The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-11
IN THE STREET CAR FIGHT

without foundation and were known
BY the members Of the state board
Of health to be misleading. to say
the least. He states IN one article
as follows: why not acknowledge
the truth--our present inability sue
cessfully to cope with the disease
In all its phases and hope that In
the near future some discovery may
enable US to promise a reasonable
cure in every early case OF pulinon-
AIRY tuberculosis
In its campaign Of education the
American Medical association knows
full well the value OF Newspaper
Fupport in all It's activities. and
the request Of The Times for It's
opinion al to how this 100000
should be spent might appear to the
casual observer as an innocent and
whole souled desire for the infor-
nation therein requested, but when
II II known that not only the ex-
penditure Of this 100000 has al
ready been planned and provided
for by the state board of health but
many times that amount will he re-
Quired In fulfillmen. OF the steps al
ready taken by those having the
matter In charge, this reques ap-
pears for what II Is, request made
purely and simply with Interior mo-
tiyes.
Recent reports In our newspapers
state that aside from the salary to
be paid DR.. DeKline. who has been
appointed to take charge Of this
work, the following initial expendi-
lures have also been provided: Ar.
mold Mulger. OF Holland, publicity
agent. $1,000 year; several clint
cal experts for various counties at
$lh q day and expenses; DR.. Plant
Of Syracuse. N. Y. at a salary OF
$175 q month to assist Dr.. DeKline;
two associate head nurses. six as
sistant visiting nurses With salaries
at $1,000 a year. and various other
items of expenditure. These items
represent only small proportion
Of the money necessary to carry
out the present plans announced by
the state board OF health in this
campaign, and tt is consequently
self.evident that the annual appro-
priation of $4,000 had been direct
ed into It's premeditated channels
long before the newspapers were
asked for IN opinion. venture the
assertion that the expenditure of
not one penny Of this appropriation
can now be influenced by any opin-
lon whiSh The Detroit Times or any
other medium can suggest
The recently announced plans OF
the state board Of health for the
expenditure OF this 100000 through
out the coming two years furnish
complete evidence of the ultimate
purpose for which this appropria-
ton was secured. To refer again
TO the last legislative session. II
will be recalled that one Of the pet
measures of the American Medical
association before tho Legislature,
and one which was most decisively
defeated, was the one to apportion
the state into health districts with
a doctor In charge OF each district
having back of him. together with
fat salary and the state treasury.
all the police powers Of the state.
Now what have we in the plans OF
the state board of health In this
campaign against tuberculosis but
exactly the same proposition as the
one so emphatically defeated on
twp occasions in our last legisla-
ture! II the people OF Michigan
will take interest enough in the
expenditure Of this 100000 to watch
the proceedings they will discover
that ut the end OF two years there
will have been little II any progress
made on tuberculosis In the state,
that the 100000 will be gone. that
there will be district hospitals,
nurses, doctors, clerks, ETC., on the
state payroll which will be declared
by the state board OF health as alb
solute necessities and that the state
ment will be made that the $780,
600 has been used In preliminary
work and that hereafter the real
fight will be taken up and the state
will be rid Of this plague provided
this appropriation. with probably .
very large yearly increase, can be
made perpetual.
In writing OF this situation the
importance Of Kidding the sfate OF
tuberculosis IL not in the least min
imised. but endeavor has been made
to point out Q few facts which 1t
win be well to keep in mind when
the next session Of our legislature
meets and It's public health commit
tees are deluged by another ava
lanchs OF health bills from the
state Board Of health and particu-
larry BY bills in behalf Of, and for
the exploitation Of. our unfortunate
t,sberc,,lar patients.