Changsha, May 7.
'A. health week is being' launched, beginning May 8. The Health Committee, "which is inaugurating the campaign is composed of the leading doctors of the prominent hospitals of the city. The magistrates of the surrounding districts are very much interested in the health programme and are doing all they can to stimulate The Commi algo a member of the committee, as well as the Commissioner of Finance, land the entire Public Health Council.
'The first day's programme is to clean the city. 'The burden of this rests. very largely upon the police fand the public health inspectors, who Will be assisted by more than 100 coolies. 'The shops, narrow alleys and sare' to be swept and School Health Contest land many of these have been received in Shanghai.
The agents point out that the insuring public at first paid little attention to General Han's proclamation jas they regarded it as "only popularly: jealculated asa necessary oficial Jaction in connection with maintaining. the district law and order, and pre venting public danger: notwithstand-jing, the Snsurance business could Jproceed-on just as usual without any Fetardation or ill effects."
Punitive measures, however, were enforced in two outstanding cases mentioned by the agents. In one case fa. company, whose premises were] Insured. by foreign firms in the sum of $20,000 had a fire. The Jdone was not great, and the claim paid by the insurance company con~ teemed amounted to $400. In the second case a claim of $700 was paid toa company for a small fire: their {ull Insurance was for $16,000.
In both these cases the respective managers of the two insured firms were imprisoned, and a fine of 40 per Jeent. of the full insured value exact Jed, that {s to say $8,000 in the former fand $6400 in the latter case, whereas lhe claims paid were only for $400 and $100 respectively.
Merchants Worried But that is not the whole tale of joe. The agents point out that being placed under arrest immediately a five occurs, and subsequently being fined 40 per cent. of the full insured value of his premises, are not the only things to be suffered by a merchant, Should the neighbours suffer fa loss through the direct result of [such a fire, the insured is ordered to [pay compensation to his neighbours in [addition to paying the fine.
As regards the storage of goods, the Jagents point out that all the local [grain hongs, cotton hongs, and leading [business houses are storing practically all the stocks of merchandise of their [customers who consign them for sale. insurance against the risk of fire on this merchandise is handled by these Ihongs and houses on behalf of their As a matter of fact, the agents continue, the responsibility for consignments of stock is for their customers to shoulder, but these latter advance: money against these goods from these bhangs who, in turn, procure money from banks against the mortgage of the stock, thus making several parties interested, However, when a fire loceurs, it is the hong that receives the punishment, Being in the position of feommission' hongs who only handle [business for others. they are not willing to bear punishment for others and also. to have to recompense neighbours.
"The result of this is that insurance agents in Tsinanfu are not doing any new business, but policies already in force are continually being surrender~ fed, with the probability of business coming to a standstill in the very near future. In consequence: the agents have appealed to their superiors, ask-jing them to approach their respective Jeonstls inthe hope of straightening out the situation as soon as possible.
Another phase of the campaign is the schoo! health contest. 'The best theme written on such subjects as, "School Health as a Nucleus of Public Health," "How School Health 'Affects Me," etc, will be read at the Health Exhibition, 'Then' there is the picture contest which is open for all." These photoweaphs are to be on any health sub-Jeot.
Oh the last day of the campaign is the Health Exhibition and Best Baby Show. A prize will be given to the most perfect baby under two years.
After the judges have made their decisions for each contest prizes will be awarded to the winners In connection with the Exhibition, which will be held at the ¥.M.C.A. a large number of coloured slides will be shown to better emphasize the benefits of health and sanitation. not only to babies, but to the entire communi All persons desiring to be innoculated—for typhoid and cholera—may receive the treatments during the Capitol Health Week for 50 cents.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.