The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-11

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 a year; several clint
cal experts for various counties at
Sic day and expenses; DR.. Plant
of Syracuse, y. Y, at a salary of
SITS a month to assist Dr. DeKline;
two associate head nurses, six as
sistant visiting nurses with salaries
at $1,000 n year. and various other
items OF expenditure. These items
represent only a small proportion
OF the money necessary to carry
ont the present plans announced by
the state board OF health in this
campaign, and ii Is consequently
self-evident that the annual appro-
priation OF $4,000 had been direct.
ed into its premeditated channels
long before the newspapers were
asked for an opinion. venture the
assertion that the expenditure OF
not one penny of this Appropriation
can now be influenced by any opin-
ion which The Detroit Times or any
other medium can suggest.
The recently announced plans OF
the state board of health for the
expenditure of this 500, 900 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, 1t
will be recalled that one Of the pet
measures of the American Medicai
association before the Legislature,
and one which was most decisively
defeated. was the one to apportion
the state into health districts with
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
two occasions In our last lcgisla-
ture? II the people OF Michigan
will take interest enough in the
expenditure OF this 100000 to watch
the proceedings they will discover
that at 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 abb
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 state OF
tuberculosis Is not in the least min
imized, but endesvor has been made
to point out a few facts which 1t
will be well to keep in mind when
the next session Of our legislature
meets and Its public health commit
tees are delused By another ava
lanche OF health bills from the
state board Of health and particu-
larry by bills in behalf Of, and for
the exploitation Of. our unfortunate,
tubercular patients.
Yours truly.
W. d. FITZPATRICK,
Detroit, Oct. Z, 1915.