Executive Order 2899

by President of the United States

Whereas, In order to avoid confusion in policies, duplication of effort, and to bring about more effective results, unity of control in the administration of the public health activities of the Federal Government is obviously essential, and has been so recognized by Acts of Congress creating in the Treasury Department a Public Health Service, and specially authorizing such Service "to study the diseases of man and the conditions influencing the propagation and spread thereof", and "to cooperate with and aid state and municipal boards of health;"

Now, therefore, I Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Chief Executive, and by the Act "authorizing the President to coordinate or consolidate executive bureaus; agencies, and offices, and for other purposes, in the interest of economy and the more efficient concentration of the Government" approved May 20, 1918, do hereby order that all sanitary or public health activities carried on by any executive bureau, agency, or office, especially created for or concerned in the prosecution of the existing war, shall be exercised under the supervision and control of the Secretary of the Treasury.

This order shall not be construed as affecting the jurisdiction exercised under authority of existing law by the Surgeon General of the Army, the Surgeon General of the Navy, and the Provost Marshal General in the performance of health functions which are military in character as distinguished from civil public health duties, or as prohibiting investigations by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of vocational diseases, shop sanitation, and hygiene.

Woodrow Wilson 

The White House,

1 July, 1918.