The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-17
Scope OF INQUIRY
AS TO CITY HEALTH.
DR.: Ennion Williams Says It is
Neither Prosecution or
Persecution.
TO DISCOVER THE TRUTH
All Sessions of the Committee
Will Be Open to the Public.
Will Do the City Good. +.

INC notion OF rho Cnu,.cil IN appointing
committee OF I'VE, three from the Com.
mon Council and two fromthe Board OF
Aldermen. to Investigate the Health De-
pnrtmcnt of the city and to ascertain. IL
possible, tho reason of tho high death
rate In Richmond. ia being discussed
by all classes OF citizens.
Timea-Dispatoh writer called upon
DR.. Enn.on Williams, chairman of the
committee. yesterday and rogue sted him
to make q statement az to the scope of
the propcsed investigation, and why the
investigation hnc boon found necessary,
DR.. Williams replied that liz his opinion
Richmond should, OH account of its pc.
culiarly healthy surroundings. climate
and location, be the heaithiest city In
the United States, and the fact that It
had, according to the United States gov
ernmen; reports, tho highest death ratio
OF any city OF Its size In the country, re-
CURED investigation.
For the City's Good.
There are some" said Or. williams,
who contend that this matter should
be hushed UP and that We should hide
our heads In the snnd Ike ostriches, In
stead OF getting TO the root OF the evil
and removing II.
ut Is said that this investigation will
inJurc the city. but the fact is that tho
city Is already injured by the United
States government reports. which state
to the world that we have the greatest
death rate OF any city OF our Glass; and
what our investigation Will do will be TO
either prove that Etntement false. or.
finding II true, take immediate steps TO
oha for M condition cs.
do either OF these things. we will be
serving the best In erests Of The city.
This proposed investigation ls neither
persecution nor prosecution; II Is only
a desire to arrive at the truth. Some
thing must be wrong when our death rate
is twice as grea, rs Colorado Springs. a
resort for consumptives, and three times
as great as Portland. Maine
Inquiry to Be Open.
This investigation. which will DO held
in the City Hall. and Will BIO begun as
soon as President Turp!n. OF the Board
OF Aldermen, appoints tho two ms,nbers
of the committee from the Aldermen. will
be open to the public. and the committee
desires all those who have complaint or
criticism TO appear and make their state
ments."
DO you think there should be ordi-
asked The TImes-D Dispatch man.
II do not care 10 express an opinion be-
fore the investigation has been completed.
All can say is that ] want TO place the
Health Department; OF Richmond on as
high plano any in the country. The
facts surrounding the health conditions
OF the city will be brought out at the
investigation, and will not be disclosed
before tina. time. The committee will sit
as an impartial tribunal. with the view
OF discovering the truth ana improving
the health conditions OF Richmond. II II
is shown tina, the city Is unhealthy
II was nscertained last night that Pres;-
dent Turpn had not appointed tho two
members OF the committee from the
Board of Aldermen. but would do SO to-
day. II the appointment Is made this
morning. a preliminary meeting Of the
investigating committee will be called for
tonight.