of the deaths. This, in most cases, should have been taken care of by the local Registrar, thus saving a great deal of expense and delay. As an example: We were recently asked by the Federal Bureau to have the term "Broncho Pneumonia" more clearly defined. There are deaths from Broncho Pneumonia alone, but in the vast majority the Broncho Pneumonia is secondary to Measles, Scarlet Fever, or some other diseases. The high death rate ascribed to this disease directed the Department's atention to it, and we find that only a small percentage of these cases are true Broncho Pneumonia. The Local Registrars can save time by getting this information before sending in their certificates.

. Important as death registration is, I believe birth registration. to be more important. The United States Census Bureau requires that a minimum of 90 percent of all births be registered before a State is made a "Registration State," or, in other words, our data will not be accepted until we at least reach that standard. Dr. William H. Davis, Chief of the Federal Bureau, informs me that at some time in the near future he will conduct a test to find our exact rating. We are bending every energy toward making Ohio a "Registration State," and the amount of outside help we are getting is of very great value. The Press, Churches, Labor Organizations, and Federations of Women's Clubs, are all helping, and with proper help from the Local Registrars there is no reason why we should not succeed. It is a disgrace that the great State of Ohio which has been in the forefront in every great movement, is a laggard in this matter.

One reason for this is the idea that prevails among many physicians that the law under which we operate is not constitutional. The original law was passed in 1908 and put in operation in 1909. In January, 1912, a part of the law was declared unconstitutional. In 1913, this law was re-written to comply with suggestions made by the Supreme Court, and is now constitutional. At least no physician after careful investigation of its provisions, has seen fit to carry a case up. We are now preparing a great many prosecutions, but it is our desire not to prosecute, but to secure returns. Our Inspecting Force is now preparing athorough check, and we are acting on information secured. We only began prosecutions after ample warning, and while it has been the hardest duty of our work to swear out these warrants, yet it seems the only way to get some men to do their duty. Birth registration is very important to the child, and it is true. that the registration of a child's birth may save its life, health, liberty or property. Universal military service renders it absolutely necessary. Child Labor Laws, School Laws, Voting, Marriage, Practice of Professions, Graduation, Responsibility for Crimes By and Against the Individual, Federal and State Civil Service, Mothers' Pensions, Industrial Insurance, Life Insurance, Inheritance, Guardianship, Passports for Foreign Travel or Residence, are only a few of the examples of its need. In fact, there is no relationship from the cradle to the grave when inability to furnish a definite age and nativity may not seriously affect the individual. While in this great national crisis we are regretting that we did not establish a bureau years ago so that

we might know the exact ages of our military population, yet it points out to us its immense importance.

I believe that over 90 per cent of the Registrars and Physicians are conscientious in their duties and that we are kept out of the "Registration Area" by the carelessness of a few. We are rapidly correcting the fault in the profession, and the support we are getting from influential individuals and organiations is encouraging, so that we feel confident of success. However, to achieve this success we must have the co-operation of the Local Registrars, and I wish to call your attention to the following section of the law:

"SECTION 203. * * A Local or Sub-Registrar who fails to efficiently discharge the duties of his office shall be forthwith removed from office by the Secretary of State, in addition to other penalties which may be imposed by law."

The Attorney General has held that when a Registrar is discharged from performing the duties of Registrar, he also loses the original position which automatically gave him his position as Reg

istrar.

That there may be fair warning given to all, I will state that promptness and completeness of the returns of each Registrar are being checked up, and after fair and due warning has been given, we will refuse to receive and certify for belated returns, and ask the authorities to certify a new appointee.

This course is rendered absolutely necessary by the fact that the work of this Bureau and its success depends altogether on the work of the slowest Registrar in our force, because we cannot compile our data until all is in.

After June 1st we will mail to each mother a copy of the certificate of birth. This plan is now in use in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Michigan and Wisconsin, and is giving excellent returns. Another valuable aid has been the publication of the lists of births and deaths. Every newspaper man is glad to get this news — for it is real news and it will help you greatly in your work and amply repay you for your trouble.

In conclusion I wish to thank those Registrars who are earnestly working to make the work a success, and to assure you of our earnest co-operation. If you have suggestions for the improvement of the service, let us have them; but any way, lets make Ohio a "Registration State."

HEALTH LICENSE FOR FOOD WORKERS.

A regulation adopted by the Cincinnati board of health recently requires a health certificate and annual inspection of all persons engaged in handling, preparing or cooking foods and food products. Employers are required to demand health certificates before employing such workers.

LAWS PASSED BY 1917 LEGISLATURE PERTAINING TO PUBLIC HEALTH.*

(Senate Bill No. 101.)

AN ACT to create a state department of health, to transfer to such department the powers and duties now conferred and imposed upon the state board of health and granting such state department of health certain others powers, and to repeal sections 1232, 1233, 1234, 1235 and 1236 of the General Code.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:

SECTION 1. There is hereby created a state department of health, which shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties now conferred and imposed by law upon the state board of health and all such powers, duties, procedure and penalties for violation of it's sanitary regulations shall be construed to have been transferred to the state department of health by this act. The state department of health shall exercise such further powers and perform such other duties as are herein conferred. The state department of health shall consist of a commissioner of health and a public health council.

