The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-18
EXPOSURE OF SLUnS
BENEFITS THE DISTRICT
People Aroused by Mr.. Riis'
Comments on Conditions.
COMMISSIONERS ENDORSE
Many Evils Already in Process OF Being
Remedied-Alley Reform, How
ever, Highly Important.

The District Commissioners arc thof-
oughly in sympathy with the views ex-
pressed by Jacob A. Ris concerning
the filth. squalor. and poverty of Wash
ington. and his trip is welcomed because
it has called public. If not national. at
,entIon to the deplorable conditions ex-
listing beneath the shadow OF the halls
of Congress. Commissioner Macfarland.
in discussing the subject this morning.
said:
THE visit Of Mr.. Rns viii prove.
believe of the greatest value in our en-
deavor to secure better sanitary con-
ditions in tho District OF Columbia. Il
is good for n community. as for an
individual. TO be stabbed awake as
Stevenson said. to a consciousness OF
defects and needs. Much had been done
before Mr.. Riis came. The Commits
sioners and many citizens have been
aware Of the conditions: the Commits
sioners have recommended for several
years legislation necessary to improve
them; first. by authorizing the con-
domination OF unsanitary dwellings,; sec
ond. by providing for the widening OF
alleys into minor streets; third. for the
more effective abatement or nuisances.
especially on the property of non-resi-
dent owners whom we cannot bring per-
sonally into court.
Need of Legislation Felt.
Members of The Senate and House
committees defl,ng with District af-
fairs realize the need of such legisla-
ton. But the community generally and
Congress generally did not realize this
necessity before Mr.. Riis came. as they
do now. Mr.. Riis. speaking from his
ample experience in the battle with
the slums OF New York, and from per
sonal knowledge by comparison with
the slums OF other great cities here
and abroad. and after personal inspec-
ton of our alley slums, has brought
the facts before the community and
Congress so impressively that we may
expect 10 secure not only the needed
legislation. but that active support from
public opinion without which il can
not be satisfactorily enforced.
Mr.. Riis dealt. of course. with only
one phase of our effort to improve tbs
public health. The completion of tho
filtration plant and OF the sewage dis
posal system viii, we believe make Z
great Improvement. and so will the bet
ter regulati ton OF the milk supply and
ing to bring about. But for the tins
being II is good to have emphasis laid
on the alley reform"
Good Work for James Creek Canal.
Commissioner. West said he could ad,
nothing 10 the statement made by Mr.
Macfarland. He agreed. in every essen
tfal detail. with the position taken b,
the president of the Board of Commits
sioners. Colonel Fiddle. Engineer. Com
missioner, was also in sympathy witt
the argument and facts brought by Mr.
Riis visit. but said that in one or tw'
instances the famous slum worker o
New York had allowed his enthusiasm
to exaggerate existing conditions.
For example," said Colonel Biddle
Mr. Riis denounces the James Creel
Canal and says Congress should pro
vide for it's eradication Immediately, 81
the ground that the canal Is the hot
bed OF germs and disease. As a matte
of fact, Congress is abOlishing the cana
as rapidly as possibly. but no disease. a
far as i know, is traceable 10 the cana
The persons living in the immediate VI
cinity of the canal are healthy. and n
complaint comes from them. AS TO hi
statements concerning other portions O
the city. 1 thoroughly agree with Nj
Riis. There is no doubt that condition
are bad. and a remedy should be ap
piled immediately