The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-03

~ UT for prompt action on the part
OF Delegate Cox in the Legis-
Iature yesterday, all prospect
~ of securing new Federal
building In Richmond would
have been destroyed for two years at
least, IL not for longer period. After
having passed n resolution introduced
by Senator Hartman, in the upper
branch, permitting the use of an OBJ
scure co.ner Of the Capitol Square by
the United States government for a
temporary building for the post-ofIice,
the House yesterday morning. at the
instance OF Delegate Featherston and
with apparently little or no considera-
ton of the interests of the capital city
of the State. attempted to rescind the
resolution and withdraw the consent
already ginnted.
Seeing the danger. Mr.. Cox secured
postponement of the matter until
this morning, when the Legislature will
go squarely on record for or against
the material welfare of the city OF
Richmond.
Mr.. Charles E. Kemper. assistant
supervising architect OF the United
States government. has made several
trips to Richmond. and with Custodian
Stewart and Postmaster Cabell has
secured the city. finding absolutely no
available site on the closely built
streets on which a temporary post
office building could be erected.
The offer OF the unused corner OF
tho Square behind the Library Build
ing, in a section where there are no
trees and little. grass. which section
the State barely keeps clean. much
less developed. came as a happy So
luton to vcxed question, the only
other open ground for such building
being IN the far West End, nearly
two miles from the centre of the
business section.
With enormous effort, the Virginia
delegation in Washington. after years
OF work on an unwilling and Republi-
can Congress. secured an appropriation
of 100000 for the Federal building
in Richmond, n sum which the ma
tionaI government, in its present state
OF depleted treasury, would be glad
to avoid payment of II possible. The
overcrowded condition OF the Federal
service here has long bordered on q
scandal, offices being TANNED together
in way which is almost unknown In
the government buildings elsewhere.
hundreds OF postal clerks being re-
uu!red to work in close and cark
quarters in the old post-office. Fifty
odd office rooms outside the Federal
building proper are no" peia5 u'NH
by the various departments.
The plans for the new building are
nearly ready. ana tho work of wreck
ing the cid building was TO begin IN
the fall. If further ,dissension and de-
lay occurs. the appropriation VIII lapse,
and for years Richmond will struggle
on with Inadequate facilities Tor It's
postal. revenue and court business.
The building proposed In the Capitol
Square is to be one-stcry priok
structure, with metal roof, covering
about 1so 900 square feet, and as near
freproo. as 1t can be made, with ce-
ment floors and metal framework. The
government agrees by the terms OF
Senator Harman's resolution to use the
building for three and one-half years
from the time CT Its completion and to
restore the Square in every particular
to its present condition, removing all
traces of the temporary post-office and
regarding the site. rhe plan has the
support Of practically all Richmonders.
who can see no possible injury to the
States property.
The bills were not pressed by their
patron, and without consultation with
the members OF the board Delegate
Baker introduced and secured the pass
ago by the House OF bill which abol-
ishes the present board and establishes
: an entirely new one.
Physicinns Aroused.
Many members of the medical profess
sion in the State feel aggrived at the
treatment received by the State Board
of Health at the hands of the Legis-
lature. Early in the session the Board
of Health presented to the Legislature
certain bills which had for their OBJ
ject the improvement of the efficiency
OF the board. The measures had been
carefully prepared by these men, who
for years have gladly given OF their
time and services at great personal
sacrifice and financial loss in the in
terests of the health Of the people OF
the Commonwealth.
This bill known as House bill No.
$40. also provides for the appointment by
the Governor Of health commissioner
and Of twelve doctors. one from each
congressional district. and two from
the city OF Richmond to be known as
the State Board OF Health, and for an
I appropriation OF $4,000 The health
| commissioner has the power of ap-
pointnent and removal of an assistant
commissioner a bacteriologist and a
clerk. The salaries of these officers
aggre gate nearly $4,000. or more than
twice as much as the State has ever
given the Board Of Health before for
all purposes. l--e bill also states that
1t shall be the duty of this board to
begin the erection and the mainten-
ance of sanatoria for the treatment Of
tuberculosis.
While recognizing the good that may
be accomplished with this large APP
prop LATIN. many menbers of the pro-
fession think that greater good could
be done If the election of the commits
sione- rested with the board. and II
the members of the board We're recon-