The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-10

to assure the city commission that the
public would stand behind them if they
favored the recommendations of DR.. Fox.
What we need more than anything
else in Birmingham" said Mr.. Nesbitt,
lis community spirit. We haven't got
it, and we must get it,
Dr. James H. finder, president of the
Board of Trade stated that it was de-
sirable on the part of the city commits
sion to thoroughly acquaint itself with
the recommendations of DR.. Fox, and
then to announce its policy on what could
be accomplished. What the commission
could not do, Mr.. finder stated, the citi-
zens would be glad to do.
Frank p. Glass, editor of the Birming-
ham News, spoke of the immensely bad
advertising the city of Birmingham had
received from the typhoid epidemic
through the pitiless publicity of the news
papers. However, stated Mr.. Glass, the
evil done is more than matched by the
good accomplished in enlightening the
public to the needs of the situation. Mr..
Glass also stated that it was undoubtedly
the first care of government to protect
life, and he urged upon the city commits
sioners to finance in some manner the
recommendations the federal experts in
order that clean Birmingham might
! be the result. He salo:
You must find the money to do this"
NOW is THE TIME
| John Henley, of the Birmingham Pub
| fishing company, followed with the state
ment that now was the psychological mo-
ment to do something to protect the health
of the city. In ordinary times, Mr.. Hen
| ley asserted, health reforms would meet
with little sympathy and would die from
| lack of interest, but that now in the
midst of an epidemic the public was
aroused and the moment had arrived to
| do something that would be of lasting
benefit to the community.
| Commissioner John r. Hornady, who is
| the executive of the city commission on
health and education, then announced
the probable policy of his colleagues in
a short statement
mo member of the city commission, -
said Commissioner Hornady, has yet re-
ceived or digested the report of DR.. Car
roll L. Fox, the federal expert. However,
we are fairly familiar with his recon-
| mendations, and 1 believe in hearty &C.
cord with every one of them.
During the entire typhoid epidemic the
entire board of commissioners has done
its utmost to alleviate conditions. and ii
is my opinion that the recommendations
of DR.. Fox will encounter no opposition
in my colleagues. I anticipate they will
be accepted just as soon as a review OF
our financial status will show that we
can safely go ahead with this added
burden on the budget"
Commissioner James Weatherly fol-
lowed Mr.. Hornady and expressed his
pleasure at the interest prominent citi-
| zens were taking in the health prob
lens of the city:
II sincerely WISH said Commissioner
Weatherly, that you gentlemen would
take the same interest in the problem
which concern you every hour of the
day regarding your government. The city
commission has already accepted every
| recommendation put before it by the fed
eral experts and in my opinion will ac-
cept DR.. Foxs. And If we happen to
need funds we will call on you. And
we expect you to respond"
| DR.. T. d. Parke chairman Of the board
| OF health, stated that the city commits
| sion had already done everything in its
power to alleviate present conditions, and
that he was certain the recommendations
of DR.. Fox would be followed out.
WARDS STATEMENT
President of the City Commission
George B. Ward closed the hearing with
the statement that he was In sympathy
| with the movement.
Il believe Birmingham is just as clean
as any city in the SOUTH said Mr..
Ward lin fact we didn't know we were
dirty until the typhoid epidemic struck
US. Other southern cities are a whole
lot dirtier than we are, but nothing is
| said about it. and as long as there is no
epidemic of disease there is no kick But
now that we know we have to clean UP,
let us clean up, but don't shout that this
Is the worst town in the world. 1 don't
believe we are going to the eternal bow
vows at all; in fact, 1 think we have a
good future.
AS to the recommendations of Hr.
Fox, we will accept them and carry
them. The figures he names are not too
high, and with little skimping here
and there we will make it without much
trouble
\ The r1aaatinr than ardad