The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-13
'GORGAS SUGGESTS | BILL FOR ALABAMA HEALTH PROBLEMS Would Remove Public Health From Influence of Personal
 and Selfish Politics STATE WOULD HAVE
 HEALTH DISTRICTS Health Officer Would Be Chosen by Small Board Elected by Entire
 Membership of Medical
 Association
ny HUGH ". ROBERTS

Ny HUGH ". ROBERTS Dr. W. 0. Gorgas, surgeon-EeneraI of the United States army. and one of the worlds most renowned sanitarisns. has snSE,pted a bill for legislative atten- tieS in this state which would in the event of It's adoption remove the yitnI question of public health from the fn- nuence of personal and sometime. self fish politics.
 The bill in question is patterned after the Massa chusetts law, generally ad- mitted to be the most nearly perfect in America. Its advocates contend that its application in Alabama would not only clarify the political atmosphere which has long enveloped the health de- partment of the state, but would so im- prove sanitary conditions that Alabama would not be regarded as stagnant and reactionary in the matter of caring for the health of its people.
 The Gorgas bill provides, in the
 main for a board of public health
 to consist of the governor, the at-
 torney general and six physicians to
 be elected by the membership of the
 Medical association: for a division of
 the state into health districts each to
 be cared for by a district board of
 health to be composed of a mayor
 of one of the cities of the district,
 member of the board of revenue
 and two physicians to be elected by
 the county medical associations The
 state board will elect a state health
 officer for an indefinite term who
 shall be paid not less than 5000 per
 annum. The district boards will elect
 district health officers who shall be
 paid 20 cents for each unit of 1000
 people In their respective territories,
 and who shall have the authority to
 name necessary assistants
 Election of Health Officers
 Under the provisions of this bill the state health officer will be elected by a board, the members of which will have been chosen by direct vote of more than 2coo physicians of the state. Under the present system, the state health officer is elected by a board of public health. the
 
 counselors of the medical association The apparent weakness of the latter sys- tenn Is found in the fact that no man can be member of the state health board or be state health officer who is not a counsellor or In the language a mem- Der Of the ring To be a counsellor, a member of the association must have served five years in the conferences of the association and must have so ingra- tiated himself in the favor of the ring as 10 be deemed worthy by it of being made part of itself. The counsellors are not amenable to the people and therefore do not necessarily represent the people and never, as a result bear the instructions of the pople
 AS a consequence of the long reign of this college of counesllors in Alabama. only fraction more than 100 men have personal interest in conserving public health. Should the Gorgas bill become effective more than 2oO0 doctors repre- senting every township in Alabama would have personal interest, personal partici- patton, in the work of making the state sanitary and conserving the health of the people.
 Under the present system the mem- bers of the state medical association who are not counsellors are political nonen- titles and veritable puppets. As a result of the futility of their efforts and imno- interest fags, and much that otherwise could be accomplished for the state and the people. is left undone.
 Length of Term Not Specified In order that the matter of health might be entirely taken out of politics and especially tyranical or ring poli- ties, the Gorgas bill provides that the state health officer shall be elected for period continuing as long as he is deemed worthy. It also provides that t he must not of necessity be an Ala bamian. The idea is that the best man obtainable in America must be sought The field of selection is therefore fn- finite whereas under present conditions 1t is limited to 100 men, The Gorpa s bill provides that the state health of- ficer shall be paid not less than s5O0D. the present law provides that the salary shall not be greater than $5OOo The two changes were suggested because in ex tending the field of selection and not limiting the salary an opportunity ia presented for obtaining one of the very able men of America.
 Under the Gorgas bill, the state Is d. vided into districts, and each district like senatorial district, is composed of one or more counties in accordance with popu lation. This is provision in the interest of the small counties which cannot pay a highly efficient health officer for his undivided attention An appealing feature of this provision is found in the fact that 1t eliminates the question of rank among county and municipal health authorities At the present time, In the event of an epidemic, Dr. Cunningham might pursue a certain course in Birmingham and inc county health officer. although Birming- ham Is effected by conditions in outlying territory, might pursue an entirely dif- ferent course. The resultant general dan ger and sense of alarm could not occur under the Gorgas bill.
 All Members Given Voice
 While majority of the doctors of the state, 1t is indicated. are of the opinion that the several provisions of the Goreas bill are beneficient. 1t Is generally admit ted that the most salutary clause is that which gives all the members of the as- socation voice in perfecting sanitation and preserving the health of the people. At the present time, about 1900 members of the association are politically without lode fI.A |