Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-08

| In such a manner WOulQ De the DeSl
advertisement for Maine that could be
devised, because no one liked to be
sick away from home, and summer Wis
itors. hearing of Names efforts in
making it the healtiest place in the
world would flock here.
Regarding our own people, a first
class man at the head of such de-
partment with his four or five assist
ants, would earn more for the State
of Maine than all the outlay, in pre-
venting disease and in lettering the
health conditions. He had rather pay
to be kept well than to be made well
when i'll. The contagious and infectious
diseases are not all in the jails, some
of them are even in the colleges and i,
is time that some system be devised
to stamp them out. Much of the money
spent for the insane and feeble minded
is for symptoms-we should get after
the causes.
DR.. A. ]. Torsleff of Bangor thought
local boards OF health too considerate
or friends and often unable to get al
causes away from their own localities
whereas the new inspectors would be
all around and about and get all the
causes
Dr. I. E. Hardy. president of the tn.
oerculosis sanitoriums' trustees, spoke Of
the help in laboratory work and general
assistance in preventing and controlling
disease
Secretary Geo. L. Crossman of the Port.
land Chamber Of Commerce spoke of the
gain in all business matters through eff
clency, which would place the proposed
Dill in the front ranks of doing good If
properly carried out
DIR. f. l.. Gerrish of Portland ably de-
Tended the present State Board of Health
OF which, though not now a member, he
was the first appointed, by Gov. ROBBIE
i'll 1885. He disagreed with those who cali
ed its methods obsolete. 1t was the first
in the country to publish preventative
measures against tuberculosis and its
publications had high standing all over
the country and even abroad But few
of the other states had a system like the
proposed and 1t was untried, whereas
our present one has been tried and
proven. The board has done all il has
been permitted to do under the law and
| If the Legislature, which has been
scrimping and mean with 1t. would grease
its wheels with as much financial oil as
is asked for the new BILL you would see
degree of improvement in public health
| conditions in proportion.
! He cited several instances where the
board had done remarkably efficient work
! and paid a tribute to the secretary, DR..
! A. G.. Young, who since the board has
been organized has devoted his life to
it's work and accomplished more than
people could ever realize.
He asked the committee before abol-
ishing the board to go to the Office and
see what they would sect would be
worth II. Give it as much as the new
bill asks and I'll guarantee as good
work"
Secretary A. G. Young reviewed the
work of the board and made plea for its
continuation, with better support from
the State for which it was working and
which owed it SO much.
Arthur Thayer of Bangor, representing
the Christian Science interests, also
! spoke in favor of retaining the present
system.
Deforest II. Perkins, superintendent Of
schools, Portland, spoke in favor of the
act amending the law regarding the APP