New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-09-30
CAMERA SHOWS ABUSES.
DEPICTED BY CITIZENS UNION
FHOTOGR

With the aid of the camera, agents of the
Citizens Union have got together strange and in
teresting exhibits of Tammany misgovernment.
Taken singly, perhaps not one of the photo
graphs would cause much surprise because
every familiar with New-York City knows
of the oyercrowded schools, park abuses the
rundown condition of certain streets of lamp
posts without any lamps or street signs. of side
walks blocked with packing boxes and of the
frightful condition of some of the overcrowded
tenement houses. ANY one of these phases OF
city misgovernment is hardly sufficient to cause
comment. but when they are massed. as the Citi-
zens Union has massed them. they comprise an
astonishing indictment of the present admins
tration. They prove rsy md the shadow of rea-
sonabe doubt that Tammany officials do not at
tend to their duties properly, and some of the
pictures go far toward demonstrating that GER
tain heads of departments prohting by the
'shiftessness" which seems to characterize al
most every branch of the citys service.
The Citizens Union camera men have four
views of block at Lewis and Third sts In
themselves the pictures are not surprising until
it is noticed that the neghborhood is swarming
with children, and that the block in question is
a school site selected three or four years ago
According to the union men, nothing has been
done in this congested district toward razing the
ing. There are so many children in the neigh
borhood out of school that when the photog
rapher set UP his camera more than hundred
little folks gathered around him and wanted to
be "tooken"
Another view shows a public school in Riv-
ingston-st on the day that school opened The
picture man got there in the afternoon after
the school was filled TO overfoving with the
more fortunate pupils who had crowded in and
he made pictures of scores of youngsters. some
of them accompanied by their parents who lin
gered about the sidewalks in the hope that
something would be done TO take the children
in and set them AT their books. Other pictures
show the mothers Of these children in large
numbers fruitlessly pleading with the school
teachers at the outside doors for admission for
their little ones. The question of adequate
school facilities is a burning one on the lower
East Side. The Woodworking mothers get a
double benefit by having the children at their
books. The children taught new ideas, and
at the same time they are out of the crowded
fats allowing their mothers time to attend to
household duties without interruption When
one family gets the benefit of school facilities and
another family. perhaps in the same fat is COM
PEELED go without these facilities the dis
content can better be imagined than described
The school teachers try to take in all the little
folks by having half day classes. but even this
ally and justly the blame is laid 10 the city Off
cials who DO not produce the desired results in
providing additional room. Excuses about the
delays of builders not readily accepted by
the working fathers and mothers. They notice
that some OF the city officials visit their locai-
ties in automobiles. and they cannot understand
why people in such aff1uent circumstances can
not find time and money 10 provide their chill
dreu with school facilities.
The deplorable conditions among the older
tenement houses fully photographed by the
unions agents. In many Of the alIeyways on
which these houses front there are accumula-
tions of dirt and rubbish that have not been dis
turbed for two or three years. These pictures
are designed TO prove to the working people of
the lower East and West sides that the streets
are not being cleaned 5 they were when
Colonel Waring was commissioner.
The unsightly and useless lampposts of the
city come in for their share Of attention. Scores
of old lampposts have been photographed. They
seem to serve absolutely no useful purpose, save
now and then when they are utilized TO adver-
tise an entertainment excursion. The street