Evening star., 1938-01-15

DIR. Robert OleSOn. assistant surgeon
general, has found the birth certificate"
of the Public Health Service.
Although only within the last two
decades has this service become major
activity of the Government-so much so
that proposals have been made to ele-
vate it to full department with cabi-
net officer in charge-Dr. OleSOn'S re-
searches show that it is probably the
Oldest Of all Federal bureaus.
1t had a humble beginning. the birth
certificate shows in the Second Congress.
which met at Philadelphia in 1897. and
passed the following act for relief of sick
and disabled seamen-for which relief
the sailors themselves had to pay:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
OF Representatives OF the United States
OF America in Congress assembled, That
from and after the first day OF Septem-
ber next the master or owner OF every
ship or vessel OF the United States arrlv-
ing from foreign port into any port of
the United States shall, before such
ship or vessel shall be admitted to an
entry. render to the collector true ac-
count of the number of seamen that
shall have been employed on board such
vessel since she was last entered at any
port in the United States. and shall pay
to the said collector at the rate of 20
cents per month for every seaman so
employed which sum he is hereby au-
thorized to retain out Of the wages of
such Seamen
Section 2. And be 1t further enacted,
That from and after the first day of
September next no collector shall grant
to any ship or vessel whose enrolment or
license for carrying on the coasting trade
has expired a new enrolment or license
before the master Of such ship or vessel
shall first render true account to the
collector of the number of Seamen and
the time they have severally been en-
plOyed on board such ship or vessel
during the continuance of the license
which has so expired. and pay to such
collector 20 cents per month for every
month such Seamen have been sew
orally employed, as aforesaid; which sum
the said master is hereby authorized to
retain out of the wages Of such seamen.
And If any such master shall render q
false account of the number Of men and
the length Of time they have severally
been employed, as is herein required, he
shall forfeit and pay one hundred dollars.
Section g. And be it further enacted
That 1t shall be the duty of the several
collectors to make quarterly return of
the sums collected by them, respectively,
by virtue of this act to the Secretary of
the Treasury; and the President of the
United States is hereby authorized, out
OF the same, to provide for the temporary
relief and maintenance of sick or dis
abled seamen in the hospitals or other
proper institutions now established in
the several ports Of the United States,
or. in ports where no such institutions
exist, then in such other manner as he
shall direct; provided, that the monies
collected in any one district, shall be ex-
pended within the same.
Section 4. And be It further enacted.
That II any surplus shall remain of the
monies to be collected by the virtue Of
this act after detraying the expenses of
such temporary relief and support that
the same, together with such private do
nations as may be made for the purpose
(Which the President is hereby author
lied to receive) shall be invested in the
stock of the United States under the di-
rection of the President; and when, in
his opinion. = sufficient fund shall be
accumulated, he is hereby authorized to
purchase or receive ceSsions or donations
of ground or buildings in the name OF
the United States and to construct
buildings, when necessary, to be erected
Is hospitals for the accommodation OF
ack and disabled seaman. under aach