The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-04-13
hgEp OF DISCRIMINATION.

Mr.. George G. Whfpple contributes
to the current issue Of The American
City, monthly review of municipal
problems and civic betterment, an in
lteresting and informing article on the
necessity of exercising proper dis
elimination in municipal expenditures,
even in the important matter of con-
serving the public health. Every
fone," he remarks. "can see the I'M
wisdom OF issuing bonds to pay cur
rent expenses, but this differs not in
kind but only in degree from the
practice of issuing long term bonds
70 pay for structures that will wear
out before the bonds become due. =
AS a case In point he instances the
mistake made by the people OF the
state OF New York in voting at the
last election 10 authorize the issue of
fifty year bonds to the extent OF fifty
millions dollars for the construction
fof roads, which, In the natural course
Of events, will wear out and need re-
pair long before the bonds come TO
maturity He pronounces this most
fragrant violation of the principles Of
sound finance.
Mr. Whipple holds that these prin.
ciples apply as well in the field OF
public hygiene and sanitation as in
other departments OF public service.
and that failure to observe them will
bring sanitarians into disrepute The
magical achievements Of bacteriology
and preventive medicine during the
past quarter century have yielded re-
suits far and away of greater benefit
TO the world than their cost. The
purflcation Of water has been proved
over and ever again 10 be OF vastly
more benefit 70 community than its
cost, and this might be said 81 other
/, sanitary works The death-rate Of
the civilized world has steadily de-
clined This has been accomplished
, for the. most part by q public health
!, service not TOO well organized. by Of
. ficials partially trained, and with ap
preparations Inadequate 10 the task
The motto Of the city health depart
ment Of New York IS that Public
i Health is a Purchasabie COMMODITY
i Disease can be stamped out only b.
constant vigilance, and this demands
adequate funds. But
Even In matters pertaining 10 pub
lie health and sanitation there ia neec
Of discrimination. There is DANCE
lest zeal for the public health be car
= ried too far in certain directions
2 Some sanitarians have said that ~
y expense can be TOO great II q human
4 life is saved This Is not true II th'
IL cost Is paid at the e1pense OF gen
% crations 10 come. and II is not trne
= the same amount Of money spent 70
!, saving the one life could have beer
made 10 save many more iiYes
spent in a different manner We al
rejoice In he reduction 81 the dealt
Of rates Of our cities, but we are comini
IS to realize that, as Professor Jordaj
.s has said, there are fruitless ~ vel
oil as fruitful lines Of endeaYor in tn
. public health service Studies of III
specific death rate from different die
- eases have shown that our actiYitie
- and major expenses have not Away
been directed at the diseases that d
is the most damage There Is need 4
IS more careful and digcriminatiu
is study to determine in what directio
" money from the public health seryic
u can be spent so as to bring the prea
lg est results. Studies in this directio
iare now being made by the sanitar