The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-21
BRIEF STATEMENT OF. OPPOSING VIEWS ON GORGAS HEALTH BILL Sanders and Progressive"
 Hold Radically Different
 Views on the Measure ANSWER EACH POINT MADE BY THE FORMER Claim State Health Officer Has AL
 ways Opposed Any Progressive Measure-People Should Have Representation on Board 

| Dr. w. H. Sanders, state health of- ficer, and the so-called ''progressives" of the medical association of the state of Alabama, are diam metrieally opposed | respecting the merits of the health | laws as proposed for adoption in this eeor general of the United States ar.,s.ss., and perhaps the most renowned san | itarian in the world.
 1 The "progressves' declare that it is entirely natural. that Dr. Sanders should oppose the bill because in the event of its adoption the ring" will yield con trol of the assoication into the hands of the members of the association. They have answers prepared, further more, to each of the arguments against the bill which pr. Sanders has pre- sented
 The state health officer says of the bill;
 l Tt would plunge the public health system into political cauldron (2) It would place laymen on both the state board of health and the county boards of health. (3) It would put very heavy duties on county health officers 1 and make it possible for counties to pay their health officers very made l quate salaries. t4) It proposes to abol- ish municipal health officers
 Think People Should Be Represented The "progressives.' in answer to the l first argument contend that their bill would extricate the health system from l baneful political subjugation in that 1t would put all members of the asso- citation on an equal footing whereas al l the present time the college of 1ss self-perpetuating councillors absolute. 1 ly controls.
 The ''progressives'' have no defense to make in that their bill would giv, the people representation on the state board and county boards of health They contend that the people should 1 have a voice and for that reason it Is
 proper that on the state board the gov l ernor and attorney general and on tho l county boards, mayors and members of boards of revenue should have place.
 As to the criticism that their bil would entail heavy duties on count,
 health officers and that it would pro. vide inadequate pay for them, tho "progressives" contend that while un.
 der their bill the county health off. cer is entrusted with the discharge oi important obligations, he is entitled
 to name necessary assistants. It is provided that he shall be paid a sun of money amounting to 20 cents pei thousand population in his district whereas the pay at present is 10 cents The bill does abolish municipal healtF officers as Dr. Sandefs contends. bu1 the "progressives" reply that that Wal done in order that one man might have
 absolute authority fin each subdivision whereas now a municipal health. of | ficer and county health officer, al though their duties in preserving health are practically the same, might dis. agree on a course of procedure .and as neither has authority over the oth. CT might continue to disagree to the injury of the people in both the cits
 urally contemplates, the appointment
 by the district health officer of ar assistant whose function shall be ths
 preservation of health in the large municipalities
 Always Oppose Progress \ The "progressives" in the medical as
 sociation declare that Dr. Sanders hai
 always opposed progressive" move.
 ments. They declare that he violent ly opposed that change dn the con stitution which would give counties { more adequate representation in thu convention of the association, chang' which was made effective this spring At the meeting of the association las
 year in Montgomery, pr. Sanders sai' of the proposed change in the basis o
 representation: '"The absence of powe of police control over delegates rep ders 1t imperative that representatiol of the country societies be so fixed 6 fo effectua11y xuard aQainot evils tha