Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-03
BY J. A. OLEARY.

"HE proposal pending in Congress
for several years to expand the
Governments Hygiene Labora-
Il tory in Washington into a great
national institution of health,
in which scientists would under
take the solution of problems Of disease
still battling the medical world, has
been given renewed attention by recent
developments.
During the last month Secretary of
the Treasury Mellon wrote the Senate
commerce committee describing the
principles of the bill as meritorious and
stating the Budget Bureau advises that
the pending measure is not in conflict
with the financial program of the adj
ministration.
About the same time the proposal
came before the Senate for brief dis
cussion, but that body was operating
under unanimous consent rule at the
time, and an objection to its considera-
tion caused it to go over to later
date. It remains on the Senate calen-
dar, with the possibility OF being called
up on other occasions during the re-
mainder of the session.
Influenza Spread Is Stressed.
The recurrence of influenza in various
parts of the United States this Winter
has been cited by Senator Ransdell.
Democrat, of Louisiana, as a timely
illustration of the character OF work
that could be carried on In the national
institute of health in learning more
about diseases of the body and how to
combat them.
Another interesting development in
this same connection was the recent
announcement by the Public Health
Service that the HYGIENE Laboratory
would endeavor to reproduce influenza
germs as a means of throwing further
light on the disease. The proposed ma
tional institute of health would be under
the administrative control OF the sur
geon general of the Public Health Serv-
Ice, and the existing Hygienic Labora-
tory at Twenty-fifth and E streets
would form the nucleus around which
the institute would be built up.
The Treasury Department would be
authorized by the pending bill to use
the present site of the Hygienic Lab
oratory and adjacent land, or to acquire
another location in or near the DIS
trict, on which to erect suitable build
ings for the institute. The bill has Two
other features, namely:
Authority for the Treasury Depart
ment to accept gifts or requests from
persons who may be prompted to fur
Their the study of some bathing problem
of medical science.
Establishment in the institute OF a
system of fellowships in scientific re-
search to obtain scientific personnel
and to encourage and aid men and
women of marked proficiency to work
on the problems of diseases that menace
human health.
Expense Made Opposition Basis.
Some opposition to the bill has been
expressed in Congress on the ground
that it would place an unnecessary
expense on the Federal Government
since many institutions in different
parts of the country are already en-
gagged In similar research work. Sup
porters of the measure answer this
objection with the statement that the
Federal institute would cooperate with
these other agencies, and that outside
research institutions are IN favor OF
the proposal.
In his recent letter to Chairman
Jones of the Senate commerce commit
tee, Secretary Mellon commented on the
plan as follows:
1.-THE bill as now prepared does not
create any new bureaus c. new COM
missions, but utilities existing govern
mental machinery. In reality it pro-
vides for orderly enlargement Of the
Hygienic Laboratory and aims to take
advantage of its facilities for the train
ing of scientific workers. In order to
be substantial this enlargement will
necessarily be gradual, depending on
available facilities and the ability to
secure properly trained personnel to
carry on research.
1.-THE provision to create a system OF
fellowship is one of the most valuable
parts of the bill. 1t will enable the
national institute of health to encour-
age men and women of marked prof.
cheney to devote their lives to the study
of diseases of mankind. It will also
supply contacts among scientific work.
ers to collect and disseminate knowl-
edge.
Scientists Indorse Bill.
IT am impressed by the authorize
ton for the unconditional acceptance