The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-14
Rockefeller Funds Offered
Will Not Be Available
Without Full Time Health
Officer.
ACTION BY BOARD
is BEING DEFERRED
County Attorney r. Pope
Reese is Expected to Rem
der Opinion This Week on
the Plans Considered.

Escambia county will probably not
secure the aid offered by the Rock
eteller foundation for health work be-
cause Of the deferred action OF the
board of commissioners.
The county has been asked. with the
assistance Of the state. TO match the
fund'available, but is planning a cheat;-
er way TO meet the exigencies OF the
situation. The board would employ
the county physician. DIR. w L. An
dress. TO take over the health program.
allowing him to continue his private
practice as well. If this is done II will
entirely eliminate the prospective out
side aid. as it is expressly provided
that the public health officer shall
devote his entire time TO the physical
welfare of the school children OF Es-
Gambia county and to controlling dis
ease In the case of a general epidemic
However, the opinion. which is 10 be
given this week by County Attorney
X. Pope Reese may knock the commits
sioners' plan in the head. Mr. Reese
has given as horse back" view pre-
liminary TO a. deeper study of the law
that the county has no authority 10
take the matter into their own hands
that they can cooperate with the state
board of health by looking after the in
digent and poor. but that they cannot
infringe on the boards Jurisdiction in
the matter OF health
The program mapped out by the
county commissioners as try out for
one year, doubling the appropriation
of $500 for medicine and $1,000 for
salary now paid and to add TO DIR
Address duties physical examination
of the county's school children and
treatment of students in the case OF
poorly. 1t is contended that this would
be the more feasible way OF taking
care of the question and would keep
the health work under the direct sup
ervision OF the board.
The Rockefeller foundation plan. as
mapped out to the commissioners Sat
urday by DR. Grace Whtford. chief
of the bureau of child welfare of the
state board of health. and Miss Agnes
McKinna, social welfare worker for Es-
Gambia county provided for a 81 900
appropriation each from city and coun-
ty, "A $1,000 fund from the county
with an accompanying. 900 from the
state board of health. This with the
81, 500 provided for the nurses follow
up work salary and expenses would
total $4,000 which when matched with
the founda ton fund would give to Es-
Gambia county an even s12, 600. The
assurance has been offered that. when
once the work is well under way the
government will offer assistance.
DIR. Whitford and Miss Mckinna
made a strong plea to the board for
the provision for an all-time health
officer and the later work of a nurse
without apparent success.
Commissioner Soderlind thought lit
was an awful big thing which would
cost a terrible lot of money" and that
it was the school teachers problem.
They could recognize illness and send
cnnuren home. He did not see how
the county could take care OF il and
stated that teachers were intelligent
enough TO recognize illness and dis
ease and recommend treatment which
the county physician would gladly fur
nish If parents were not financially
able to bear the burden Il am not
throwing a stumbling block in the way
of others who want it, but I'm against
it," he concluded.
Commissioner Hardy stated that
Miss McKinna's work had been excel
lent and of great benefit to the coun-
ty a large.
Miss McKinna stated that she had mo
ak to grind" but simply wanted to
know If the board wished TO continue
the appropriation for the work which
she has started The answer was de-
ferred.
The point was stressed that the
county is willing 10 spend hundreds OF
douars on cows but debates the ques-
ton of money expended for children