The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-30
THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

| What has all the earmarks of being
a most reasonable suggestion will be
made to the legislature by many of the
! important and extensive business in
terests of the state. They want per-
| sonal representation on the state board
| of health Resolutions to this end have
been adopted by the organizations of
all kinds of business men at their an
nual meetings which have been held
within the past few months. They ask
that of the nine members of the boards
of health of the future, four of them at
| least shall be appointed from among
the business men of the state, and
especially from those engaged in the
wide variety of enterprises that are
now subject to the rules and regula-
tions of this board.
Under existing conditions. and those
that have prevailed these many years,
each of the nine members of the board
of health is a physician. This is in
accordance with the original provisions
of the board of health law as it was
passed nearly thirty years ago At that
time the functions of the board were
exceedingly limited, and were of a ma
ture that demanded in the main such
might be expected to possess. But
since then, especially of late years, the
duties and the powers of the board of
health have been extended in so many
directions, that it's rules and orders af-
feet many of the important business
activities throughout the length and
breadth of the commonwealth.
There is no disposition here to urge
that in the administration of the pure
food laws. the laws regulating hotels,
restaurants, bakeshops, barber shops and
a variety of other industries and enter
prises, the members of the board of
health have not been most solicitous to
protect the interests of the business
men as well as those of the public.
That they have succeeded pretty adj
mirably in the discharge of their null
titudinous duties is also generally adj
mitted on all sides. But it is also a
fact that there is much friction between
the board of health and many of the
men and interests that come within its
jurisdiction.
Nor is this friction induced by OPP
position on the part of business in
terests to the pure food laws and other |
laws regulating their endeavors. For
the most part the honest manufacturer
of food stuffs is heartily in favor of a |
pure food law, honestly and fearlessly |
1t protects him from any |
man in his line who might be dis
posed to be dishonest. This is true of
the retail dealer, the grocer and the |
butcher. And there is no doubt about |
the law being popular with the public. |
The same is true in general of all those
who are affected by the other regulatory
laws that the board of health admin
listers. But the people affected by these
laws are outspoken in their belief,
that no matter how sincerely the
members of the board of health may do
their work, no matter how free they
are of any disposition to work q hard
ship on any man, the fact is nonethe-
less that many of the rules and orders
issued by the board do this very thing.
because the members of the board are
not practically familiar with the mat
ters with which they are dealing. With
practical business men on the board
to assist and give expert advice in all
matters relating to the regulation of
the business activities with which they
are acquainted, the efficiency and
worth OF the DOdrQ WOulu ne IHCIedSeu
MANIFOLD. for the simple reason that
the persons affected by the rules and
regulations of the board would give
them more respectful attention. There
would be the feeling among them that
they had friends at court.
Through it's administrative bodies,
the state of Kansas should aim at all
times to encourage and foster the in
-erests of its business men, whether they
DE- bootblacks or merchant princes.
This can be done to a larger extent
Nv the board of health, than by any
,ther state agency, because of the
enormous powers it has in the regula-
ion of such an immense variety of
business activities. But the business
interests are evidently not content to
accept without protest any and every
lictum of this board as long as they
are denied representation on it. They
lsk for no more than minority repre- |
,entation And their request seems to
ne as fair as it is modest.
CONFVDE,N(ESi