New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-12
Scope of Its
Activities

Infant mortality and child welfare gem
orally, housing, tuberculosis, drug addic-
tons, social diseases, industrial, traffic and
other accidents, mental hygiene, public
health nursing. cancer and even eugenics
would be included in the varied activities
OF this department of health, which would
deal with research work of many kinds,
with popular education along health lines,
with preventive medicine and prophylaxis
and with epidemics should such gain a
fcothold in this country. It's scope would
in future whose distance may not be so
great, even extend to sanitary police, who
might replace our present police forces.
Crime is matter of heredity, if one re-
tains more or less of the declining belief in
heredity, but certainly it is matter of i'll
health mentally-and often physically
and il is no lar cry to quite different kind
OF police. Surely no further cry than from
New York's police of twenty years ago to
those Of the present day.
The war has brought to this matter of
Federal department of health a new and
vigorous interest, as also the fact that
England Is now about creating a minister
Of health, who will combine all the powers
and jurisdiction of various British boards
and officials having to do with matters af-
'seting public health Indeed, last July
President Wilson, in an executive order,
| brought together all Of the dozen different
J government agencies dealing with phases
Of this su5je.t under the direction of the
united States Public Health Service. This
- however, but bureau in the Treasury
department, and with very little real
power
mere mas been before our Congress since
previous 70 the measure providing
LOT department Of health with the widest
Sope, and whose head should be Cabinet
Oaleer, drafted somewhat along the lines
d the English bill. A committee of one
auhdred headed by Professor Irving Fisher
VI iase and including in its membership
] Dr Hermann VI. Bggs, New York State
nsahn Commissioner, is actively support
ing the bill and is making & fresh drive for
l ~ passage on the strength of what has
/ wen accomplished in war time. 1t is felt
1 ."a' much that has been accomplished may
y soon lost unless preserved in such a
l "@hner as this. In fact, most wonderful
N7usng projects which the Federal gov
S'ament has provided 100000 for and
~ seeing through arc largely gone by
! E BOARD now. Only government housing
"'eh was twenty-five per cent completed
me time Of signing the armisticc is to
" misned; all other has been abandoned.
ne Federal department of health would
-~"HsStiy absorb the activities Of many
r,''s'e agencies for public health, some
ma ~ The Red Cross absorbed those
- smaiier organizations. We have in this
'1H'fy dozens Of these, whose work covers
VICE range Of grbjccts, and doubtless
~''s Or leSs Of them would be loath to turn
ss thsir work 70 the government. This is
"c feeling Of the Rockefeller Founda-
VSa, however.
'hss'dent Vincent vent into the subject
- some length IN speaking before the
""sfcan Public Health A2sociation on
/ ago.
1 -, He development Of thoroughgoiDg team
10y among the American voluntary public
I sh agencies, in close coSpcratio with
IS fsnesal and state authorities and with
| ~ Naess'on Of the public, ought" he said,
1 ~ s@o inevitably 10 the establishment in
/ ,s,''sS''n VI Il national department OF
- ns Meath, which, without imposing its
.s''f'W npdely upon states and cornmu-
sss'ss would, through its research actiyi-
\ ~. ana III comprehensive programme
al the forces of public health
@.saxseut The nation,
81 fIa'a u IL, bDw1yegsp b9 continued
70 'pnG W the voluntary agencies per,