Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-14
DR.. WILMER kRUSEN
On the Duties Of Citizenship

On the OutleS OI S''&SUS"'P
TT1HE residents of n city can have just the
i kind Of government they desire ana I; In;;t
that measure Of good government ana QUIZ ~
Wilmer Krusen, former Director Of Pubic
Health and now chairman OF the Coniln.'cff s'f
on Municipal Affairs Of the Champer Vi
Commerce. ~
..Tbere is no doubt" said DIR. krusen'
'that the average citizen does not take sun ~
cient interest in municipal affairs, ana the
kind of interest that he does take Is not
always of the kind which makes 1or De''.r e.
government or q more general oDeaiehcc "
the laws. The rich man, the professional
man and the laborng man alike shoG,% fn;rs s"" of
a deem and active interest In the ahairs OF
their city; if all did this there wouid soon
he such nm improvement as to make any
such CITY. possessing SO CONSCIENTIOUS u
population. a model for every other mun1cl'
paiity in the country, If not in the "orio.
PERSONALLY am firm belieysr nh1ier IN tbnt tnt
The successful rich or well do man should
assist where possible and protect always
the rights Of the poorer citizens.
Must Obey City Ordinances
"It il we'll within the power OF the people
tbemsclyes TO have the best municlpal gov
crnmcnt But this will not be done until tne
neonlc as a whole show more OF tendehcy
to obey the ordinances. l nm enai spenRiinE oW VI
now Especinlly is this the case with re-
nord .o Tho ordinances dealing with the col
Scctine of ashes, rubbish. garbage and scrub
hing of pavements, the protection OF the
food supply and other tn'hgS f tSn M,s communiy
I'VE do not need any additional laws !;
tbers are plenty as 1t Is. and the only thing
"a tn get those laws chcerfully obeyed; II
this could be brought ABOUT, anere MnH" %H;nu,tv ~
IN enforcement of the city, ordinances, eS-
nacaily those relating to the public health;
is undoubtedly the ignorance OF the law ana
the corresponding lack Of co.opefation on amc
part Of some OF hs 0lasn %oanper % ones do their
nort we'll; they have grown up with a better
tnowledpc of these important ordinances ana
What the observance of them means both TO
| themselves and to the community. .
""Af the same time there is very large
,,mher of American citizens who have not
tho excuse of the others OF whom ! was
| sneaking, because they have been porn ana
hrompkt up under the laws to which they
do not pay sufficient oua,U amount OF
81 ~ the ordinances relating to cleanliness,
sanitation and public health.
A Municipal Conscience Needed
| uRut II will not be until every citizen
| - phiiadelphia has n well developed munci
| "oi conscience that the administration OF
| t%o citv affairs will reach the ultimate idea
| - avery physician, public health official and
| ~ every good citizen himself.
| VI OF ia not necessary to dwell upon the
| aoroers of insanitary conditions in any cit!
they are only too apparent to every one
| 7, our committee work in the chamber, We
ar. constantly meeting with them and with
| nther disregard of ordinances which makes
| Co. hod conditions In the municipality. Bu,
7 must say that We have met with an in
| cant and cordial response in every instanc,
from the city authorities. no matter wha
department; .,,, .ho d,,r - ororu o,.,uo,
uho has his own health and the health o
Muas mt heart to see to it first of all thai
norbose and rubbish are kept in separat,
ssanontacles and kept covered with tops whicl
onpot easily be removed or be blown off IL
s"h;oh wind. On the other hand, 1t /.
""h,iootory upon the city to see that thi.
,'oste is promptly and regularly collected
vi here again any complaints which W,
INV uo made to the authorities ut City Hal
Nave met with q quick and courteous re
spOnse. un. Sesm;. Cs,t.,,,,I
"Another chance for public opinion I,
oxert itself in the right direction is tn,
Seosnui Centennial. If the people want i
t%ev can have II, just as they can hay,
ahovt anything clse for which they nantes
a'l renl and convincing desire. But som,
actiye movement toward bringing 1t abou
shomld be made at once, as the time Is eve,
now none too long.
"o..The Sesqui- Centennial has some per,na
\ ,snt health features which should not b.