Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-25
1OPR|)D HEALTH BOARD
MEETING OF STATE OFFICERS TO
URGE REORGANIZATION OR
REHABILITATION,
CONDITIONS 1hRUOUT IOWA
ARE NOT SATISFACTORY
Legislature 10 Be Asked to Take Action
At Once Looking to Better Conditions
Smiths Inheritance Tax Amend
mend Would Be Costly to conssi.
tuents.
Special to Tim es-R epublican.

NPNNtsA4 ~
Des Moines, Jan. 25.-The meeting
Of the health officers of the state to-
day and tomorrow may serve to call
the attention of the legislature sharply
TO the great necessity for some reor-
sanization or rehabilita ton of the
state board of health and putting more
life into the local boards. A pending
OH by Senator Brown looking to a
complete revolution in the organiza ton
Of the state board is receiving much
| attention. II Is admitted that health
conditions in the state are not very
good. Secretary Sumner in his report
in the hands of the printer states re-
gardinG the epidemic of infant5le par
alEsis last year:
The epidemic OF infantile paralysis
mas been the most serious sorrow
which has ever befallen any commons
wealth. and the state board Of health
has shown its efficiency in coping with
this sad but mysterious visitor which
mas caused such grief among the peo-
pie OF Iowa.
The epidemic Of typhoid has also at
tracted attention and it will come up
Tor co"sidera ton at the NEE ting here.
The health convention is very likely,
also, to recommend to the legislature
that some steps he taken to stop the
pollution OF Iowa streams.
An illustration of how easily some
new legislators fall into error with re-
gard to what is best for their constit-
uents was shown in the bill of Smt h
OF Shelby TO change the law in regard
TO collateral Inheritance taxes. He
would make it not apply to brothers
and sisters of the decedent and their
heirs and then give IS per cent of the
collections to the county. One entirely
familiar with the whole matter took
the trouble to figure out how it would
affect Shelby county. for instance 1t
was found that the Smith plan would
reduce the state income about S1S5,00O
year and to make this up, which
would be necessary. the state tax levy
would have 10 be increased about 3
mill. or the tax be raised in some 9TH
er way This would cause Shelby
county to pay an increase of direct
state taxes of about sl,s23. Now,
Shelby county paid last year s1,S52 in
collateral taxes. The Smith bill would
reduce this, by looping off part Of the
collateral line, to 1926. The Smith
bill would therefore cost the taxpayers
| OF Smiths county about 500. Most
! IT the senators prefer the Gillilland bill.
for enlarging the amount collected by
Inheritance taxes
| The senate committee on public
| health took up and considered the
Brown bill 20 reorSanize the state board
and make it over into body OF three
Inemb ers, as desired by the governor
| last session. DIR. B. L. Eiker. member
| OF the board. spoke upon the bill brief
| ly, but the committee broke up the
meeting in an amusing fashion. Dr.
, Eiker had taken notice that some mem
! bers of the committee were paying no
attention 20 what he said and he stated
! that he objected to talking TO memb ers
I who were asleep. Some Of them go.
! mad about it and wanted to call the
! speaker down, as they had right te
! go TO sleep when bill Of this kind is
! before them. A controversy arose over
the rights Of senator's in snooZing dur
I ing committee meetings and abrupt adj
! journrnent was taken. The president
| and secretary and other members OF
! the state board of health were present
| Robert G. Cousins has been invited to
deliver the address of tribute to the late
/ Senator J. p Dolliver before the join,
/ assembly of the Legislature at time
/ yet to be fixed. The joint committee
Of house and senate was unanimous In
| agreeing that if Mr.. Cousins could be
secured tn deliver this address It would
! be the appropriate thing. Word has
| been sent to him and he wifi be heard
! from soon
! The contest committee having charge
! of the Dent-NeweN contest from Ply
/ mouth county met yesterday afternoon
I to start work on that contest. Repre-
f; sentative Newell stated that he had an
attorney from home who could not be
present today and upon his request
| postponement was taken until mex.
; Tuesday The written argun ents have
| been submitted to the committee in
| the Lyon county contest case and a
committee report is expected soon. At
| torney James Parsons, when asked as
| to the trend of his argument. said:
/ MY dear sir, there never was dem
ocrat VINO run for office but that he
was entitled to the place.
SAVE EARMeoe DOMINATE