Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-04-11
PLAN TO AMEND
HEALTH LAWS
Legislature Shows Friendly Atti-
tude Toward Changes Now
Proposed.
COUNTIES TO have NURSES
Assembly Passes Bill Requiring State
Board to Formulate Rules Govern
ing Construction and Equip
ment of Comfort Stations.

Madison.--H Health conditions through
put the state have received careful con-
sideratiOn by the state legislature, and
many conditions brought about by the
war have resulted in suggested laws.
There is yet considerable pending leg
lslation having to do with the existing
health laws and action is expected on
a number of measures now before the
general assembly.
A bill requiring all counties to en-,
ploy public health nurses, or health in
structors, making mandatory the pres
ent option law, precipitated an ami
mated discussion at joint committee
session last week. Registered nurses
insisted that the bill be limited to
graduate nurses with qualifications
based upon their three years training.
Representatives of the state board of
health, Anti-Tuberculosis association,
state conference on social work and
state council of defense claimed a
broad distinction exists between bed
side nursing, for which trained nurses
health work Of the rural type, which
the bill aims especially to furnish.
They asked that the field be left open
to both classes Ct health workers. in
order to meet the needs of the rural
districts, which were declared to be
of urgent Importance.
This bill was amended by the COM
mittee to characterize such nurses as
'public health graduate nurses" but
retained authority to appoint health
instructors, meaning young women
with special training in public health
work. Both classes are appointive on
equal terms. Another amendment
gives the registered nurses representa-
tion on the committee of examiners
for these appointees. in place of the
industrial commission. Other mem
bers are to be named by the state
board of health and the state depart
ment of public instruction. This sub
Stitute amendment was reported
unanimously for passage.
The assembly has passed the Carter
bill empowering the state board of
health to formulate rules and regula-
tons governing the construction and
equipment of public comfort stations
in every city and village. An amend
ment striking out the mandatory pro-
vision was voted down. This is
health measure which was strongly
backed by the women's committee of
the state council of defense, the fed
Grated women's clubs, state highway
department, travelling mems organiza-
lions and the state board of health.
1T will have a hearing on the senate
side soon.
Publication of public water supplies
and proper disposal of municipal sew
age in the future are requirements
contained in the Czerwinslzi bill vest
ing in the state board of health con-
troll of all waters in and bordering on
the state as to their safety for public
consumption. The bill has been or
1ered engrossed in the assembly and
will come on for passage soon. Plans
for new water and sewerage systems
under this bill will have to be submit
ted to the state board of health for ap..
prevail before construction may begin.
Hearing on this measure vas held be-
fore o joint session Of assembly and
senate committees.
A proposed change in the marriage
laws, having bearing on the public
health and welfare, is involved in As
semblyman Bowman's bill repeating
the five-day clause, applying the eu-
genics requirement to women as well
as men and recommending other
changes.
The house bill making influenza a
reportable disease Ceases as well as
deaths) is well on toward enactment.
so also is the bill vesting in local
boards of health power to order
closed schools, churches, amusements
and public gatherings as a measure
for prevention of epidemics.
The Pullen bill exempting local
health officers from liability in the
performance of their official duty re-
ceived a report from the senate COM
mittee for indefinite postponement but
was later re-referred to the judiciary
committee, where it now ponds. The
bill making chancroid a reportable dis
ease, declaring it a menace to public
health, prohibiting druggists from sell
ing or prescribing alleged cures for
venereal diseases, and forbidding adj
vertisements of such nostrums, passed
the senate and is now before the as
sembly committee on publicwelfare.
May Increase Income Taxes.
There is bare possibility that the
Wisconsin legislature may find it nee
essary to increase the income tax rates
of the state in order to produce sufi-
cient revenues to meet growing state
expenses. 1t now seems probable that
there will be state tax. The in