The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??, 1955-01-08
ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, SATURDAY JANUARY s. 70
Orchids For CITY Council


The immortal words of Rudyard Kipnp which read
III you can keep head when all about YOU are LOSING
theirs and blaming it on you you will be man." ac
curatey describe the actions of the members of Roanoke
City Council during these turbulent times No one can
oeny that every member of the poicymaking body is
well deserving of an orchid for their calm
and intelligent in which thew have handled en-
many OF the highly important in some instances ex
plosve problems which confronted them Heading the list
probably were the appointment of successor to Paul
Pickett who recently retired from the Council because he
was transferred to the city of Baltimore where he is to
receive position with lucrative salary and the second
is the handling of the situation which arises from the
anticipated closing of the City operated Coyner Spring TIP
SanatOrum
When 1T became known that there would be a vacancy
on the City Council which, according to the CITY Charter
would have to be filled by the Council ITSELF immediately
the Council found itself flooded with applications and
quests from friends of certain individuals the
men The responsibility the City Council is to onerte
more than an eleven million dollar business Many who
aspred Tor the appointment haven't even the SLIGHTEST
conception of million dollar business but were willing
TO offer to help operate eleven million dollar business
The members of the Council felt deeply grateful to
tne czens who offered to the City in that hphlv
honorable yet gruesome capacity being conscious of
the duty they owe the City and the voters who elected
them TO office, they sought diligently for man whom
tey felt was most qualified for the position When thew
succeeded in getting Herbert A. Davis retired vice presi
dent OF the American Bridge Division of u s Steel to
accept the appointment they rendered the city unique
service With Mr. Davis experience as an executive Of
big business plus his educational advantages the city has
every reason to expect him be great asset to the
Council.
- When the Council announced it's intention to close
the Coyner Spring Sanatorium which is now being Oh
Grated for TB patients Negro citizens became deep
WI no with tho
patients undergoing treatment in that institution
1t natural for friends relatives to be concerned
about their patients who being treated there
But to think Of the City of Roanoke turning group of
people deeply infected with tuberculosis out upon the
public is unthinkable
With the sanatorium for Negro patients at Burke
vile filled to its capacity and due to the existing
cation pattern of the State the only the prob
lem would be for the continuation of the Coyner Spring
institution for Negro patients until further arrangements
be made 1t is firm belief that the Council is
fully of the need of such arrangement 1t is al
belief that they will allow any patient now re
ceivne treatment in the Coyner Spring Sanatorum
deprived of that Nor will they allow the health OF
the public to become endangered by any failure to pro
vide adequate facilities for those tubercuar patients b.
they white Negro
For economic reasons and for the protection of pub
lie health in instances Negro and white TB patient
have been and being treated in the same institution
But until the laws of segregation and separation of
become thing of the past in Virginia, our policy max
ing bodies think in terms of separate institutions
But whether separate integrated the public must
protected from such deadly enemy tuberculosis.
The Tribune has great faith in our City Council The
Interested Of course in the welfare of patients invo
we'd but they pledged to consider the health of the
effected citizenry Being and Of integrity
well municipal representatives, they could i'll
afford TO neglect such a responsibility.