The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-17
EDITORIAL
4 NATTER FOR PUBLIC OPINION.


Health Officer Levy comedies to be the case,
] there is now no authority for the prosecution OF
restaurants and hotels run without regard to
sanitary or hvgienic conditions the City owes
the duty 10 itself and It's visitors 10 lose no time
Ia ren,edying what is welnigh criminal over
sight.
We hsyo 10 quarrel With the construction
which The City Attorney has placed upon the
ordinance. although j, would appear to be high
9 " technical distinction that he draws when he
sIoclars that one who purchases foods at whole
sale 10 dispense them at retail is moi dealer IN
the foods themselves within he meaning OF the
law giving the Health Department iusisd'ct1on
over such dealer. Il may b, that this Is one
IL the many refnen,xits of the law which are
declared for good purpose, but to follow which
nvol~cs III many instances the defeat of the spirit
Of sauarv law itself.
Whc.icr O. .sot the keepers of hotels, restau-
raits and boarding house are legally "dealers"
lii foods snilks. etc. and ar such liable to the
pnrc food laws and to The city ordinances de-
signed to protect the public in its purchases of
;.nnuro OF adultcratcd food stuifs is question
si,at Is entirely beside the practical present need
1t carrot 81 questioned but that persons engaged
ii .his character of business owe a special duty
81 care 20 large portion of toe pablo. Health
md life are directly involved in tho manner in
which the, conduct their business. The doctrine
of enforcing degree Of personal cleanliness and
Individual regard fo9 sanitation is now e'ab-
lished a. within the power of government acting
in the interest Of public policy, How much
more clearly within that right is the power and
dntv of enforcing sanitation and care in the con
duet of business where the public and not alone
the individual is concerned!
Tn this matter we have this criticism to make OF
DR. Levy: That he should have waited so long
without putting the issue of the power of his de-
partment TO control public eating places directly
before the people In justification, he states
that he has been doing what he could by bluff
ing his way, depending upon the ignorance of
those concerned to enable him to in a measure
enforce proper regard for the public safety.
He explains further what we are 10th to believe
il as BADLY true as he puts it,. that the City au-
shorities are careless of health recommendations
and that the hope O. securing amendment OF
Tie ordinance which would make il effective Is
no slight as to deter him from even attempting
ii. There is such thing as public sentiment. and
the Health Officer should have recognized its
existence He should have sought his remedy
and then failing, have appealed to the body OF
the people
However that may be, are certain that in
the light of what has been shown. the city au'
fhorites will not hesitate 10 give effect to what
il cannot be doubted is the public sentiment in
snch state of affairs To leave any character
Of public agency for the retailing of food OF
drink free from official supervision and exami
nation; TO continue the policy of permitting 'hc
personally careless and unclean to ply trade
In which cleanliness and purity are essentials tc
public health is an anachronism is government
If DR. Levy will prepare his ordinance. the
people of Richmond may be depended upon TO see
that it finds expression in law in so far as il
Is necessary 10 remedy the conditions which he
alleges 10 exist.