The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-05
NEED MORE LAWS
FOR C|TY'S HEALTH
Many Destitute Families Living
in Unsanitary Homes-Can-
not Be Moved.
WHAT DR.. BUCHANAN SAYS
Points Out Necessity for Addi-
tional Powers for the Board
of Health. II
WHAT DR.. BUCHANAN SAYS

The case of Charles Morgan. an old
Confederate soldier who, with his wife,
lived In an unspeakably filthy room at
NO 2ls North Eighteenth street for two
yoars or more. and of many others who
could be named without end illustrates
IN most forcible manner the need for
some law which will give the city
authority to remove all such people from
their unsanitary surroundings.
AT present." said Rev. Dr. James
Buchanan. general secretary of the AS
ISOLATED Charities, there liz no such
law. The city has no authority by which
1t can compel the removal OF these peo-
pie. and the Board of Health III Hbso-
lutely helpess. 1t can act only under the
law affecting infectious diseases, and tho
city can act only under the vagrancy
act. which gives tho police authority to
take up any known beggar. It was by (
means Of the authority under this act
hat the removal OF Charles Morgan wac
effected Wednesday, otherwise the old
man could have remained IN his reeking
room as long as he wished.
Not only this" continued DIR. Buch-
anan there is great need for some law
which will compel idle, loafing. dissIpated
husbands and fathers to support their
families. In innumerablc cases tho AS
ISOLATED Charities Is called upon to help
| families who could be supported with
ease by the fathers and husbands IL only
they would work"
Martyr to Dissipation. ~
Jake Timberlakc an eleven year ola y.
boy. died "Wednesday morning in Virginia.
Hospital of tetanus. arising from an in.
jury to his foot inflicted while he WAN
working for the support of the family 5
whom. 1t Is alleged. his dissipated father
had old In,
the family: the next Oldest being only
eight years OF age. and his mother and
two young sisters depended upon him for
their daily bread. He worked manfullse
while he could. About twelve days age
his foot was mashed In printing presBT
Tho physicians at the hospital did a,
in their power for him. bu. there was
little hope from the beginning. and thu
little fellow Ruccumbed. martyr to his
tethers dissipation
Hundreds of such cases are set forth
as an Illustration for the need of some
law whereby men can be compelled TO
support those dependent upon them. Doz-
ems of families are living in novels and
under conditions OF which the average
man never dreams. and because of worth
less men. who are able-bodied and healthy
enough TO give all tho necessities of life
to those who look to them as morally
and physically responsible for their up-
bringing and welfare. II Ia ono of the
greatest problems with which the Assoc
ciated Charities has 10 contend. FAINT
lies have to be helped II only for nero
human sympathy, and the Associated
| Charities is always willing to give help
where II IL most needed But 1t is felt
| that 1t is rather an imposition on public
| charity that mothers and little children
must be supported by public aims while
| husbands and fathers pass their time in
drunken revclry.
stonemason living near Nineteenth
and Main Streets, who could. IL he would.
make $3.50 a day. contributes absolutely
nothing To the support of those dependent
upon him. The family would starve II
| II were not for the Associated Charaties.
| The man refuses to work. and there Is
no way to reach him unless the wife
would consent to n prosecution. Tho
wife receives q beating for her daily
portion, and the children go hungry and
are clothed in rags. A few days ago
| charita bIy-minded lady of the city gave
| the children an outfit of flannel UNDER
| wear The suits meant to keep the chill
dren warm were taken from them and
sold to give their father drink. The AS
| ISOLATED Charities cannot afford to keep
such cases, but 1t has to aid the inno-
cent sufferers rather than see them starve
| as the result OF fathers deseruon OF
| dissipation.
| Man-POWeT Needed.
| Another illustration--and there are nun
| dreds of them-where Is seen the need
! for some action by the Board OF Health
| is of family consisting of mother'
! a daughter sixteen years OF age and ii
| child nine years old, The mother Is an
| inveterate drunkard; the daughter VIII
| not work. Home for them has no mean
| ing. They live in q howell In which tho
! conditions are absolutely disgusting, dis
graceful and abhorrent. The Associated
Charities has done everything possible
to secure positions for them and to place
| the woman and her daughter on their
feet. But every cent OF money they re-
ceive is spent in drink Yet there Is no
law compelling such people to lessen the
filth around them. which is a menace
to all their neghbors, or to force them
! to live In a more Clearly manner.
Confessedly the city authorities were
not able to compel the Morgan couple
to move from their home, in which the
conditions were 80 foul and loathsome as
1 to be absolutely sickening. until the Old
man was threatened with arrest as q
vagrant. Yet the room in which they
! lived was hotbed for all manner OF
! infectious diseases. And this case is but
n type Of hundreds of others, many OF
! which it is stated are worse.