cases
The bill. he said, was In accordance
with the earnest repeated desires OF the
American Medical association. which, he
declared was probably the largest and
most honorable association OF physicians
and surgeons in the whole world -
senator owen quoted numerous sta
tistics in proof OF the arguments which
he advanced as TO the Importance OF
the work that the department would bc
called on to do. He expressed tho hope
that action would be taken on the mat
ter a the present session,
San Francisco Progressive.
SAN FRANCISCO. March 24.-Perma-
nent organization Of the Panama Pacific