The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-02-28
ALoftyS Sentiment Governor; But Give Us Time to Think Before
Kicking All OF Our National Traditions Into the Discard

policy has At times gravely embarrassed onc or an.
other of our political parties.
should the house Of representatives adopt the
tending amendments 10 the Public Health bill we
believe that the measure will have been greatly
strengthened both IN popular approval and actual
usefulness. We believe there are further changes
which would still further strengthen IL in popular
approval aud efficiency IN operation. Certainly no
one viii question the Importance Of popular ap.
proyal and sympathy in efficient public health ri,
ministration. The mnttcr reaches the homes aud
hresides Of every one Of us.
The pending hill still retains for the State
Board Of Health what amounts To- broad power TO
make laws. This should be limited 10 administer.
tive lower. The change will not impair by the
smallest fraction the effectiveness of the organiza.
ton. Ia 80 limiting the powers Of the Board the
legislature will limit very extensive possibilities Of
future trouble.
The requirement that the Commissioner Of
Public Health be a physician might well be climi.
mated, Under qualifications provided IN a house
amendment, the health department will have q com.
petent physician ON It's stan IN every city, town and
county. II will not have available in every county
a competent sanitary engineer. II might be far
simpler aud more effective 10 secure q COMPETENT
sanitary engineer rs public health commissioner. al
the salary allowed. than IL will be 10 secure at that
salary a competent physician who j. nisp a cont.
peicni sanitary scientist. This changs would make
n possible o. eliminate one proposed employee ~
T-sNNh y NfNlt NNti IlNNN now any fllllliiiNtlnl Ni
salaries that can be made without injury To the
public service is an important thing 10 do.
The house amendment eNcmpting "conscicn,
tious o~bjectors 10 vaccination should be extended
10 include the children of such ohicctors. The adult
who objects 20 being vaccinaicd himself certainly
Will object Ia having his children vaccinaicd. and
the public is protected hy the requirement ful
quarantine IN periods of epidemic Personally W,
would prefer vaccination To- quarantine also ~,
believe ia vaccination for smallpox. typhoid fever
pneumonia aud ANYTHING else that our family doe
tor believes Ia. There are many people who do mo-
~ believe. Their rights ~ citizens should be- re-
spcctcd M long rs the public health Is not endau
gered.
The so-callcd "cyc.wash" clause should b.
eliminated. This section has been fully discussed il
these columns. II requires dropping nitrate %
silver into the eyes of each and every newborn IN
FAINT, as prccaution against Infection and blindncs
n a result Of a social discGie. a state law %ccrtainl
should not assume every mother to be- ~ infected
Physicians Of high standing, enjoying romplet
public confidence tell N, that they follow this treat
ment only in eases of known Infection and that
is their business "a know. They regard this 'rcaI
ment a. a mandatory provision Of law as uuwi,
The whole section. ~ d stands, is IN direct contra
yention of tn personal rights clause of the bill
which extends 10 every person the right 20 chuO-
his own physicign and method OF treatment
What we are an after Is effective admiuistr,
tion for sanitation, quarantine. control of rpil"mi
study Of health conditions and vigorous oduratiol
al work looking "a the constant Improvement of Nh
public health. Some force may be- needed tp atiai
All those ends. Bat more will bee accomplished d
u universal public approval and q sympathet
public cooperation behind fh law and this WI
not be- obtained 10y the health bin las IL u.s. I
obtain those essentials 60 successful administrrti,
at least q majority oi The notifications prupo,,
are necessary. We an want public health admui
tration that J. sound. Wholesome and effective OnI
a very. very few NJ us want mandatory m,diciu
II should hc easy for tine Legislature 30 choose
sure way To- both efficient health administrator ar
general public approval.