New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-20
TO IMPROVE TENEMENTS.
MENTS GIVE SUGGESTIONS FOR
CORRECTING SOME OF
THE EVILS.

IN consideration OF the Forthcoming tenement law
revision, the members Of the Tenement House Com
mission seeking 10 obtain suggestions and ad-
vice from those who especially familiar with
tenement house problems. Possibly no class Of
women in this city better informed on the pr-
vatons and needs of the jewellers IN tenement dis
trcts than the head workers in the various settle
mems. They are brought into such daily contact
with the poorest classes that they well equipped
10 act the mouthpiece OF the suffering.
4 few CT the leading head workers gave some Of
their views a reporter OF The Tribune yester-
day. with incidental suggestions for reform.
DR.. Jane Robbins. head worker at Normal College
Settlement House. at No 446 East Seventy-second-
St. said hat she felt the main evil to be the great
lack Of light. air and chance to battle.
If New-York City hadn't been divided up into
these narrow lots there wouldn't be this horrible
difficulty" said Dr. Robbins.
You see. the lots are not OF the proper width
and We are in need OF a law forbidding owners
putting Up tenement houses on twenty-five foot
lots.
How should I remedy the present evil? Well I
feel that key 10 the situation would be to
compel landlords 10 employ intelligent house
keepers. The housekeeper is the autocrat Of the
tenement. and If she keeps the halls and starways
clean and well lighted the tenants inspired to
keep their rooms clean and take q pride in their
appearance.
The remedy for the future" continued Dr. Rob-
bins Ties in our rapid transit and bridging. By
this congested districts will be relieved
The young people. as soon as married, go across
the rivers well uptown TO start housekeeping.
called q young married couple yesterday in
Brooklyn They get over there an apartment with
improvements and windows front and back for
SO 30 month. Formerly the wife had lived on
Mulberry-st. with her family who paid So for
place with only window.
7 know positively" said DR.. Robbins that the
laboring classes would appreciate the bath and
would battle frequently if they could get the op-
portunity, but they have not corner for privacy"
ClE,-
ne ylsung natTon tou9Iy denounced
incident Of a family. including three small chill
ing merely grating at the front for light and who
We're tuIned INTO the street during a blizzard Of
last spring FOR the non-payment Of one months
That she said, rs evil which is a blot on
Miss Jennie N. Whitelaw. head of the Nurses
St. stated that in their line Of work they We're
trying 70 teach tenement jewellers TO know their
7 say to them, IF your house is not kept clean
move ont A clean house is expensive
than dirty one, and in this way you show the
landlords that they have got to be more particu-
Il feel" continued Miss Whtelaw, "a crying
need in the enforcement Of sanitary regulations
The law OF keeping the halls well lighted is rarely
West Fifty fourth-st. was strong in her convic-
lions that landlords should be prohibited from
the better class Of hathouses should the anitor be
think sa aS Il mrs e LshFon ut would be
excellent idea 10 compel the owner OF every tene-
nent 10 post his name somewhere near the
trance. Then some Of rnillionaires would be
put their nettle to keep their property in good
condition They would be ashamed to have the
public know that they sacrificed humanity TO
greed
At the Friendly Aid House. No 24S East Thirty
fourth-st; Mrs J. V; Sinkhowitch was found to
have devised a plan for giving substantial aid to
the Tenement House Commission, but it is as
yet clearly formulated. She suggests that property
owners should employ capable woman to act as
q sort Of inspector, who would keep a watchfu eye
on the tenements. their occupants and their house
Responsibilities similar TO those which Miss Cald-
well performs for the Morgan property.
one woman who is earnestly interested in the
tenement problem, IN speaking the subject Of
baths FOR the cheap tenements said: ITO be sure,
have found in some of the model houses that the
tenants had appropriated the bathtub for a gen
eral receptacle, but that tendency is confined
70 the poorer class, for I know two intelligent
women who support themselves by their pen and
who use their bathtub for bookcase and their
bathroom a library"