Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-09-24
DR., SUMNER AND ASSISTANTS AID.
DRESS DELEGATES TO LEAGUE
MEETING,
BOARD OF HEALTH LAWS
EXPLAINED BY SECRETARY
Engineer Higgins Delivers Lecture on
Sanitary Laws and Sewerage Dis
isposai-Professor Kinney Speaks
on Pure Water Supply and How to
Maintain It.

urban population of the state, were
discussed at meeting of the League
of Iowa municipalities ami the state
board of health. at the east court room
Tuesday evening. Among the topics
discussed We're sewage and sewage dis
posal, procuring and maintaining a
pure water supply and the laws gov
erning the Iowa state board of health.
Dr.. c. II. Sumner, secr.tary of the
state board of health: Lafayette Hig-
gins, civil and sanitary engineer to the
state board: and Prof. e. \. Kinney,
state chemist, were the speakers. DR..
". L. Bierring of Des Noines. ilair
man of the board who was to have de-
llvered an address was unable TO be
present
The meeting vas of great Importance
to the members of the municipal
league for it brought hem in con-
tact with the state board of health
which. under a lately enacted law, has
jurisdiction of sanitary work thruout
the state. and afforded the delegates an
opportunity TO inquire concerning mat
tiers which directly affected their own
cities.
State Laws Made Plain.
The speakers briefly outlined the
state board OF health laws and advised
the representatives of the municipali
ties what they could obtain in way Of
consultation or advice from the state
board. what is expected of cities in the
way Of complying with the rules of the
board Of health and what is needed in
new legislation for the betterment Of
health conditions in the state.
The delegates showed q eat interest
in the addresses and undoubtedly de-
rived much benefit therefrom. At the
conclusion Of the speaking it was de-
cided that The league should take up
the suggestions of the state board OF
health with a view OF having new leg
islation enacted to remove existing
evils which preclude sanitary work be.
ing accomplished in cities and towns
which are in dire need of such i'm
provement. With this end in view it is
probable that a committee will be
named to advise with the state board
and determine what legislation is nee
| essary and TO urge upon the legislature
such laws as may be deemed -pedient
for the good of the health ana comfort
of Iowa people. 1t was suggested by
/ Secretary F. G.. Pierce that the com
mittee be made a permanent body ana
this suggestion may also be favorably
acted upon.
Sumner Explains Laws.
Dr.. Sumner spoke on the new laws
relating to the state board of health
and what the state board wants to
accomplish. Dr.. Sumner expressed
| his regret that DR.. Bierring could not
be present as he was the real author
Of the bac;erological laws, and could
better explain their purpose to the
delegates.
While Iowa today has the best health
laws in the country. said DR.. sumner.
the state had until the last session
/ of the legislature. worked under a svs-
TEN that was both antquated and in
effective. Under this old plan the
state was divided into eight health dis
tricts with a board Of seven doctors
| in charge of the work. This made il
necessary for one district to be con-
tinually without a head. When the
/ term of one Of the district heads ex-
pired his successor would be named
| from the district without a represen-
/! tative.
Board is Reconstructed.
|, At the last session of the Legislature
! the board Of health was reconstructed
and under the new plan the governor,
! secretary Of state, and auditor of state
We're made board Of appointment who
shall name a secretary and a board,
/ COMPOSED of one civil or sanitary en-
gneer and four physicians. Of the
later not more than two shall be from
the same school, and Of the entire
membership of the board not more
. y q
political party. The secretary Is ex-
ecutive officer os the board and state
health commissioner. The governor
|! state treasurer are ex-officio members
Of the board
Best Possible System.
Allied with the state board of health
and in reality a part of the state
board machinery, are the state board
OF medical examiners, the members
of which are the members of the state
board of health: the embalmers' ex-
aiming board. made UP Of two physi-
clans from the state board OF health
and two ernbalners, and the state
board of nurse examiners, which Is
made I'D Of two members of the health
board and two trained nurses.
County Health Officer Needed.
While the state board of health Is
the governing body of all state health
regulation and supervision, there are
many minor organizations. The nlti
nicipality has it's health officer as does
also the township DR.. Sumner believes
that county health officers should be
provided for, to have entire supervision
over the county aside from the mum
nicipality. The creation OF such an OF
flee would Go away with the township
organizations. which are found inef-
fective and in many cases entirely ne
elected.
Sewage Disposal Discussed.
Great interest was shown in the ad
dress of Mr.. Higgins, who spoke on TIL
Sanitary Engineers Work" The Of
flee of sanitary engineer Is a new one
and until its creation cities and town!
desiring advice OF ali expert we're com
PEELED to pay SIS or more per day fol
such service. Now the state provide!
an engineer in an advisory capacity
without charge.
Mr.. Higgins spoke Of the vital Inn
portance of sewage disposal and how