The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-08-19
Enemies of
'!|, y; :; !:
at Wsss'''s :. -
Department Aiding unforiu.
mates One Of Those Under
System Democrats Pledged
to Abolish.
Bureaus Support Selves
By PAUL GREER.

Lincoln. Aug. i8.--With the adyen,
OF equal suffrage there arose in Ne.
braska. as In all states where the
women took their responsibilities Sc.
riously. a new point Of view in pub
lie affairs These new voters saw
possibilities for making government
more human. Such matters as the
health and happiness OF the people
began TO be emphasized. Mothers
entered politics bent on improving
the opportunities and environment OF
their children, and with pity in their
heart for defective and unfortunate
humans.
More than any other influence, the
women are responsible for the estab.
lishment OF the department OF public
welfare. This is one Of the six ad-
ministrative offices established un-
der the code system, which the DEM
oeratic party has pledged itself to
abolish.
The bureau OF child wtlia,e has
never been given all the power or
all the money that the club women
and social experts advocated, never
theless II has accomplished much in
the way of rescuing abandoned. abus-
ed or feeble-minded children. II ex-
amincs conditions in all charitable,
reformatory and penal institutions.
A member OF its staff has just re-
turned from inspecting the Douglas
county poor farm and is preparing to
recommend certain changes there IN
behalf OF the inmates.
Health Bureau Largest.
The development OF Fairgrounds,
school movies and community organ
ization is likewise a part Of its func-
tions. Four women carry on this
work, one OF them being paid out OF
federal funds through the Shepherd
Towner maternity act.
The largest section OF the depart
ment OF public welfare is the bureau
OF health, over which DR.. !. II. Dill
lon presides. The two-year appropria-
ton for this work was originally set
at $l05,000, but this was reduced to
$o8,850 by the special legislative ses-
sion. While this cut prevented any
expansion OF activities, il did not
hamper the work, because OF the fall
in prices.
Communities threatened with cpl
denies of contagious and commune
cable disease depend a great deal on
assistance from this bureau. DIR.
Dillon is frequently called on to ira
vel about the state, giving medical
advice and delivering lectures.
Stops Typhoid Epidemic.
The sanitary engineer, who is re-
quired by law to pass on every
sewer and waterworks project, has
been attacked by opponents Of the
code system because of his having
Travelled so much. 1t was he who
stopped an epidemic OF typhoid at
Grand Island by locating an impure
water supply. Winside is another
community that was saved in this
way. Between now and September
he will have to visit 50 points where
the railroads obtain their supplies of
drinking water for passengers and
test its purity. A curiosity of the
law prevents the railways from CIV
ing him free transportation while
thus engaged, although they are quite
willing to do so.
The heart OF the health bureau is
its laboratory. No charge is made
for its service. A steady increase in
the volume of work presented is
shown in the records, with 5000
laboratory examinations in 1919,
l2,200 in 1920 and $4,000 last year.
Towns in all parts of the state send
samples of water and ice for analysis.