Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-13
Gov. MckeIdin Asks
States Action in Fight
On Chronic Diseases
BY The Asseeia.ed Pres.

y u
July 13.Gov. Theodore r. Nc
Keldin Of Maryland yesterday
Urged the Governors Conference
to set up machinery to co-ordi-
nate effort among the States in
combating chronic illness.
The Governor said Maryland
feels no smugness about the adj
vanceS it has made in combating
chronic diseases in the State.
"On the contrary, we realize we
have barely scratched the surface
of this challenging problem, he
said.
I'VE feel that other States
and Commonwealths have an
preached it or will approach it
from other angles, and that 1t
is in, the mutual weighing and
assaying of our various steps
and experiences that we md the
important answers we need" he
said.
Blasts Assembly's Action!
| He called Maryland a pioneer
in establishing system OF
chronic disease hospitals, but he
raped the 1854 General As
| sembly for deleting from his pro-
posed appropriations a proposed
direction for the chronic disease
program in the Health Depart.
ment.
/ Maybe some of the lawmakers
who moved to block my original
proposal viii see the wisdom of
the appropriation when old age
creeps over them with all it's
aches and Ills" the Governor
said. But those who are suf-
fering today couldn't wait"
He said that, despite the move
of the Legislature, the chronic
disease Office is being stated on
a temporary but capable basis.
Gov. McKeldin said the great
advances in conquering the COM
municable diseases which were
the great killers of the past were
desirable, 'tbut it did increase
the population in those age
groups which are most vulner-
able to the chronic Ills"
Started Program in 1945.
He said Maryland launched
the first medical-care program
for the INDECENT and medically
INDECENT in 1945 and that Wash
Iington, the District of Columbia
Hawaii and Tennessee since
have installed programs alona
the same pattern.
"It soon became apparent tina
a considerable number of thoS'
who applied and were certified
for the care were chronic sui
ferers," he said.
He outlined Maryland's pro
gram in establishing chronic dis
ease hospitals in Baltimore ant
on the Eastern Shore and tn
one to be built in HagerstoWn.
He said Maryland has estab
lished four alcoholism clinics TO
study, treatment, alienation an
cure of alcoholism and that NOR
are to be set UP for this treat
ment.
| Maryland contributes heovil
to the cost of operation Of gen
eral liospitals-about 3$2l2 mil
lion last year, in addition t
about $500, 900 paid by Balti
more City and the counties.
considerable part of this wen
to treatment for chronic sui
fererssn he said.
Opposes Truck Tax.
Gov. McKeldin said in a state
ment prepared for roundtabl
session today that his Stat
would be opposed to enactmer
of a so-called "ton mile" {
weight-distance tax on trucl
using its highways in interstar
commerce. He said such lie,
would hamper interstate trat
and be especially harmful
Maryland.
The tax based on the weigl
of trucks and their cargoes ar
the distance being travelled hi
been proposed in some Stat
as a means of gaining revenl
for road construction and repai
Maryland truckers would
taxed for using highways
other States and vice versa.
Gov. McKeldin said Marylal
!, "is moving well ahead of mai
. States in meeting it's highwa
needs without such a tax.
!, 12-year highway constructs
program is based on revenu
from two taxes, fuel and mot
vehicles registration. He said
2 per cent titling tain effe'
a retail sales tax on motor v
hicles-also contributes to- hig
way funds.
DC