Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-30
HEALTH INSTITUTE
LAW IS EXPLAINED
Senator RansdeII Breakfasts
intended Benefits in
Forum Speech.

Charging that the Government in the
past has been more interested in ouI
animals and plants than in the health
or its citizens, Senator Joseph E. Rams
oeu OF Louisiana told the American
people over the National Radio Forum
last night Of the ineStimable benefits
ne expects 70 enSue from the establish
ment Of the new National Institute OF
Health Just authorized by law.
Speaking through Station WMAL
ever the forum arranged by The WASH
ington Star. and sponsored by the CO.
tumbia BroadcaSting System on a Ma
Clon-wide network, Senator Ransdell
father of the legislation, declared
Would Increase Happiness.
The intent of the act is to pro-
mote the health of human beings, to
improve their earning capacity, TO re-
0uce their living expenses, to increase
their happiness and to prolong their
lives"
The plan of the institute, he ex-
planned. is to make of 1t a great CO.
operative scientific organization, In
which leading scientists will be brought
together and given opportunity to work
IN unison for the purpose of discover
ing all the laws governing human life."
No infringement on States rights
need be feared, the Southern Senator
explained, declaring that the measure
ne introduced. enlarges and broadenS
the scope of the work now being dcne
by the Public Health Service.
Text Of Speech.
Senator Ransdell spoke as follows:
On previous occasion when I ad-
dressed the radio audience of America
on my bill to create National Institute
OF Health, that measure was still in the
process Of enactment. Tonight I am
glad to announce that it has passed
al parliamentary stages and has now
become law-my dream come true.
For several years I have been spon-
Sortng this bill TO establish a National
Institute Of Health in this city, to
create a system of fellowship in It and
20 authorize the Government to accept
donations for use in ascertaining the
cause, prevention and cure of disease
affecting human beings. This measure
was first introduced by me on July l,
1925. reintroduced December 9, 1927,
again reintroduced May 81, 1928. finally
passed by Congress on May 81. 1880,
and given the binding force of law by
the Presidents signature on May 26.
The establishment of the National In
stitute of Health represents the first
OF our Government to combat the many
unconouered diseases which now aff1ict
human beings. 1t is the most forward
step ever taken by the American Gov
eminent in the interest of humanity.
Measure Wholly AItruistic.
This measure is unique, differing from
any presented to Congress during the
80 years of my public service in WASH
fTlOfOr1 vr17 oil
istic. It seeks to prevent sickness and
suffering among all human beings, re-
CARELESS of station, rich and Door alike
being subject to the same illness and
pain. The intent of the act is to pro-
mote the health of human beings, to
improve their earning capacity, to re-
duce their living expenses. to increase
their happiness and to prolong their
lives.
The plan of the institute Is to make
OF 1t great cooperative scientific
organization, in which leading scientists
will be brought together and given
opportunity to work in unison for the
purpose of discovering all the laws gov
erning human life. confidently
believe that when there is brought
together in one central place, under one
directing head Napoleon of health
the very ablest experts in the sciences
OF chemistry, pharmacy, dentistry, medi-
cine. surgery, physics, biology, bacteri-
ology, pharmacology. and a concen-
trated, united effort for term of years
Il made by them against disease, singing
out first the more important maladies,
such as anemia, cancer, tuberculosis,
common cold and pneumonia, that sue
cess will result therefrom.
Beyond question, there should be one
HIHfa fotn rxrt1aH
ceasing efforts are being made to con-
Quer disease. While very remarkable
and most beneficial efforts have been
made In the war against disease by
researches In science, our great medical
schools and endowed institutions. there
has never been in any one place q
combination and concentration of all
the branches Of science such as is con-
templated in the National Institute of
Health.
Any One May Contribute.
This institute will make the fight on
disease the business of every man,
woman and child. Substantial appro-
priations will be made from time 10
time by Congress in furtherance of its
work. In addition. liberal contribu-
tons to assist in the support of the
institute will undoubtedly be made by
benefit their fellow men. These con-
tributions will not be confined to the
wealthy, however. Any gifts will be
held in trust by the Secretary of the
Treasury, and the income thereof ad-
ministered by the surgeon general,
solely for the purposes indicated in tie
act, with all the safeguards attendant
upon Federal appropriations. These
contributions must be accepted b. the
Secretary of the Treasury for study.
investigation and research in problems
OF the diseases Of man and matters
pertaining thereto There are prece-
dents under which the Federal Govern
lnent receives financial contributions
from outside sources, notably the Smith
sonian Institution and the Congress
eional Library.
This act affords a splendid opportu-
nifty for the wealthy to greatly benefit
humanity by making liberal contribu-
lions to the institute in support of its
altruistic work, especially by the crea-
ton of number of fellowshipS so that
there will be no lack of funds to carry
on the work In comprehensive way.
BY so doing they will become real
benefactors and will leave to posterity
an undying record of their names and
noble deeds.
VIII Aid Outstanding Students.
The most important feature of the
bill Is the provision for fellowships,
which would be in the nature of chairs,
@s those chairs are founded in institu-
tons. The most valuable asset of the
people Of the country is brains. There
are young men, who, by reason of lack
Of finances and lack Of encouragement
and the inaccessibility of scientific