Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-07-19
EPEcUlIAR SITUATION EXISTS IN
BOARDS OF HEALTH ANpMEp.
j icAL EXAMINERS.
y
RESIGNED,
BOARDS WITHOUT HEADS
Decker and Moerke Sever Connections
With State soards-Effort Made to
-pseker's Election Was Not Salts
factory to Board Members.
to rimes-Republican.

board Of health and state board of med
ical examiners met Tuesday the pecul-
Tar. situation was presented that both
boards were headless. Some time ago,
following the last meeting of both
boards. the Two presidents resigned
from the boards
DR.. Decker, of Davenport, resigned
from the boards and DR.. Fairchild, Of
Clinton. was appointed by the governor
to his place. DR.. Decker was president
Of the board of medical examiners.
DR.. Moerke. Of Burlington. resigned
from both boards and his resignation
was duly recorded He was president
of the board of health. The governor
has been thus far unable to find any
one to succeed him.
1t is understood that some effort was
made to have Dr. Moerke reconsider his
resignation, pull it back, and serve out
the remainder of the year 1t Is known.
however, that the doctor contemplates
leaving Iowa, and it is doubtful if, in
view of this fact, his retention on the
board would be legal. He resigned be-
cause the legislature cut down the
amount available for the use CT the
board.
There had been trouble on the board
prior to this time. When DR.. Decker
was elected president Of the examining
board, the place should have gone to
Dr. Eiker by reason of length Of SER
vice 1t has been customary to give
the presidency of the board of exam
iners to the member whose term ex-
pires in two years, then to make him
president Of the health board for his
last year. Ia the case OF DIT. Eiker
there was resentment because he had
declared his intention of fighting the
adm inistration program for the board.
and they desired to clip his wings. 1t
was largely owing to this dissenSion on
the board that the legislature cut down
the appropriation.
But now again Dr. Eiker is the log
ical man for head of the board Of medi-
cal examiners or the other board.
Secretary Sumner is not at all alarm
ed over the cholera situation in New
York, but will ask the board to take
whatever steps can be taken to guard
against infection. Two main sources
are evident-the coal mines and the
railroads. Both are making use OF large
numbers OF laborers from southern
European ports. In the mining camps
and in the railroad camps health and
sanitary conditions are 'very-bad. In
case of an exposed person slipping into
Iowa and taking up either with rail-
road work or mining, a hundred per-
sons might easily be infected before
any discovery was made of the fact
1t is probable both the railroad man
ayers and the mine operators will be
asked to cooperate with the board in
steps to watch very carefully all pos
sble avenues of infection.
The. problem of fixing the require
ments Of the state aided normal high
schools of the state is puzzling one
to the department Of education. State
Superintendent Deyoe, Professor Ma
hannah, Professor Joseph and others,
are at work trying to decide, among
other things, how much instruction
shall be required in domestic science
and agriculture, both of which are re-
quired by the law. The primary pur-
pose Of the state aid for high schools
giving normal work is to supply the
rural schools with better teachers. TIC
what extent will it be proflta Bile to di-
vert from the ordinary studies and in
clude agriculture and domestic science?
That is the question before the depart
ment.
Superintendent Deyoe and Professor
Mahannah intend, before the matter is
settled, to consult directly with many
patrons of the schools. and school Off
GERS. and may call conference of edu-
Gators and others directly interested.
and thus try to arrive at what is fair
and just in the matter.
Before any steps can be taken in the
direction of establishing the forty high
schools THAT are to try out the new sys-
TEN, it will be determined just what is
to be required of these schools in the
way of study not included in the ordi-
nary high school courses. The school
officers and educators have shown a
disposition to cooperate heartily with
the department in getting the move
ment started right but some Of the
thing ever before the school depart
ment.
The state pharmacy commission yes
terday submitted to Professor Chit
tick, of the state pure food laboratory,
of medicines secured from
in the open trade for analy-
sis. These consisted Of such Things DIS
spirits of camphor, tincture Of iodine.
witch hazel and the like. This is the
first step taken in the direction Of en-
forcing the laws of the state for pure
drugs. This law went into effect about
two years ago when it was made the
duty Of the pharmacy commission to
enforce its provisions and to prosecute
druggists for violation. 1t is stated
that the shelves of druggists all over
the state are filled with articles that
would not stand the test OF exalnina-
ton and that practically nothing has
ever been done to secure enforcement
of the pure drug law. Now a start is
to be made and samples of tinctures,
extracts and compounded medicines
will be secured by the commissioners
wherever they go, and these will be
analysed, and If found to be below
grade prosecutions will follow. 1t is the
beginning of rev era in the drug
trade Of the state.
Crop Outlook Near Belle pIains.
Special to Ttmes-Republican.
Belle PLANE, July 19.--Haying is well