Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1920 — STATE NEWS ITEMS [ARTICLE]

STATE NEWS ITEMS

The Doings of Hoosierdom Reported by Wire. STATE PLANS HEALTH MOVE Town Health Officers# and Others Would Be Abolished end Their Duties Taken Over by Commlssioner If Bill Is Approved. Indlunupolis, Dec. 17, —Town health officers and city officers and boards of health would be abolished aud their (duties taken over by a county health commissioner if a rblll toß>e submitted to the geenral assembly in January receives favorable action. The state board of health favors enactment of the measure. Thd bill would provide for the appointment of a hea»th commissioner in each county, who would devote his entire time to keeping away disease and improving the public health. Dr. J. N. Hurty. secretary of the stute board, points out what he considers "three fatal defects" in the present health law. These are: Health officers are practicing doctors giving what time they choose to public health work. Health officers are practicing doctors in competition with their brother doctors ahd therefore cannot secure their co-operation. Without this co-operation present health oftlecra ure unly partially successful. Health officers practicing curative medicine are with a few exceptions uninformed and untrained In hygiene and disease prevention work. Their education and training is in the line of the pound of cure and not in the line of the ounce of prevention. Hence they are not efficient and economical to the stute. The establishment of a county health commissioner in each county would not mean the creation of a new office, according to Doctor Hurty, but would simply make the old office, more efficient. “By eliminating the town and city health officers and providing In their places one trained health expert an economy would- be effected. Doctor Hurty believes. The law should confain the following provisions respecting the county health * commissioner, Doctor Hurty says. His salary should be a living one graded by the number of people he serves; his duties and powers should be clearly defined; he should keep full and accurate records of his work; he ‘should be subordinate to the state board of health; he should make weekly reports to the state board of health; he should be subject to dismissal for such reasons as the law may set forth; and a proper health appropriation should be provided In each county.

Otjher States Draw Hooslers. Bloomington, Dec. 17.—Many young men and women of Indiana are seeking their university training in state supported universities of other states surrounding Indiana, the committee on state universities and normal schools reports after an extensive survey. In the state universities of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and Minnesota there are 1,008 Indiana students enrolled, according to the committee’s figures. From these five states Indiana university has but 32 students enrolled, while Purdue university has but 193. An analysis of the survey shows that 450 Hoosier students are attending the University of Illinois, while five vears ago only 199 Hoosier students were registered. At this time' there are 322 students from Indiana cities and towns attending the University of Michigan, 174 at the University of Wisconsin, 97 at Ohio state and nine at the University of Minnesota. Five years ago only a small per cent of Hoosier students were attending these universities.

Legion Women Meet January 18. Indianapolis, Dec. 17. —Formation of the Indiana Women’s auxiliary of the American Legion is planned to be completed at the auxiliary’s first annual convention here January 18. L. Gignillisit of Culver, state commander of the Legion, will open the convention and Mayor Charles W. Jewett of Indianapolis will give the address of welcome. The morning session will also include the appointment of convention committees and consideration of adopting a ritual. In the afternoon organization of the state department will be completed with the election of officers. Resolutions will be brought forward concerning the care of disabled soldiers by the government and other after-war problems now facing the country. t

Wife Sues, Man Ends Life. Hammond, Dec. 17.—John Almasan of this city quit woyk to go to Chicago in search of a Christmas present for his wife. He had been estranged from her for some time and had counted upon the gift and the holiday spirit to effect a reconciliation. As he was waiting for the train he read in a Hammond paper that Mrs. Almasan had filed suit for divorce', charging cruelty. He gave up the idea of buying a Christmas present, returned to his home, walked out into the back yard and shot hltnself twice in the chest. He was dead when neighbors found him.

John Lewis in j-ead. Teire Haute, Dec. 17. —John Lewis is showing big ’ gains in the Terre Haute but Is gradually losing In the Bicknell field. This report was issued on the miners’ election in the Eleventh district, United Mine Workers of America. District No. 8 was reported giving Lewis a “good load.”