New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-18
TUE TENEMENTHOUSE REPORT

rho committee appointed by the last Legs
, ., ,uve.;icot, the tenement houses of this
city and the conditions Of existence III 'h'hl HIS
made its report. We print this morning Il sum
,r, ~ this documcnt and sincerely hop" that
rlr necessarily brief and imperfect ln'hca'loh
of II, contents may not exhaust pu' s'H"''"
the interest ~ our readers IN one "i the h'o''
,rduous and faithful labors ever undertaken III
IN. service ~ the people. The guarantee OF Tree
speech is continually and properly u'liizr 10
expose and condemn wrongs. nut inns er'''
privilege carries with II the moran "phsa'oh
to be frank and emphatic in expressing appre-
citation Of benefits conferred We deem IL uu'!
"A we'll ms a pleasure 10 say thht ms commit
tee has performed It's work with remarhapie
diligence and perfectly unseliish devotion I'D us
task TO Mcssrs. Richard Watson Glider CHIT
man; Cyrus Edison. Roger Foster. SOLOMON
Moses George T. Post. John l.. Schuchmhh'
William OIL Washington and Edward Mar
shall secretary. Is due the deep ana lasting graf
itude " this community AMI state ana ihden
~ the pcope ~ every considerable city III inc
country.
Tn. amount of labor which these gentlemen
have performed since their first meeting OH
MAY II Is astonishing. and the product can be-
accounted for only by the fact that each one
Of them brought To the task not Only hish
resolve but special qualifications. We nave NOT
found In their report single statement when
docs not seem 10 be proof against contradiction.
mr. 4 single recommendation which II not Vaiu
able I'pon Il necessarily insufficient examna-
ton WI, should not and do not say that the
committcc's purposes might not be- more per
f.c,Iv carried into effect than 10y the bills az
companylng lis report: but. while rcscrving our
Judgment I'm that respect. We are prepared To
advocate without hesitation the general char
actcr Of the legislation proposed and soAc OF
the specGc suggestions We agree, first of ALL
with the committee that the Board Of Health
should be- empowered 10 begin condemnation
proceedings for the destruction of buildings
which are 80 unsaniary ~ 10 he unh, Tor MI
man babitation. their owners 10 be reasonably
compensated There IS no Inalirnabe right vest
cd I'm any one To maintain dwcngplaccs which
are not merely terrible menace to the com
mon welfare but It's aggressive and successful
foe Further iriiling with such an enemy Is Il
folly which Is scarcely il AZ all disiInguishlble
from a crime, and this report leaves no plea of
| Ignorance valid The duty ~ the Legislature
I'm this particular has now been made clear and
imperative 1t should be done at once and
| thoroughly
| The recommended tons Of the committee rela
five 10 the construction Of tenement houses here
! after to liz built aud the improvement Of those
now standing and 1T tn bc kept In existence ap-
pear 10 br AZ all points beyond suspicion either
Of reckless Indifference 10 the interest ~ land
lords or fantastic solciudc for the welfare ~
tenants Light. air. space, cleanliness and So
curity against fire are Indispensable 10 individ-
uals and Indispensable tn the community and
| no provision Of law which Is essential 10 secure
those necessities for one and all Innlcts Il bur
den which ought not tn he chccrfuy borne. II
| Is probable that some prOprctors Will oppose one
or more Of these proposed regulations ne an in
vasion Of their rights. n so they are not only
entitled but bound Ia show by what means their
| invasion of the rights Of others can he * com
plctcly prevented by less rigorous means. But
we would not for Il great deal he instrumental
in importing much trace ~ bitterness
| into the movement for tenement house reform
The committee has been sngiurly impartial
and dspassionatc. and that IL the spirit I'm which
IN undertaking Of great magnitude and utility
should he prosecuted The universal dcsr,
should bc To preserve in discussion which
ought 10 he followed by large results the broad
view and disintcrcsed temper with which thi.
admirable foundation has been laid