Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-10

The whole civic. professional and politi
cal force of Philadelphia will be lined
up by DR.. Wilmer Krusen and thrown
into the movement for bettering the
health OF the city when he assumes
charge in January Of the Department of
Public Health and Charities, to the direc-
torship OF which he has been appointed
by Mayor-elect Thomas b. Smith.
Doctor Krusen has not made out a de-
tailed plan of the policy he will adopt.
but In n general way he Is absolutely in
favor OF all the great reforms and inn
provements proposed in the Department
OF Public Health and Charities. He is for
the new Blockley. the great Byberry ex-
pensions, the new housing law, adequate
facilities for the care of the insane and
the thorough medical inspection of school
children.
OF all the appointments made so far to
his cabinet by the Mayor-elect, only that
OF Doctor Krusen is looked upon as of a
personal nature. For years Mr. Smith
and the noted Philadelphia surgeon have
been Intimate friends. They are absolute
ly in accord as to the health and charities
policy. Politicians OF all beliefs also are
In favor OF the progressive measures for
this department. and the medical profess
sion Is unit for all the reforms sug-
gested or planned.
HIS HEART IN HIS TASK.
Since his appointment, Doctor Krusen
has been the recipient of scores of letters
from all parts of the State, from doctors
and surgeons, from politicians and office
holders, congratulating him upon the OPP
portunity for making Philadelphia one Of
the most healthful cities in the United
States. That his heart Is In the work
ahead of him is obvious. His friends say
he feels II his duty to devote the next few
tn hp Of ba Cit
Two of the things in which Doctor Kru-
sen Is most deeply interested are housing
and the maintenance of Philadelphia po-
sition as medical centre. The 81. 900
provided in the new s90OOO.00O loan for
new sewers will make 1t possible to ex-
pedite the enforcement of the new hous-
ing act, but until every street in the
city Is provided with sewer Doctor Kru-
sen believes II will be n real problem to
make the act really effective.
WILL ENFORCE THE LAW.
ITO enforce this law without hardship
to property owners, and yet with due re-
gard to the prevention of disease and
crime" he says, will require sane judS-
ment. The law is to be enforced, how
ever. in its every provision. Every ono
knows that the better housing conditions |
will prevent disease, but there is an ad- |
mirable lighting provision for tenement |
houses in the act that. properly enforced. |
bhOuiu HNc"lse prevent crime. Inc ue- |
velopment of the new system of sewers |
will make the housing reforms more
easily accomplished, and, therefore. will
do all In my power to hasten the work
on the system"
Director Krusen will go into office
without any misunderstanding of the un-
fortunate conditions at Blockley. He Will |
hitye the support of the whole adminis- |
tration. Including Councils, in remedyng |
them
''Blockley is overcrowded in all depart
ments," he says. 1.-The city owns 900 |
acres at Byberry. Speedy steps should |
be taken to remove the INDECENT to BY |
berry. new insane hospital should be !
built along modern lines. A new modern,
well-equipped general hospital should be
erected at the present site of Blockley or
some other convenient site. All this will
take time. Little or nothing can be done
at Blockley until home is made for the
indigent, and, therefore, the buildings at
Byberry will be prime necessity"
WILL SEEK CORDIAL RELATIONS.
Director Krusen is Interested in the
maintenance OF cordial relations between
the Department of Health and Charities
and the general practitioner, as their
work frequently overlaps. He wants to
foster the best OF feeling between the two
and the continuance of the crusade of
for the laity to establish firmly
In the mind Of every citizen that healthy