Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-23

In the main auditorium OF Continental
Hall this morning. before an audience
that filled the hall to its capacity. Presi-
dent William Howard Taft welcomed TO
Washington and to America the dele
gates to the fifteenth International Con-
gress on Hygiene and Demography. Al
though the first of these International
congresses was held more than half a
century ago, the one that opened i'm this
city today is the first that has ever been
held outside Of Europe, and the occasion
was notable for this reason, IL for no
other.
The opening Of the congress was de-
layed by the lateness Of the train by
which President Taft Travelled from Bev-
erly. The Presidents train was more
than an hour late in reaching the city.
On the platform were many of the for
eign diplomats resident In Washington.
including the japanese ambassador. the
Chinese minister and the ministers OF
practically all OF the Central and South
American republics. brilliant showing
Of gold lace was made by the military
and naval delegates Of several foreign
nations. these including officers Of the
French, Austrian. German. English, Rus
sian and Italian armies or navies. who
appeared at the opening session in full
dress uniform.
The delegates present represented prac-
tically every civilized nation OF the world.
a total OF thirty-three countries having
sent representatives. to this. the largest
and in many ways the most important
gathering Of the congress ever held.
The meetings Of the nine sections and
three subsections into which the con-
gress has been divided will begin at
o'clock this afternoon.
The address of welcome by President
Taft was responded to by DR.. Henry L.
Walcott of Massachusetts. president OF
the congress, and by DR.. TOraibaS. Cuba.
Surgeon General Bornemann, Denmark:
Mr.. Francisco " Peynado. Dominican
Republic; NJ. Emile Kern, France; Prof.
DR. Rubner, president Of international
hygiene commission, Germany; DIR. Thorn
as Thompson, Great Britain; Mr.. Caftau-
dez, Guatemaia: Prof. Dr. Pagliani. Italy:
Mr.. SeiRi Tsukamoto, Japan: DIR. Liceaga.
Mexico: DR.. NJ. w. PynappeI, Neither
lands: Prof. DR.. AxH Hoist, Nor
way; Don Ricardo Arios, Panama;
g. Woolley. Siam: DR.. Llorente, Spain:
Carlos NJ. de Pena. Uruguay: DIR. David
Lobo. venezuela: DR.. Romuio s. Naon.
Argentine minister. Argentina: Prof: DR..
gary: DR.. l.. Meis. Belgium; Prof. DIR.
Nestor Morales Villazon. Bolivia: DIR.
A. da Graca Conto. Brazil; DR.. Frederick
MontiEambert, Canada; Surg con General
And4asoia, Chile, and Don Roberto Brenez
Nesen, Costa Rtca.
Address Of President Taft.
In his welcoming speech President Taft
said:
We need to develop under government
al auspices q bureau or a department in
which the funds Of the government shall
be expended for research Of every kind
useful i'll the practice and enforcement
Of hygiene and preventive medicine.
That something Of this sort may grow
out Of the present United States public
health service there is reason to be-
iieve. but it will need far greater appro-
priations and q widening OF its scope or
duties before it shall have filed the place
that the medical profession OF this coun-
try. has a right to expect the general
government to create in the progress OF
hygiene and demography."
Referring to the subject OF tropicaj
hygiene. President Taft said:
''tOur, responsibilities In Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines, and now on tina
Isthmus Of Panama, have so enlarged our
knowledge OF the possibilities Of success
ful sanitation under the most burdensome
conditions. and have 30 impressed both
men and the 1aymen at all
familiar with the conditions with the
necessity Tor more rigid and comprehen.
Ave health laws. and stricter enforce>
ment Of them for the general public good
that IL the Spanish war resulted In moth.
ifs cost In this useful development OF
one Of tho most important functions that
modern government has to discharge, as
well az making clear the need Of an ad.