The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-15
HOUSING Ola TOILETS.
Interesting Report Prepared by the
Labor Commi.nionerss Direction.

Labor Commits siOnerss Direction.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-United States
commissioner or Labor Carroll ID. Wright
has transmitted to Congress his eighth spe-
cial report. The title OF the report Is '.The
Housing of the Working People, and II has
been prepared under the direction OF the
Commissioner by DR.. T.. II. l.. Gould,
formerly statistical expert of the War
Department. DIR. Gould while recently
abroad. spent considerable time In the
study of labor problems In the principal
centers or Great Britain, France. Belgium.
Germany and Scandinavian countries. The
report covers thirteen chapters. Chapter
VII treats of public Intervention in the
housing of working people. giving the most
notable laws which have been passed, and
furnishing data showing the encouragement
accorded by municipalities and various pub
lie institutions. The Belgian law CT 1889
permits the general savings bank of the
country TO loan money at reduced rates of
interest through joint stock and cooperative
loan or building companies, founded ON
certain conditions, and also provides for
the insurance of the purchasers life.
that in case of death the home Immediately
becomes the property of the family. Under
II the acquisition of a home is made so
easy that where the period of repayment
over. the actual cost to the purchaser Is
less than prevailing rentals during the
same time. Another important feature OF
the law is the institution of what may be
called semi-officlal committees of good
works. who act as Intermediates between
companies, as well as between the latter
ana their clients Their services are called
IN recognition in other ways. notably in as-
sanitary regulations.
Chapter VIII furnishes information re-
gardlng rent collecting and other agencies
for improving the living environment OF
working people SPECIAL stress is laid ON
the plan adopted by Miss Octavia Hill as
poorer and less desirable tenant classes.
1t shows how this element in the population
has been managed successfully, both from
distinctive characteristic of this plan Is
that the Inhabitants and their surroundings
edinburgh Social Union, which carries on
It's work on commercial basis. represents
n naolher hec type July DESCRIBED Wealthy
property, put it in good order and rent it to
casual casual boarders and others who find it
QlIncuit to procure proper accommodation,
lady members undertaking the administra-
ton OF the property. Most successful finan-
cial results have attended both of these
plans. namely. that adopted by Miss hin
and her associates and that by the Edin-
burgh Social Union.
than one-half of the volume, dealing with
model housing under three phases-block
history of leading agencies and the
financial result attending their operations
are given. The general lesson CLEANED from
study of the facts in these three chap
ters," the report says, is encouraging. 1t
shows that the proper housing of the
great masses of working people can be
conducted on a more satisfactory CONNER
cial basis. With the development of rapid
transit in the. electric age Just dawning.
possibilities will be greatly increased. The
potency of the real rapid transit as a
factor in relieving congested districts and
extending popular proprietorship of homes
Chapter XII deals with the economic and
ethical aspects of improving housing. Tn
cts OF great Significance,
CLEANED from official .lqulrles III sese.al
bad housing to intemperance. immortality
and crime and the improvements result
ing from amelioration In living environ
ments is quoted at length 1T is clearly
shown the report continues, that the
rents paid for inferior accommodations are
equal to and often higher than those charged
by model companies established on purely
commercial basis and earning good COM
mercial returns. The rentpayer Is, there
fore, in a position to properly reward any
effort made to improve surroundings. Deal
ing with the shiftless, drunken and the
immoral element in suburban populations
is entirely different question ard must
be considered separate phase of the
problem Model lodging houses everywhere
have turned out to be thoroughly remuf-.
erative investments The experience or
Glasgow may be studied with great proHs.
More than this. they are of incalculabie
benefit in preventing oyererowding and Inn
morality"
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
most respects a certainty and IN others
more than responsible probability that
a final solution of difficult social prob
lem can be wrought out along economic