SECTION 2. There shall be a commissioner of health, who shall be the administrative and executive head of the state department of health. The public health council, hereinafter provided for, shall, with the approval of the governor, appoint a commissioner of health, who shall be a physician, skilled in sanitary science, who shall serve for a term of five years and until his successor is appointed and qualified. The commissioner of health shall perform all executive duties now required by law of the state board of health and the secretary of the state board of health, and such other duties as are incident to his position as chief executive officer. He shall administer the laws relating to health and sanitation and the regulations of the state department of health. He shall prepare sanitary regulations for consideration by the public health council and shall submit to said council recommendations for new legislation. During his term of office, the commissioner of health shall devote his entire time to the duties of his office. The salary of the commissioner of health shall be fixed by the public health council, subject to approval by the governor.

There shall be a public health council, to consist of the commissioner of health, and four members, hereinafter called the appointive members, to be appointed by the governor. Of the appointive members, at least two shall be physicians who shall have had training or experience in sanitary science. Of the appointive members first appointed, one shall hold office until July 1st, 1918, one until July 1st, 1919, one until July 1st, 1920, and one until July 1st, 1921, and the term of office of members thereafter appointed, except to fill vacancies, shall be four years. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the unexpired term. The public

* Laws passed by the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio pertaining to Public Health will be published from time to time in THE OHIO PUBLIC JOURNAL. In this number is published the first.

health council shall meet four times each year and may meet at such other times as the business of the council may require. The time and place for holding regular meetings shall be fixed in the by-laws of the council. Special meetings may be called upon request of any three members of the council, or upon request of the commissioner of health, and may be held at any place deemed advisable by the council or commissioner. Two members of the public health council and the commissioner of health shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The governor shall, on or before July 1st, designate the member of the public health council who shall act as its chairman for the ensuing fiscal year. The commissioner of health shall, upon the request of the public health council, detail an officer or employe of the state department of health to act as secretary of the public health council, and shall detail from time to time such other employes as the public health council may require. The appointive members of the public health council shall receive ten dollars a day while in conference and shall be reimbursed their necessary and reasonable traveling and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

SECTION 4. It shall be the duty of the public health council and it shall have the power:

(a) To make and amend sanitary regulations to be of general application throughout the state. Such sanitary regulations shall be known as the Sanitary Code;

(b) To take evidence in appeals from the decision of the commissioner of health in a matter relating to the approval or disapproval of plans, locations, estimates or cost or other matters heretofore required to be submitted to the state board of health for approval;

(c) To conduct hearings in cases where the law heretofore required that the state board of health shall give such hearings; to reach decisions on the evidence presented, which shall govern subsequent actions of the commissioner of health with reference thereto; (d) To prescribe by regulations the number of divisions and qualifications of directors of divisions;

(e) To enact and amend by-laws in relation to its meetings and the transaction of its business;

(f) To consider any matter relating to the preservation and improvement of the public health and to advise the commissioner thereon with such recommendations as it may deem wise.

The public health council shall not have nor exercise executive or administrative duties.

SECTION 5. Every regulation adopted by the public health council shall state the date on which it takes effect, and a copy thereof, duly signed by the secretary of the public health council, shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state, and a copy thereof shall be sent by the commissioner of health to each local board of health, health officer or person performing the duties of health officer, within the state, and shall be published in such manner as the public health council may from time to time determine. Every provision of the sanitary code shall apply to and be effective in all portions of the state.

SECTION 6. The commissioner of health shall publish and distribute to every health officer in the state a public health manual, which shall contain all laws relating to the powers and duties of health officials, the sanitary regulations adopted by the public health council and such other information and instructions as he may deem advisable. He shall keep health officials and the general public fully informed in regard to the work of the state department of health and on the progress that is being made in studying the cause and prevention of disease and such kindred subjects as may contribute to the welfare of the people of the state.

SECTION 7. The commissioner of health shall appoint and, subject to the approval of the public health council, fix the compensation of a deputy commissioner of health and directors of divisions. He may also employ such clerical and other assistants as are necessary for the proper performance of the powers and duties of the department and fix their compensation within the amount appropriated therefor. The compensation of the commissioner and employes, the per diem of members of the public health council and other expense of the state department of health shall be paid by the treasurer of state on warrants of the auditor of state when certified by the commissioner of health.

SECTION 8. The commissioner of health and any person authorized by him so to do may, without fee or hindrance, enter, examine and survey all grounds, vehicles, apartments, buildings and places within the state in furtherance of any duty laid upon the state department of health or where he has reason to believe there exists a violation of any health law of this state or of any provision of the sanitary code.

SECTION 9. The commissioner of health and any appointive member of the public health council may be removed by the governor, after a hearing; provided, that charges against him have been submitted, in writing, signed by a majority of the members of the council; and, provided, further, that the governor finds such charges to be true in fact and their nature such that, in his opinion, the best interests of the state shall demand such removal.

SECTION 10. Suitable rooms for conducting the business of the state department of health shall be provided and maintained by the

state.

SECTION II. That original sections 1232, 1233, 1234, 1235 and 1236 of the General Code be, and the same are hereby repealed.

E. J. HOPPLE,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

EARL D. BLOOM, President of the Senate.

Passed March 21, 1917.

Approved March 30, 1917.

JAMES M. Cox, Governor.

Filed in office of Secretary of State, March 31, 1917.