The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-03-31

seems to be that he should show a
proper gratitude for what he gets, and
if he kicks at the food furnished or
the attention he receives he is liable
to be labelled "unco-operative."
sometimes think that the best person
to run a hospital, at least where pa
tients pay, would be good hotel man.
ager. | am sure that one of the first
things he would notice would be the
difference in answering calls between
the prompt response received in no.
tells and the dilatoriness in hospitals
from nurses. Then, too, standards of
accommodation and furnishing, while
good enough in the larger hospitals,
| frequently leave much to be desired,
especially in the smaller places, where
they are often nothing more than con-
verified residences. Regulations con-
corning this would be much in the in
terest of patients.
l am sympathetic to the fear of I'M
due extension of government powers,
for power is heady beverage, and
there is always danger of its abuse
But as long as we have governments
at all, and only the anarchist would
abolish them all, we have to take
some risks in the matter. 1t is equal
ly true, however, of both public and
private agencies, and have to admit
to a cynical amusement when | see
an advertisement by a monopolistic
corporation protesting in the name of
freedom against any attempt to i'm
pose limitations upon its powers in
the public interest AS a matter of
fact, as society has become more com
pick it has become increasingly nee
essary to place certain functions in
the hands of governmental agencies.
1t seem that whenever the public has
become acutely conscious Of some
need it has resorted to governmental
agencies to supply it, and this has
been the case since very early times.
Thus the Egyptians, persuaded by
Joseph of the certainty of years of
drouth and crop failure following upon
those of plenty, and knowing full well
that private enterprise would certain
ly attempt to monopolize the avail
able supply of grain, and so shake
down" the public for exorbitant prof
its, formed a government agency to
secure the surplus of the good years
that it might be equitably distributed |
during those of famine, an amusing |
thousands of years. Roads, sewer
systems, water supplies, and many
other things are now supplied exclu-
sively by governmental agencies. Edu-
cation until quite recent times was
supplied by private enterprise, and
bitter fight was waged to put it in
the hands of government or the state.
Religion offers an interesting exam
pie of the opposite tendency. When
all accepted simple explanation of
the origin and purpose of mans exist
ence, and his consequent relationship Il
and obligation to the Diety concerned,
the state made religion one of its prin-
cipal concerns, and there were estab-
lished or state churches. 1t was far
too important a matter to be left to
private enterprise, with its inevitable
with profits. But as
doubt grew as to the accuracy of the
beliefs, and suspicious
increased as to the value of the serv-
ices rendered, churches were separ-
ated from governments and the bust
ness turned back to private enter
prise.
So it is not surprising that, medi-
cine having proved its usefulness,
even its absolute necessity, demand
has arisen that the government super
wise its provision. Indeed it has been
doing it to a great extent for years,
and amusingly enough, largely at the
of the medical profession.
State supported institutions for the
insane have long been established, and
more recently the care of the tuber-
eular has been practically turned over
% the state. There is now demand
Tor free treatment of venereal dis
ease as a measure of public health.
There are some million veterans OF
previous wars who have the right 10
lree treatment for their diseases,
whether service connected or not, and
his war will add about 10 million
more to them. These are taken care
If by doctors on government salaries,
and many other doctors are employed
by such agencies as the Indian Serv-
Ice, Panama Canal Zone, food and
irug administration, the Children's
Bureau, and the Public Health Serv-
ce. The objection to government in
reference in medical practice comes
90 late, and doctors have themselves
o blame for it.
ITO he concluded next week.