The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-02-06
TAKING ACTIVE PART ~ PLANS
BEING OUTLINED RV LEG
STATURE.
State Board Of Health Able 10 CO For.
ward ard Accomplish Work.
Some Opposition.
t6Y ~. n. kEYSER,)
(Staff Correspondentl

CHARLESTON. W. Va. Feb r.
I'D until the legislative session OF 1919
comparatively nothing was being ex-
pended for the conservation OF the
health Of our people or the prevention
Of disease. but with the modest sum
Appropriated by that legislature the
state Board of Health has been able
10 10 forward and accomplish much
in this biennial period. according 20
the special message relative 70 pro
posed health legislation submitted 10
the legislature by Governor Hatfield.
These accomplishments have given
greater impetus 10 those who are
connected with this work for the state
Board OF Health 10 go forward and
accomplish the real good which A. IL
capable OF doing. II given the proper
support from your honorable body, /"
the message declares
Our mortality from preventable
diseases" according to the message.
is 80 per cent. greater than that OF
Maryland. much greater than Penn
sylvania or Ohio. which States have
laws similar to Senate Bill No. 1923
and House 1871 No. 153. now pending
before you. understand some mem
beers OF the legislature are opposed to
this law. for the reason that II car
rice with IL a considerable appropria-
ton. II the appropriation Is too large.
IL IL easy 10 curtail H.
What object Is money TO the man
who has his fondest hopes blighted
from the fact that his only child has
been stricken with a disease prevent.
able under proper health regulations?
DO you not think the citizens will
commend you for adopting measures
and enacting them into laws thIt will
blot out the scourges which da.f.' and
yearly exact their toll I'm human lives?
Another objections understand. IS
that IL carries with IL too much pow
er. II is necessary to invest in the
health officer ample power. II he is to
successfully combat disease and pro-
tect and conserve health II il is
thought that the power given to this
health officer Is too great, or that
some parts OF the bills are question
able from constitutional point of
view. these should not initiate against
the good qualities, or cause failure of
passage.
Detriment TO Health.
AN Objectionable features should
be eliminated and every paragraph
brought within the limits of our con-
stitution. II is also claimed by those
who are opposed to the bill. that il
would give the health commissioner
the power 10 compel installation of
filtration systems. This cannot be
considered anything but a subterfuge
and should not pe seriously consid.
cred. The elements that go into the
water from a mine outlet, while not
palatable. are in no serso detrimental
10 health. but really beneficial.
II am informed that the representa-
uves OF the coal industry oppose the
measure for the reason that IL re-
quires certain inspections. looking to-
ward the stamping out OF hookworm,
which Is now observation-disclosures
here from foreign countries by people
who come to work in coal mines.
Proper authority should be given to
someone to protect our people against
this new invader from foreign lands.
Last year when the report came from
Surgeon-General Blue, of the United
states Public Health Department, that
hOokworm was prevalent in the coal
fields of West Virginia, the first peo-
pie To resent this assertion were those
who were interested in this industry,
as well as myself. / took up the mat.
ter and gave out contradictory state
ments. at the solicitation OF the coal
people. ana from the TACT that / had
intimate knowledge on account OF my
profession as 20 hoOkwOrm preyalency
in the Industrial sections.
New Opposition.
Il did what | could to clear IN the
statement given out in the public
press. and now I find that this in
dustry is more strenuously opposing
this measure than any other class.
The proposed measures will protect
those engaged in the coal industry,
n swell as all the people In the pre-.
vention OF the further development
Of this disease. I did not only what
! could TO clear up these newspaper
statements. relative 10 hoOHwOrm in
the coal fields. but sent a competent
bacterioligist. DIR. Schultz. from our
State University, to make an investi.
cation and report 10 the State Board
~ Health. All Of this work was made
possible by the legislative appropria.
ton OF 1913 for the State Board %
Health
More than four thousand specimens
we're examined. and 20 my surprise IL
was found that there was three and