New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-24
IN HOUSING THE POOR.
SECOND PUBLIC HEARING OF THE TENE-
MENT HOUSE COMMISSION
YESTERDAY

Existing Evils OF the Tenement House Problem
were thoroughly discussed yesterday afternoon at
the second public hearing of the Tenement House
Commission in the assembly han of the United
Charities Building
Inc investigation conducted by Robert W.
de Forest. chairman. and Lawrence WELLER. sec
retary. About dozen men and women prominent
in settlement WORK gave their testimony and the
deduction drawn from the consensus OF opinion
was that the airshaft must be abolished being
such a menace to health that 1t has to be
known as the bad airshaft." Sweatshops or
garment making in tenement houses must be pro-
hibited. High buildings and dark halls must be
abolished, and facilities for bathing must intro
duced. Roofs for recreation were not generally
approved. and the necessity for Fairgrounds
was made apparent.
The men who testified Jacob Riis. Ernest
Flagg. architect Of many model tenement houses
the Rev. W. T. Elsng, of the De Witt Memorial
Church, in Rivington-st.; Dr. E. r. L. Gould. who
mas made special study Of the housing conditions
IN the leading cities of Europe and the Rev. Cay
lord s. White, of the Navy Yard district. The
women included Miss Lillian D. VALID head worker
ot the Nurses Settlement at No. 265 Henry-st
mss Elizabeth s. Williams, head worker Of the
SoHese settlement in Rivngton-st.: Mrs. V. G.
L-4Aiio"ltch. head worker Of the Friendly Aid
n ouSe on East Thirty-fourth-st.. and Miss NJ. NJ
"n' trained worker among the poor In the
tenement house districts near Henrv-st
MISS "ald dwelt at length upon the prevalence
- '0oeicuiosls IN the poor districts, saying: ut
seehis 10 US such dread that we call it 'taIlors'
oiSease' She considered that drastic measures
should De employed at for compulsory disin-
lection when one family moves out and another
comes IN within an hour. before the have
peeh even swept out. She was in favor of posting
inc name or the landlord In each house and then
he would be particular in getting responsible care
takers l asked a group of women" said Miss
"ad' II the Legislature were to improve the
tehenents In one specific way, what would they
prefer and their unanimous cry was Get rid of
the airshaft~' 1t conveys nothing but foul odors
anQ disturbing noises from height boring windows
besides transporting Vermiu'
MISS w ala was asked, in regard to introducing
paths II she had found that many tenants used
the tub as coalbin
Her reply created amusement when she said "I
perlodlcaIly am confronted by that story. But l
nave yet to see coal in bathtub as well as any
associate Who has seen such thing"
MRS SlmkhoWitch stated that in her district
streets were wider and back yards larger, but she
nao peen urged by the tenants to get the back
FENCES removed plant trees and have large courts
instead OF series of small yards
1ach speaker was Intercepted in regard the
frequency or inspectors visits to the tenement
houses MISS Valid had met one In seven years. and
OUT or dozen OF her assistants only one reported
having seen an inspector at any time. The Rev W.
l. EIslng admitted having met inspectors three or
nesses could not recall having met them all.
The genera! verdict was that the tenement houses
should De visited at least week by sanitary
inspector.