The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-01
BETTER HOMES ron THE room
Influential New Workers niscussing the Cues
tion Of Tenement Life

~" " Aslte.
meeting to consider "Our Tenement
House System" Mt the Cooper Union. last even
Ing. was largely attended great manylad
sat among tho audience. The platform was
hlled with number Of gentlemen well known
In the city. Peter Cooper sat behind the read
ing desk. central agure. His son. the Mayor
OF the city. presided over the meeting. Mr..
Henry Pcllcw read long list Of the Vice Presi-
dents. which included among n great many
well-known names those OF +. d. Morgan. JAS
NJ. Brown. John Taylor Johnston, VIM. T..
Dodge. Joseph Selgman. John Jacob Aston,
Hamilton Fish. Royal Phelps. Cyrus W. Field
rutherford Stuyvesant. Fletcher Harper. S. l..
VI. Barlow. Morris X. Jesup. John Jay. and
Samuel d. Babcock.
Mayor Cooper being greeted with hearty mp
pluusc, stepped forward and rcad the opening
address. The importance Of the subject TO DO
discussed. tho Mayor said was prcGmnent.
affecting MS it did the daiy life and health OF n
largo part Of the city's population. Tho system
Of tenement houses in New York had been
INC growth OF recent times. and rs 1t
was rariy growing. 1t was incumbent on
those who thought that considerable
number of these were not such rs could he con-
sldered sntslactory-whethcr they were re-
gnrded from social or n sanitary point OF
yiew-to assist In n public discussion " tho
,icts ana oi the remedies that could be applied.
IL our present system WAS faulty. defective. and
vicious. II was our duty to make known tho
ihct and TO call attention 10 the RENEE
careful to mke thoroughly impartial
view, Of the subject. Exaggerated statements
would not only hc unfair. but would preludco
the cause We wished 10 aid. Nor did the Mayor
think that undue blame should b. attributed tn
those who. Qs ownprs and builders, had con-
tributed to the results wedr plored. We wanted
tn take to ourselves share Of the blame for al
lowing an Injurious system to grow up among
us without cnort on our part to- prevent II. We
could not IN a moment change the habits Of life
OF n generation. however faulty they might APP
pear; VIZ could not interfere with vested rights
except where they were manifestly violation
Of the natural rights Of tho community. and we
must be- sure To see our way clear before we
| tulkrd ~ compulsory measures.
Mr.. Parko Godwln WAS tue next speaker. As
boy. he said be had road hook called " As.
niodcus, or the Devil on Two Sticks" who had
the power to ralsd the roofs OF dwellings, so that
| you could see in II was satrical book. ana
Appearances. The speaker and those who ful-
lowed him were going 10 lit the roofs OF some
purpose %" Of rR Wien tho FOOT rooi s Sn 'bb be
people living, huddlcd together more
like savages than human beings. II would
see whut large percentage Of the vice and
sin OF the city originated in the larger houses
called tenement houses. The Asmodeus Of the
night would tell Of the fifth degradation. ana
vtccui those plague spots. And vet these were
the homes OF half OF our population Might
God forgive him that he should drsecraie the
word home 10y using II IN this counec-
ton. The home IA understood 10y ~. rs
!
association. had n existence there. As ont Of
the heart We're the issues Of individual lie. SO
out Of the mouse wer" the issues II social life.
II was no use for us 70 build pubic schools
these scenes OF wrangling and dtbluchcry were
more elective teachers thnn books and an the
iardphernulia oi public schools. II" wished 90
make no criticism OF the chur'hes. but the
churches would but half do their duty I'll they
mad" these social problems their own problems.
Christianity was sent into the world not only 20
redeem our souls nut also 90 redeem our bodies.
Mr. Edward f. Srhnfl.r dos ribnd Tho tene-
81 IL q lI 81 la
spoke Of the siNty-siN rooms IN each Of the
customary tenement houses. ot which ten were
well lighted. twenty-five indifferrnty lighted.
and tweniy-throe left in total darkness The
worst room Of which the speaker knew WIS
seven feet 10y siX-not more than the size Of a
piano packing hoN-in which four men slept
aud hai their halitation.
Mr.. Frederick K. Conlert spoke briefly. He
WIS followed hy Mr.. Jackson 5. Schultz who re-
E,tried the commercial aspect Of the question.
H. said there would be no great success in the
movement until some means were provided by
which good houses could be- made profitable
He thou .ht in the spring that tho elevated rOuds
would clear the crowded parts 81 IN. city Of
clerks and mechanics OF the better sort. and
leaNc more room for the poorer lHborng men.
Mr.. Joseph II. Choate said that he had been
Surrogate'- Court He was in favor ~ fresh
AR. aud n the movement now set u'oot were
got we'll under way, he hoped the Court House
would not be overlooked. II seemed u have
embodied in Itself al tAe architectural vices.
was VA. Denu.A,al ~ si.pn"ge; ana supprIrd
LAWYERS would help in the now movement.
There was danger ~ rNnegeruti on. lie suw ~
once that the 100000 OF the people WHO dweit IN
trn"menis were not bad. The remedy Tor tn
evils that did TX 81 WIS TO touch the pockets of
thu tenement house uwners-whrre his con-
science would b. found. In Glasgow ana Lon
don there hal been ueucl 'cut changes On this
plan. We wanted a new George Peabody. "a
young Peter Cooper. But u one muu couldn't
be found 10 give million. were there not 300
who would give 10000 each. 1000 who would
give 81 uuO2
The following committee WIS appointed 10 de.
wise measures 20 carry tenement house r"iorm
into effect: y Willis James, Frederick W Ste
vrus, tnrAriius Vanderbilt. W. W. Aston. James
Ga,lHtin, Chnrles p Only. r. T. Auchmuty.
Henry L. Pellew. +. ID. Tapprn.