Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-14
WORKMEN'S HOMES
An Interesting Report From the
Bureau of Labor.
PROBLEMS STUDIED In EUROPE
Agencies for Providing Houses at
Little Cost.
THE MORAL SIDE OF 1T

The United States commissioner of Ia
bor Carroll D. Wright, has transmitted
to Congress his eighth special report. The
title of the report is 1.-The Housing Of the
Working People," and it has been prepared
under the direction of the commissioner, by
Dr. f. r. L. Gould, formerly statistical
expert of the department. DR.. Gould, when
recently abroad, spent considerable time
in studying the problem in the principal
centers Of Great Britain, France, Belgium,
Germany and the Scandinavian countries.
The report covers thirteen chapters. Chap
ter VII treats of public Intervention In
the housing of working people, giving the
most notable laws which have been pass
ed and furnishing data showing the en-
couragement accorded by municipalities
and various public institutions. The Bel
GUM law Of 1883 permits the General
Savings Bank of that country to loan
money at reduced rates OF interest through
Joint stock and cooperative loan or build
ing companies, founded on certain condi-
tions, and also provides for the insurance
of the purchasers life, so that in case OF
death the home Immediately becomes the
property of the family. Under 1t the ac-
uuisition of home is made so easy that
where the period of repayment by Install
ments is fixed at fifteen years or over the
actual cost to the purchaser is less than
prevailing rentals during the same tune.
Another important feature OF TINS law IS
the institution of what may be called semi
official committees of good works, VINO
act as Intermediates between the Geherai
Savings Bank AMI local loan companies
as we'll as between the latter ana their
clients Their services are called In requi-
sition in other ways, notably IN assisting
local authorities in carrying out sanitary
regulations.
The Subject of Rents.
Chapter VIII furnishes information re-
gardng rent collecting and other agencies
for improving the living environment OF
working people. Special stress Is laid upon
the plan adopted by Miss Octavia Hill as
a means of dealing successfully with the
poorer and less desirable tenant class. 1t
shows how this element in the population
has been managed successfully, both from
the economic and moral standpointS. Inc
distinctive characteristic OF TINS plan IS
that the inhabitants and their surround
ings must. be improved simultaneously.
The Edinburgh Social Union, which carries
on it's work on commercial basis, repre-
sents another type fully described wealthy
people, for the most part belonging to the
organization, become purchasers OF olu
dilapidated property. put it in good order
and rent it to the casual laborers and
others who find it difficult to procure
proper accommodation. lady members I'M
dertaking the administration or the prop
erty Most successful financial results have
attended both of these plans, viz, that
adopted by Miss Hill and her associates
and that by the Edinburgh Social Union:
Chapters TX, X and NI, which comprise
more than one-half of the volume, deal
with model housing under three phases
block building, small homes and lodging
houses. A history of leading agencies and
the financial results attending their opera
tons are given.
THE general lesson CLEANED from study
of the facts in these three chapters, the
yiy,cr
the proper housing of the great masses of
working people can be conducted on sat
isfactory commercial basis. With the de-
velopment of rapid transit, in the electric
age Just dawning. possibilities will be great
ly increased The potency of real rapid
transit as a factor in relieving congested
districts and extending popular proprietor
ship of homes is not yet fully understood
The Moral Side of 1t.
Chapter XII deals with the economic and
ethical aspects of improved housing. I'm
der the latter facts of great significance.
CLEANED from official inquiries in several
European cities, showing the relation of
bad housing to intemperance, immortality
and crime and the improvements resulting
from amelioration in living environments
are quoted at length.
1T is clearly shown" the report con-
trues, that the rents paid for inferior
accommodations are equal to ana often
panies established on purely commercial
basis and earning good commercial returns
The rent payer is therefore in a position
to properly reward any effort made to
improve his living surroundings, and capt.
talists and publc-spirted citizens can prof
itably house the bona fide laboring popu-
lations and provide them with good homes.
Dealing with the shiftless. the drunken
and the immoral element in urban popuia-
lions is entirely different question, and
must be considered as a separate phase
of the problem"
Model lodging houses everywhere have
turned out to be thoroughly remunerative
Investments. The experience of Glasgow
may be studied with great profit. More
than this they are of incalculable benefit
in preventing overcrowding and immoral
ity.
Chapter XIII reviews some of the more
important conclusions, and closes with the
significant observation that the general
teaching of the present inquiry affords, in
nest respects, a certainty, and in others
more than a responsible probability, that
a final solution of a difficult social prob
lem can be wrought out along economic
lines.