Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-03-13

Montpelier. March 12.-Another commit.
tee Of the whole was staged in the House
this afternoon, the bill under considcra-
ton being II. 26O, authorizing the State
Board of Health to appoint district
health officers, in place of town health
officers. After the House had listened
TO DR.. c. +. Dalton of Burlington
chairman of the State Board of Health
and he had answered many questions
the committee arose and the bill was
ordered to a third reading by a vote OF
Ill to 70.
DR.. Dalton explained that the bill in
question abolishes all local health Off
GERS and puts in their places ten men
trained in public health work, each of
whom will have supervision over a sec
ton of the State and who will spend all
Of his time on this work. 1t was ex-
planned that the bill does not abolish the
local health board.
Referring to conditions in the State
which had led up to the introduction of
this bill Dr. Dalton said that there are
136 health officers in the State at the
present time who are not physicians
while only 9S are physicians. 1t has
come to the point, said the doctor
where the health officer is the most
hated man in the town. because of the
things he has to do and il is hard work
to find doctor who will take the Job,
because he cannot afford to give UP the
necessary time to it, and he knows that
he will lose practise If ne does take it.
Therefore, said the speaker, the system
lis breaking down, and the State Board
OF Health hopes to remedy the situation
with the bill.
DR.. Dalton outlined the provisions of
the bill as follows: 1t provides for an
pointment and duties of district health
Officers: for inspection of schools by these
Officers: for the taking over of the work
of the local health officer; for assistance
TO the district health officer where neces-
sary. without increasing the appropria
tion for local health officer for cities
OF over 900 population if a city sees fit
70 nave one; that town clerk shall re-
ceive and file certificates of death: that
each physician shall quarantine his own
cases, that the office of the local health
OFFICER shall not be abolished until a
district health officer has been appointed
and for an appropriation of S35 900 to
carry on this work.
In speaking of the appropriation DR..
Dalton said that figures which he held
-. Oo''ilS the various
49, co. M ."e "'a'c coliectVeiy' more
10. 80, "a. tnc present t''ne 10 main
49,. pN H','." Sss'eihS' ana
- "'u'' s"hp's take the
. ,,., " MAINTAIN
.,'.e III each Town ana
give better service through trained men
rha,a n,as ,,,,,a,, ,. w." u''.'
a.. h;,, , ,'',ee', 'iah'iesteo IN
..;. a., &c" 'o'hc sun
ss,ss 80, MN inc 'o'e "hlch
80. - ~:,; ,ne'e wiz De quite
:, ,o,. .,rat VIC ''e"'N'e 'ei"re
A propo.al of amand,oer. oe c nc
which came up in the House this after
noon a special order and which was
adopted, would include all legal voters
of the State in the measure which pro-
vdes for a method of voting at anv
general, special or primary election bv
legal voters of the State who are in
actual military or naval service of the
United States. or this State bv stu
dents while in attendance at any in
stitution of learning, and by CONNER
cial travellers absent from their places
r1 hnx