New-York tribune., 1901-03-27
ARCHBISHOP FOR REFORM.
PLEADS FOR RELIEF FROM TENEMENT
HOUSE USES-FAVORABLE RE-
PORT AGREED ON.

Albany, March 2s-The Assembly Cities Commit
tee will report favOrably tomorrow two Of the
tenement house bills. amending the public
health law and the other prescribing the kinds Of
buildings. The third bill. creating a commission.
will be incorporated in the new charter
Governor Odel is heartily in favor of the bills.
He received the Committee of Fifteen. who came to
Albany to-day. In a most cordial manner, and as
sured them that he would do everything in his
power TO aid the good work This in way made
the hearing given before the Senate Cities Commit
tee this afternoon the bills not important as
II would otherwise have been.
The committee had before X paper representations
OF model tenement houses. These were examined
closely by all of the members Among those who
spoke were W. II. Baldwin, chairman of the Com
mittee of Fifteen; r. w. De Forest, chairman OF
the Tenement House Commission; Paul d. Cravath.
vice-chairman; Jacob a. Riis. Otto NJ. Eidlitz and
the Rev. r. NJ Sweeney. All were strongly in
favor of the bills bring about tenement house
reform. John p Leo. representing the Builders
League Of New-York. and W. J. Fryer OF New
York both opposed the bills on the ground that
the code amendments would go into effect imme-
diatey, while the inauguration of the tenement
house reforms proper would go into effect until
next January The Committee of Fifteen assured
the Cities Committee that the date on which the
bills would go into effect was Of comparatively
small consequence.
Father Sweeney. Of the Church of the Ascension
made eloquent protest against the law permit
ing present tenement house abuses. Archbishop
Corrigan of New-York sent the following letter 10
the commission;
The kindness of a friend has favored me with ad.
vanced OF part of the report of the
House Commission. and a careful reading OF TINS
document commends II to my mind as model OF
Cearness Of exposition OF fulness of knowledge or
the fact issue and especially of good Judgment
and modorati ton in the drawing of conclusions.
If. the report AYERS. twO-thirds OF the popula-
ton of this city housed in attics or In tene-
ments. certainly a wise and enlightened public
policy should provide that they he not subjected 10
impairment OF their physical or moral life The
present system OF building tenements necessarily
withdraws the light and air physical health de-
mandS The system. unfortunately. IS n
growing menace TO good morals
Formerly clergy, whose duties call them con-
stantly to attend the sick poor In the tenement
districts used speak with admiration of the
children growing up in innocence and purity in
the midst of crowded surroundings, amidst
the encrCIng brine the tabled fouUt II Arethusa
reserved its native sweetness OF late many regrets
have been expressed that moral leprosy and many
deeds that shun the light Of day seek the couSeui2l
darkness OF the tenement and, most OF all that the
young and the innocent are forced 10 become
familiar with what IL most concerns their tender
years that they should ignore.
law that will bring fresh air and Gods sunlight
10 the homes of the poor will incidentally bring
virtue too at least. II will shield the home from
many dangers and help to give our country
sound souls and sound bodies
! trust most sincerely your admirable report will
favoraby received for the sake of public health
well as public morality.