Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-03-10
STATE HEALTH
COMMISSIONER
Provided for in Proposed
Bill--WouId Gust Health
Board Salary $4,000
DR.. RAMSAY MENTIONED
His Prominence in Medical
World and Standing With
Acting Governor Considered


If a bill which 1t is proposed to
introduce in the legislature reorgan
izing the State Board OF Health be-
comes a law, Senator w. E. Ramsay,
of this city, stands a good chance of
becoming state health commissioner
at salary of $4,000, or possibly
$4,000, a year. The proposed bill
would do away with the present
board and concentrate the authority
In one man to be appointed by the
governor. DR.. Ramsay's prominence
in state medical affairs and his close
Fielder, who will name the commits
sioner II the proposed bin becomes
a law, makes Dr. Ramsay's chance
OF getting the appointment exceed
ingly bright.
When the senator wAs asked today
II his appointment would become
likely with the establishment of the
office, he said he had not given the
subject the slightest consideration.
DR.. Ramsay, 1t is known, has been
casting longing eyes In a State
Health Board berth for number Of
years and IL the proposed bill goes
through he would be in line for the
place. He is recognized as an au-
thority on health matters in this
state and during his terms In the
assembly did much for the cause.
He is also prominent in New York,
where he is a member of several
prominent societies. DR.. Ramsay at
tended the inauguration of President
Wilson last week as the guest of Mr..
Fielder and made the trip to Wash
ington in the iatter's car.
The proposed law provides also
that there be an advisory board Of
FIVE members, majority of whom
shall be physians, of at least five
years' practice and one of whom
shall be physicians, of at least five
to the chiefs and other employees Of
the several divisions into which the
work of the board is separated. The
five members of the advisory board
are to be paid salaries of $1,000,
EACH, annually. The Commissioner
Of Health shall be a physician of at
least ten years practice and who
shall be appointed by the Governor
for term of FIVE years, at an annu-
al salary of $4,000. Since prepara-
ton of the bill there has come a
strong suggestion that the advisory
board feature be entirely eliminated
before 1t Is presented to the legisla-
ture, and that 1t provides simply for
single Commissioner of Public
Health, with all the power. and more
possessed by the present board, and
O Inf
tration of responsibility of the State
health work In one man. 1t would
be provided under this plan that the
commissioner give to the work his
entire time, that he b. selected for
fitness without local or political con-
sideration, and that the salary be
made not less than $4,000 a year
in order that the best possible man
may be obtained for the important
work in hand.
II is further declared by those who
advocate this change in the terms of
the bill which has been prepared that
the Commissioner of Health should
also have longer term than five
years, preferably not less than ten
years, and should have complete
power of removal of employees or sub
ordinates, in whatever position they
may be placed, thus giving him
thorough control of the department
for which he alone would be respon-
sible to the State and to the people.
Serious consideration has been
given to the latter idea during the
last forty-eight hours and whether
it will be agreed upon by those inter-
ested in bringing about a change
which 1t is believed would be for the
great good of the State, in the hand
ling of It's many and often intricate
health problems, will probably be de-
cided here on Monday. Whatever
the outcome of the matter, It will
stir up a healthy discussion of a
subject of vast public Import, and it
the end will probably result in sub
stantial improvement ever present
conditions.
official red tape, conformity to an
cient customs and other things are
declared to have long hampered
really good work along all the lines
upon which the State Board OF
Health should be engaged. Under
the present arrangement there are
six members of the board, appointed
by the Governor, one each year.
They live in widely separated Sec
tions of the State, and meet on stated
occasions In the Sta.e Huose at Tren-
ton. Each members has equal voice
and power with the other in the de-
termination of any act or policy OF
the Board. though the actual work
of the body Is left almost entirely
in the hands of the secretary. There
is no responsible, dil Getting hand up
on the work of the board at all times
since the secretary is, after all, mere
ly an employe with limited powers
and authority, and even those quail
fications are subject to sudden and
frequent change.
Senator Ramsay declared the
contemplated change to be most
important one, and before II Is put
through should be given mature con-