The Detroit times., 1914-11-11
Loss From Cattle Plague Is Heavy

holding Of the congress during ne
week for which II In planned
Persons interested In public health
work Will urge the early action ~
Interstate bill passed ~
Sanitation. both the house
and senate provtd-
ing for the sanitary inspection Of al
trains. vessels, carriages and convey
ances OF any kind entering into inter
state commerce. Although this blu
was passed by both branches OF con-
gress, IL was sent back to the CON-
mittee TO be reconsidered after pass
Ing the senate and did not 60 TO con-
ference.
Overcrowding, poor ventilation. I'm
pure drinking water and insanitary
condition OF interstate carriers will
come under the ban of the govern.
ment II the proposed bill Is recon
sidered by the senate committee,
goes to conference and IL signed by
the president. Under the authority
OF the treasury regulations, the Unit
ed States public health service now
does some OF the work which II COW
cred by the bill, but II the measure
Is enacted 1t will strengthen the au-
thority OF the government officers by
changing these regulations into law
and make 1t possible for representa-
tives Of the public health service to
enter interstate carriers at any time
for the purpose Of sanitary inspec-
ton.
Although most OF the large railway
lines OF the country now recognise
their duty to the public In keeping
their equipment In sanitary condition,
health officers point out that In many
cases the roads have become careless
and allow insanitary conditions to ex-
list. In many parts OF the country
where persons infected with danger
Gus diseases travel In the search OF
health, the carriers at times have
been found to be careless In the
cleansing and disinfection OF cars.
Car sanitation, according to public
health oficers, Is just as necessary
as good housekeeping In q home or
hotel.
There are many opportunities for q
ready exchange OF organisms Of dis
ease in the average railway car, be-
cause Of considerable numbers OF peo-
pie coming more or less In intimate
contact. Passengers are frequently
compelled to breathe the vitiated and
overheated atmosphere for consider.
able periods Of time. Up until recent
years very little attention has been
paid to the purity OF drinking water
supplied on trains, and the common
drinking cup or glass was usually In
evidence Interstate quarantine reg
ulations have been made, however,
which prohibit the use OF the COM
mon drinking cup. and which provide
standards of purity for the drinking
water which is furnished TO pas
sengers,
The new car sanitation bill pro-
vides that the secretary Of the treas
ury. In whose department the public
health service Is included, and the
chairman OF the interstate commerce
commission are authorized to make all
reasonable rules and regulations as
may be necessary to secure the kesp-
ing OF all railway trains and vessels
In a sanitary condition while such
carriers are engaged In Interstate
commerce. This provision Wa. give
the governments health officers au-
thority to set standards Of cleanli-
ness Tor all interstate carriers. and
II Is believed will insure thorough
sanitation OF all trains and vessels
and check the danger Of the spread
OF disease