The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-12-29
NEW CIVIC SPIRIT
IS NOW EVIDENCED
CONTINUED from Page -

corruption and inefficiency in the city
government. The effect would have
been quite different, if, on the con-
trary, they had raised their funds for
cleaning up Hyde Park and put them
at the disposal of the proper officials
to be expended in their own district.
Then they would have had a special
interest in the work of the city Off
cials. They would have camped on
the trail of the various departments
to see that their money was not vast
ed and that they got the work hon.
estly and efficiently performed. 1t
Eoulu have thrown the weight of their
local and private interest into the
struggle for an honest and capable
administration for their city as
whole
Any movement for the public good
that can possibly be put under the
direction of a department of the mu-
nicipality should be put there, in or
der to enlarge civic interest and in
crease administrative efficiency. 1t
often becomes necessary in starting
a new movement to support it tenn
porarily by private organization and
by private funds until public support
becomes strong enough to make it a
part of the city's work, but the man.
agement should be turned over to
the peoples paid agents from the
start, if possible. When merchants
feel the need of additional police pro-
lection and employ special policemen
to protect their business, they provide
the pay for the special policemen, but
have them do their work under the
authority and supervision of the city's
police department.
Build Up Loyalty.
A good illustration of the opportun-
tiles afforded by reform movements
to build up civic loyalty as we'll as
to render social service is furnished
by the present movement for a Wis
iting nurse. 1t is much-needed
movement and the various organiza-
tons that have supported it are de-
serving of the gratitude of all. Espe-
cial credit is due the Domestic Sci
ence association for taking the lead
in the effort to secure a nurse. Yet
| such a nurse is doing work that be-
! longs rightly to the health depart
ment of the city, and the leaders in
this happy effort have an opportunity
| to do the city two services, instead of
| merely doing one. They may make
| the public spirit the project has evok-
ed contribute directly to the growth of
a larger civic spirit. If the Domestic
/ Science association keeps the manage
! ment of the nurse and her work, the
| members will tend to let their inter-
est be absorbed in it as a private en-
terprise and will remain relatively un-
| interested in the city health depart
ment and the rest of the city govern
ment. They will be tempted to feel
/ that the efficiency of the health Office
does not count so much, since their
own special interest will be cared for
anyhow. A part of their public in
terest will thus be drained off from
the reservoir Of civic spirit and kept
! in the basin of private achievement
How different it would be If the WON
en- who have so successfully agitated
the need of nurse and solicited the
! funds, should put the direction of the
nurse in the hands of the city board
of health How carefully they would
! watch the expenditure OF their money
and watch over the health office to
see that the enterprise was not allow.
| ed to miscarry through neglect
! This close touch with the health
department would give them added
knowledge of its larger needs They
would discover how progressive sani-
! tary measures. and the enforcement
of existing ordinances would aid the
work of nurse and department. They
would be led to interest themselves
! in appropriations by council to extend
= the work. They would have a new
! interest in the enforcement of law and
the efficiency of the police department
for the enforcement of sanitary regu.
| lations. Such an arrangement would
| tend to convert reform interest into
/ Oil Writ = n n 7