New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-13

Tho Trncmcni-HuuSc Commission appointed
hv Governor Flower of which Mr. Richard
watson Glider is the chairman. gave the last
of i,s publi,. hearings last week. and VIII no
doubt be- ready TO present lis report To the
Legislature soon after the opening Of the Sos
sion Al Ia. public hearings large amount
Of valuable testimony WAS taken. hui these
represent only fraction Of the work done by
the Commission since is appointment us
agent, have collected much material Of high
value. and the Commissioners themselves nave
done not a LITTLE investigating If tenement
houses on their Dwn account. Mr. Glider III
p,rtl,rlar has given very close study to the
questions brought To- the attention Of the com
mission. and the rhorouehncss Of The inquiry
i In great part due To his untiring efforts me
duty SGT before him when Governor Flower
asked him - serve ~ chairman OF IN" TOM
mission was not an inviting one. hnt H. mas
performed II In manner worthy of all praise
The fcncmcnr-hou,c problem In Ncw-Nork Is
indeed one - larg" and fQrbidiing proportions.
Its ultimate solution may come with the pr"
vision II adequate rapdtranSit facilities ~ IN"
city and with the construction NJ bridges over
the East and North rivers. These improve
n,rnts will certainly do away In large measure
with the necessity of crowding people tose'h'r
Il, "a. lower mart ~ the city. sin. 50 far ~
,be fuur. can b. forcSccn II may be taken for
Granted that We shall have the tenement house
always with us. and the question OF improving
the conditions ~ He In these Swarning pee
hive, l. one II practical AMI Nliai Interest
Tenement hours" property X pr"htah" I" -
owners. but In most cases they so'n dcSrn"S
Of squeezing every cent Of proht our "f " 'ni'
thcy can get. while they VIII max" improve
mruis only after urgent solicitation or upon
cnmpulsion II Is d.plorablc 10 nnd a great
church corporation owning much land on when
t.u.mrnf. houses stand obiccting 10 So obvious
, need - the plncing Of running water on each
floor In such houses. In view Of such ais
,I,surc Tho reluctance, ~ other landlords I" put
,hclr hous,s ln good order Is the less surprising
rho law under which the commission has
h,.n acting directed It Ito make careful cN
"nmInaiion into the tenement houses ~ III" 'l'!
"of New. York: their condition ~ to consiruc
zion hcalthfulncS~. safety. rentals. ana me
effect Of tcncmcnt-housc life on the health
"cducation savings and morals OF thos" VINO
live In such habltaiions and all other phases
"nr the socallrl tenement house question III
9Th. civ that can affect the public welfare.
The Commission has apparent! h'n' "S WV"
with care and thornughncSs. ana "" are pre-
porcd to find in its report numerous recon
mcndations which. II adopted by the Lcg'sla'
IRE. will aid materially In bc'lcrins tho condl-
ton Of the thousands of men, women ana chll
drcn who have no homes hut such as the over
crowded tenement houses Of the city Afford
The tImcincss Of the work ~ this commission
will not escape attention. New York has lately
determined on municipal reform on IN cN
tcnsiye scale II Is cmincntly fitting that re-
form In tenement houses should go hand IN
hand with the other improvements in munic
lpa housekeeping that are soon to be intro
duccd