The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
REASONS SET OUT WHY GORGAS BILL SHOULD BE ENACTED Statement From County Medical Society Mailed to
 State Association THE SITUATION NOW AND AS IT WOULD BE Emphasize Fact That Bill Would Re- move Association From Politics
 and From Machine
 Control

 ferson County Medical association mailed yesterday to each member of the legislature paper setting out reasons why the Gorgas bill should be indorsod and made operative under the law Of the state.
 The paper sets forth the points of difference In the situation as it is now and as it would be under the Gors as bill It is related with what care the Gorgas bill as originally suggested was amended in order that it would not only eliminate the politics which controls the health department at present, hut would prevent a recurrence of such . condition in the future.
 The practical effect of the bill and it's probable result in making Alabama a mere sanitary and healthful state, is pointed out.
 Gorgas Bill Explained 1 The statement follows:
 I Before drawing up the bill the public health system of every state in the union was studied, and advice was asked from the leading authorities on public health matters in the United States. In response to the appeal of one of our colleagues, Surgeon General Cor l gas outlined a plan closely resembling l the Massachusetts law, which was final | ly adopted as the framework of the bill under consideration. The original Cor gas scheme was skeleton outline rath- CT than complste bill. Such changes l and enlargements as were necessary to make it bill suitable to the condi- tions in Alabama, will be referred to later.
 'It Is conceded that the organization and functions of the medical associa : ton as an association of physicians concerns only the doctors of the state. The amended Gorgas bill does not in lany way alter the association as a scientific body. The organization, pow CTS and duties of the state board of health, as well as the health laws and their enforcement, vitally concern every citizen of the state. It is with these public health matters that the present l bill has to do.
 "The Gorgas bill will substitute a
 modern, progressive public health de-
 partment, in which the people shall be represented and which shall be entire I trol by any faction in the medical as- , sociation, for the present archaic sys- tenn, which Is political machine, ab-
 solutely controlled by the counsellors T Electing Health Board ''The original Gorgas plan provid, q
 for state board of health, composed of six men. appointed by the governor
 vacancies thereon to be filled by him , with the consent of the board. Three members, at least, were to be physi- } clans. Since this plan furnished the means for building up such self-per- petuating body as we are fighting tc
 be freed from. it was thought wise tc ], change this feature of the Gorgas plan : The amended bill provides that in aai- dition to the six medical members the governor and the attorney general, as , representatives of the people, are to
 be ex-officio members of the board l The medical members are to be elected l from the membership of the State Med ical association, any member of the as l sociation in good standing to be eliEi- ? ble. In the election of these members } only delegates from the various county ' medical societies shall be entitled te vote. By this provision. control of tho
 elections by the counsellors or by ans
 other faction in the association will bt
 prevented. Medical members of tho 3 board are to hold office for three years only, their terms of office being so ar
 ranged that two members will b, elected annually. By this sprovision tn,
 possibility of afiliation with any fac ton in state politics is avoided. ] "The state board of health thus consti tuted is in accordance with tI-s origina , Gorgas plan. to select a state health of ficer and determine his tenure of office the idea being to secure the best available
 man, whether he resides in this state ol
 elsewhere, and to keep him in office s,
 long as his work is efficient. No restric 7 tions, therefore. are placed on the boaia
 in the selection of the health officer, be q yond certain qualified tions as to his train ing and experience and the further pro vision that a member of the board ma. 3 not be elected to the position. Under tn
 present law a physician must practice Il
 Alabama for at least five years and mus : then be elected counsellor before he i
 eligible to election as state health of ficer. The present state health office is president. secretary. treasurer and ex
 ecJtive officer of the board. Such one
 man power will not be possible under tn
 new law.
 Creating Health Districts
 "The state board of health. through it executive officer. Is to have Jurisdiction
 over all public health matters in tn
 state, including full power to prescrib
 and enforce rules and regulations fo