New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-07
WILLIAM MORRIS HoUGHToN.

WILLIAM MORRIS HOUGHTON.
,FAVOTE OF Father Knickerboekers citi-
,,rrv were taken on what was the most
;-,,ortant department OF his city govern
merit it is ten to one the Police Depart
would win the election with handsome
tic But Il a similar vote should be taken
r.,d;,e the most important thing in lite the
S.h;,;,v & that love and health would run
,os, race for first, with wealth poor third
N,w there's no department OF the city gov
..r4 that seeks to protect citizen IN the
,.ss;or and enjoyment of love unless it is
:, Marriage License Bureau (eries OF MAJ,
g, ,-o,ectionr What's that got to do
~ lave" etc, etc., but in the matter OF
-..,,ct;,s one in the possession and enjoy
~ health and wealth there are two de-
,,,nents constantly on the Job-the Health
"a Police Departments. The Police Depart
-, seeks 70 catch the burglar and the Health
n.n.r,r,ent the food adulterer and patent
-.djejre faker all three Of the quarry poten-
ii murderers
I, then. health IS so much more important
=. N, ,-an wealth it is only logical to con-
,s,r the Health Department the most impor-
-, of .be city's administrative agencies. And
am, dav Undoubtedly it will be considered so
.,,,-allv. when the individual citizen has from
',,,-tairrnent Of the fallacy that the state OF
=. health IS his own concern and no one
Js,'s. outside Of his family, and also that 1t is
=, thing he can keep in big city without the
s,lv and hourly cooperation OF his fellow
citizens.
As matter Of fact, the Department OF
Health works itself every year further into
-. life OF the city, like an ivy vine reaching
,orth fresh tendrils in its exploratory prog
,ss This last year it has shown truly re-
-,rkable initiative and growth, thanks to the
administration of Commissioner 5. 5. Gold
water and TO the Mayors sensible policy OF
,o,.interference with competent executive;
,,d the results to the city seem rather start
ing
First-A death rate of 1910 per 1000 OF
,,pulation. the lowest death rate ever recorded
the City of New York
S.cond-An infant death rate OF o4.6 per
no children born, not only the lowest in
~, death rate ever recorded in New York
IN but the lowest to be found in any large
~ Of the country
Thid-A balance Of SI7o,472 of unexpended
f7-rorr;at;on. the result Of careful economies
rcdent to efficiency and a proper interest IN
D. work
A DEPARTMENTAL COMPARISON IN
EXPENDITURES AND RESULTS.
The entire appropriation, by the way, was
S52AzAo. which is by no means an insisnitl-
can't sum until we compare it with the appro-
giation for the Police Department, which was
S74o23I6, or FIVE times as great. The De-
partment Of Health employees numbered 1927,
which is li;tle less than third the number
Employed in the Police Department. 1t is,
fact, seven less than were employed IN the
Health Department in 1913, although the
years accomplishment was so much greater.
/ would be interesting, in view OF the much
g.ater expense in dollars and human energy
tToted 10 the Police Department, to COM
pa. the rate OF crime here with that OF death.
tEto be feared that the former is not nearly
81 iattering 10 the city as the latter.
Commissioner Goldwater has addressed TO