The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-02
don Win tile middle ana western sec

=
tons of the city.
1'hc Mayor urges that the Council
heartily cooperate With the llealthsI
Department In Keeping tho city cleai,
In giving II Il pure milk supply, In
the use of water from city
wells, and III stamping out tubcrcu-
losis Speaking OF the healtl, condl-
tons he makes the Significant statc-
ment that While the negro population
OF this clty&is only IS per cent. of the
whole population, the negro furnishes
81 per cent. OF oil deaths from tubercu-
losis. The negro death rate IN this
city is 6S per cent. higher than the
white death rate.
This shows that for our own protec-
ton we must improve tho health con-
iitions among tthc negroes. II the
negro race breeds disease, the disease
thus brought into the community VIII
necessarily affect tho whole con,mun.
ity, the white race rs we'll rs tho negro
race.
Speaking of the street Cleaning De-
partment, tho Mayor makes number
of minor Recommendations but falls
10 say. as we had hoped he would
say, that Richmond should be cleaned
up and kept clean, regardless of ex-
pcnse. We hope, however, that that
will be the policy5of the Council.
lie recommends that the wharvcs be
lighted during Jamestown Year; that
the City Hall be Illuminated every
night. ana that n well printed Illustrated
book on Richmond be prepared and
circulated forEtile be slit of the visi-
tors. This Is important. There Is no
up-to-datc book Of that character in
print. and we should, by all means, sup
ply the need this year.
Tho most notable recommendation
made in the message is that the repre-
scntatton in tho Council be reduced to
one Alderman and two Councilman for
| each ward, making the Joint assembly
to consist of twcnty-one members, and
that the Council confine its operations
/ strictly TO Legislative work. while a
4 board OF control, consisting of five
eminent and choice citizens, to lie
elected by the people at large, shall
/ assume all the work, duties, responsi-
Utilities and authority OF the Council
i committees as now constituted, with
! mana cement. control, direction, super
Il vision maintenance, etc, of all the
4, various departments of the city govern
/ IL; ,a,,
being to relieve the Council of al
executive work, and allow its mem
"a bers to devote their whole time eX
clusivcly to legislation. This is thu
most important subject that RichTont
has been called upon to consider in
: the Mayors recommendation will b
! adopted The Council should lcgislats
/ but the business affairs of the cit
a should be carried on by board Q
\ business men. who will give the wor
/, their best thought and exclusive at
ness instead Of by the rule of politics.
In his veto message the Mayor en-
7 phaslzes the fact that the Council
: too large and unwieldy body to des
with the details Of budget, and he
y right.
It The Times Dispatch j gratiied tn;
s, the Mayor recommends the establish
q ment of a juvenile court ito be pre-
!. sided over by the ablest, .,urcst ar
most affcctionatc Judge that can |
found" This has long been a chcrishe
desire of The Times Dispatch, and II
q the sake Of delinquent boys. as We'll
III the interest of an improved either
y ship we hope to see the Mayors recon
mendation speedily adopted.
1t Among other recommendations a
IS the annexation Of outlying villag
~ and the establishment of waiting-st
l. tons and public comfort houses
,c some Of the principal streets.
!. The Mayor has cut out CROUCH wo
% to keep the Council very busy (
"a months to come. All that he recoi
mends cannot be done in day or
D. year, but he has planned We'll for
M greater. cleaner. healthier, more bea
tifui and better governed Richmor
- and every Recommendation which
~ makes Is worthy at least of intel
us gent and unprcjudiced consideration
he -------
Il Bishop Cranberry.