Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-12-09
CONTRAST IN METHODS.

AhA5 lCplC oOllAAl5 III ChAICo ONLLta
Public Health Service, came to Perth
Amboy and set the town by the ears
in no time. He called us q rotten
hole; said our officials were q lot of
insists and incompetents. He had
himself made assistant health officer
and without so much as asking per-
mission he went s%leuthing about the
city investigating the living conditions
of the people and the kind of food be-
ing served up for them to eat. He
then proceeded to tell us our faults
without any CLOSING or whitewash.
He didn't care whether we like what
he said or not. He called a spade a
spade and didn't care who got hit.
The city was aroused. officials got
all "het up" and many people became
suited, and the resentment over the
rough manner In which the city was
handled was well nigh universal.
Finally q mass meeting was called to
consider local conditions and so great
was the interest manifested hat 1t
was impossible to accommodate the
crowd that clamored for admission.
People said that DR.. Wolfram had
gone about his crusade in the wrong
way; he was too rough and too out
spoken; he a~ntagonized everybody at
the outset and made enemies when he
should have made friends. By adopt
ing different tactics, it was said, he
would have been able to accomplish
a great deal more.
But in spite of his methods he
caused a general shape-up of the
health department and an increase In
the health appropriation from $4,000
to $4,000. Incidentally. there was a
pretty general cleaning up of the city.
Now we have just had q survey of
the city made by a corps of Red Cross
experts. Permission of the city Of
ficials was secured before the survey
was started and assurances were given
the authorities that they would have
the privilege of censoring the reports
before they were given to the public.
The survey has proceeded in the most
harmonious manner Only the work.
ers themselves and a few city officials
have heard the real reports and the
findings of the investigators.
A mass meeting was called for Sat-
urday night when the public was to
be told what those on the inside
thought it would be proper for the
public to hear. There were about 200
citizens on hand and they had a pleas
ant time singing and looking at
ing pictures illustrating the activities
of the Red Cross in general.
Reports were given. to be sure. and
everything pleasant that could be said
about the city was mentioned. The
health committee spoke of the
marked awakening Of the city in its
health needs, pointing to the increase
in appropriation as the best evidence,
but failed to state that his increase
was due almost entirely to the shock
ing and fearless methods of DR.. Wolf
ram a year ago.
The housing and sanitation showed
Perth Amboy to be fairly typical" of
q city of this size and the overcrowd-
fnp waS axcnsad on aconnpt of Tho wor
Only one out of five vacant lots are fit
for children to play in due to being
near dangerous railroad crossings or
on account of the rubbish. Incident
ally. the report showed that 500 chill
dren, one-third of them under twelve
years of age, were brought before the
Juvenile court here last year. But
these facts were worked in so as to
give as little offense as possible. No
body's feelings were to be hurt and
the reputation of the city was to be
spared regardless of the truth.
Yes, the city government is
what Anticipated. The committee
found hat the city has outgrown its
old charter, which in 1871, when It
was drawn. was doubtless admirably
suited for q town OF 1000 people,"
But, the report said, the time is fast
approaching when it will doubtless be
found necessary for efficient govern
ment under the changed conditions of
large city life 10 secure a new charter
adapted to the needs and possibilities
of the Perth Amboy of today"
Naturally, Perth Amboy does not
like to hear disagreeable things about
herself, but honest criticism never did
anyone any harm. 1t is only by know
ing actual conditions through a clean
statement of facts that we can find
where our faults lie and take steps to
remedy them.
However. it was declared last year
that DR.. Wolfram would have accom-
plished a great deal more If he had
not been So antagonistic to everybody
and had used a little more tact and
judgment in the way he presented his
case to the people.