gb OREGON
and divergent economic problems, left most public welfare services to be performed by the counties, or by various private agencies. A legislative act of 1913, however, required that counties levy a tax providing assistance to mothers with dependent children. The state had early a workman's compensation act, faulty in the opinion of many persons, because of a clause which permits employers to reject the responsibilities of the measure. Old age pensions which seldom reach maximum payments of $30 a month have been declared inadequate by many sociologists. The state board of health, which has broad powers, cooperates with county and municipal agencies, and seldom operates locally, unless authorities refuse or neglect to enforce ordinances. The board has done yeoman service in Oregon's fight against disease, and its efficiency is reflected by the fact that the state has 9.2 hospital beds for every thousand of population, an enviable rating compared to the national standard of 4.6 beds per thousand.
The excellence of hospital facilities is perhaps the brightest tone of the Oregon social welfare spectrum. While many of the state's 72 hospitals, sanitariums, and related institutions with their total of 10,298 beds, are in Portland, there are modern hospitals in every section of the state except the most remote areas. On Marquam Hill in Portland are a notable group, consisting of the Doernbecher Memorial hospital for children, The United States Veterans hospital and the Multnomah County General hospital which houses the laboratory and class-rooms of the University of Oregon Medical school. Outstanding among denominational general hospitals in the city are: St. Vincent (Catholic), Good Samaritan (Protestant Episcopal), both of which maintain schools for nurses; Emanuel (Lutheran) and the Portland Sanitarium (Seventh Day Adventist). Other modern institutions include the Hahnemann Private Hospital, Portland Medical Hospital, Portland Convalescent Hospital, Sellwood General Hospital, Portland Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, the Mountain View Sanitarium, the Portland Open Air Sanitarium, and the Shriners Hospital for crippled children. A cooperative hospital is in the process of organization.
Other hospitals of official nature in addition to the Multnomah County hospital and the Veterans institution are the Multnomah County Tuberculosis Pavillion, which cares for indigent persons, the Oregon State Tuberculosis hospital at Salem, a similar institution at The Dalles, and the Morningside hospital at Portland, maintained by the government for the care of mental patients from Alaska.
The Oregon Tuberculosis Association, supported by the sale of penny
