The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-01-05

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lar sections of the state ought to be
| developed. as to what kinds of soil are
| to be found in the different communi-
| ties, as to what drainage canals ought
| to be constructed to be of the greatest
service for the present in connection
with flood relief, in the furnishing of
! water power and in the reclamation of
state lands and of greatest service for
| the future in connection with water
transportation and all the possibilities
of development therein involved. not
| only for this state but for the whole
| Northwest, it is clear that we need a
| public domain commission. There
| should be a consolidation of as many
| boards which deal with our public do
| main, as the Constitution will permit,
| with qualified director, with bureaus
| cooperating with one another, and
| with officials devoting all of their time
| to the duties involved and equipped
with technical and expert knowledge
enabling them to give to the state the
| service which it is necessary for it to
have for the proper handling and de-
| velopment of it's resources. Such SER
vice cannot be procured unless the
| state boards are reorganized through
| the enactment of q law providing for a
| department of public domain along the
| lines suggested by the commission
which was appointed by the Governor,
the Lieutenant Governor and the
Speaker of the House through the reso-
luton passed by this body on April 81,
1915. a copy of the commissions valu-
able report, with which 1 trust every
member of the Legislature will become
familiar, is appended to this message.
Unnecessary Boards Should He AbOl-
ished.
Without going too much into detail
in connection with discussion of the
reorganization of our civil administra-
ton, wish to say that i am absolutely
in accord with any change that will
tend to eliminate unnecessary positions
and needless boards. BY reason of this
fact every appointment that has here
tofore been made by me has been made
with the understanding that acceptance
of the position is subject to any change
that you as Legislators, may make and
some appointments have been delayed
in order that legislation, tending to a
reduction in the number of Offices
might be facilitated and opposition to
changes reduced to the minimum.
Public Health.
The development of the resources of
the state is important, but the preser-
walton of the health of our citizens is
still more important Last year we
appropriated only $4,000 to the State
Public Health Department. While We
appear to be willing to eXpend mil
lions to take care of the mental and
physical derelicts of the state, we spend
very little to help eliminate the causes
of their unfortunate condition. The
modern revelations of scientific med-
cine are indicative of the opportuni-
ties of the state for the Improvement
of the health and the prolongation of
the lives of the citizens We, of this
state, have not yet come to full reali-
zation of what can be accomplished for
the prevention of disease and the pres
ervation of life for we have neglected
in a large measure the opportunities
that have come to us through the med
ical discoveries of the present time.
The sum contributed by our state to
it's department of health last session
meant an annual expenditure of only
ga cents per capita. In spite of it's
fourth place in efficiency, but it is i'm
possible for our health department
with such small amount as is now CIV
en- it to make as rapid progress as it
could do if more funds were made
available for the advancement of pub
lie health. If necessary less money
should be appropriated to other de-
partments in order that more might be
used for the purpose of preventing the
spread of disease through the enforce
ment of proper health regulations and
the necessary propagation of health
education.
Tuberculosis.
The tuberculosis death rate in Mime
sofa in 1915 was 1900 There are, at
the present time, several counties anx-
ious to build hospitals if half of the
cost were paid by the state as provid-
ed for in the bill passed in 1913, but
the funds for such a purpose have been
exhausted. During the two-year period
prior to the date when the funds were
exhausted 80 counties applied for and
qualified to receive state aid. On Sept.
/, 1915, the state had facilities for TAX
ing care of asa patients. During last
year the number was increased to SIS.
The number that can now be taken
care of in both public and private insti-
tutions is about sc per cent of the num-
Der who annually die from this pre-
ventable disease. 1t is said that before
the anti-tuberculosis work of Mime
sofa will have a decided effect upon
the death rate the state must be in
position to accommodate as many con-
sumptives as there are annual deaths
from consumption.
Commission on Public Health.
Because of the apparent lack of in
terest in the matter of public health
and on account of the failure on the
part of the state boards to properly
cooperate in their work, some weeks
ago commission was appointed by
the Governor to devise ways and means
of procuring harmonious efforts on the
part of the different boards so that the
public health work in general and the
tuberculosis work in particular would
not be hampered and retarded. The
commission appointed has reported
certain excellent recommendations of
which the following the the most i'm
portant:
1. The State Board of Health should
be reorganized and made to consist of
five instead of nine members.
2. The State Board of Health should
be granted broad, general powers in
stead of specifying in detail in the law
the limits of it's duties.
3. The Board of Health should be
empowered to appoint a commissioners
of public health.
A. The present advisory commission
should be discontinued and it's powers
and duties transferred to a new divi-
sion of the State Board of Health to be
headed by a man especially trained in
tuberculosis work.
5. All existing state financed activi-
ties relating to public health should be
organized under the State Board of
Health
6. Industrial hygiene should be
transferred from the Department of
Labor to the State Board of Health.
z. Larger appropriations for the
states public health service should be
granted.
A copy of the full report of this COM
mission is also appended to this mes
sage and will, trust, receive the care
full consideration. of the members of
this body.
Appointing Power.
The reports of both the legislative
commission on changes in our civil adj
ministration and the commission ON
public health agree In recommending