The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1919-01-04
COMMISSION SAYS
REPORT FALSE
ATTACK OF IRON RIvER-STAMBo
UNIUSTIFIED
WERE DILIcENT IN ALL CASES
Are Handicapped By Present Law
Which Places Epidemics Under lo-
cal Board Of Health

Cd oOdtu VI uCostu
The last issue OF the Iron-River-
Stambaugh Reporter contained an
article upon the much discussed
question Of county health officer. The
article branches OF the health officer
question to take swipe at the Iron
county poor commission.
The Diamond Drill holds no brief
for the poor commission. II they
have been neglectful in the discharge
Cf their dvties, they deserve the swipe
Lut IL they have not been neglectfui
and the writer OF the article in the
Reporter went off half-cocked without
taking pains to find out the facts In
the case the Reporter certainly owes
the commission an apology,
'rhe members OF the commission
saw that there is absolutely no truth
in that portion OF the article dealing
with the commission.
Munns Enters Denial.
Commissioner Munns in a letter
which appears in another column OF
this issue goes into detail as to what
the commission really did in the mat
ter. A perusal of the letter OF Mr.
Munns. after reading the Reporter
article, which we copy herewith, is
necessary 10 a correct understanding
OF the case. The Reporter article Is
as follows:
Because OF difficulties encountered
in fighting the statewide epidemic OF
Influenza; the state board Of health
at the coming session OF the legisla-
ture will ask for certain increased
powers connected with the exercise OF
executive authority in times OF pub
lie danger.
The state board met In Detroit last
week TO discuss the legislative pro-
gram. DIR. r. II. Olin, secretary OF
the board, said the program would
rot be extensive, but would be con-
fined To matters readily recognizable
as requiring action by the lawmakers
The county health officer system has
been settled upon as one OF the mum
bers in the program. The plan VIII
make the county the health unit, give
uniform administration the state
oyer, and will, It is claimed. greatly
facilitate the handling Of epidemics.
The Reporter is frmly OF the opin
ion that IL II is possible to do so. thai
IN case the county health ofiicer sys
.er becomes law, that the count!
Lealth officer should be member o
the county poor commission, either a
secretary or chairman, with absolute
power, In case OF an emergency, lik
the present epidemic OF influenza,
20 on and do something for suffering
humanity, which is more than can b
accomplished under the present condi
tions.
We talk OF red tape In the handling
OF the government business unde
war conditions, but it has nothing o
the autocracy OF the present system
under which the poor OF this count
q are being taken care OF. There ar
!. three members OF the present count
A poor commission and a superinten
dent. so far as The Reporter Is con
oorned we do not know on whom th
blame for present conditions shoul
be laid. hut we do know that whel
n nearly a dozen representative me
d OF this end OF the county have way
laid us on the street during tile pas
week and put In vehement kick q
the treatment that ls being accord q
! our county sick that II Is high tim
that criticism of the manner 4
e which the poor system OF this count
+ was being administered was made b
q some one.
We have In mind a family Of fv'
father and mother and three child
a ren. who were sick with the infiuenz
= at Pentoga. Everything possible wa
!, done by neighbors for the family ur
tll their condition became absolutel
necessary that they should have hel
~. ha