The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-21
STOP THE ALLEY EVIL,
URGES MR.. VAN SCHAICCEE
Strongly DenOunceS Slums
in Washington.
OWNER HELD RESPONSIBLE
Congress Should Grant Authority to
Commissioners and Health Officer
to Deal With the Situation.

The work of Jacob A Riis, and his
utterances in regard to conditions in
Washington. were repeatedly commend
ed last evening in a sermon by Rev
John Van Schaick, pastor of the Uni
,versalist Church of Our Father.
open Up the Alleys and Give Christ
mas a Chance was Mr.. Van Schaick' S
subject, his text being from Hebrews
iii:4-"For every house is builded by
some man.
Mr.. Van Schaiek DECLARED somebody
was responsible for Sum conditions in
Washington. lie said, in part:
Every house, hOVel, and shanty in
Washington is bunded by some man.
Every shack or rookery has an owner
or a landlord. For every dollar invested
in alley property there is a steward
somewhere. What we need to under
stand is that somebody is responsible
for slum conditions in Washington.
What we need to ascertain is how to
reach this somebody and in a spirit
OF justice and equity compel change.
Facts Are Familiar.
THE conditions in this city revealed
by Jacob Riis have been familiar to
some earnest workers for a long time.
attention TO them. Charity workers have
attacked them. The Commissioners have
attempted to obtain authority to change
them 1t has remained for an outside
reformer to startle the apathetic. stir up
Congress. and gain ground"
The speaker predicted that some day
other conditions which are an abomina
ton in the sight of God and man would
be pointed out to the District. For
example, those concerning the manu-
facture Of criminals by process of law
in court, jail. and workhouse." Just
now. however, the question to be set
tied was whether the slum was to be
permitted to grow and tester here.
Without votes. the citizens OF the
District can exercise power. declared
the speaker. ''In this attack upon slum
tenements.' he said, I'VE are past the
Commissioners and after Congress. BY
voice or pen, or through the printed
page, we should reach our friends up
there and make them understand what
we know TO be true concerning social
conditions in the National Capital
How to Effect Change.
The speaker pointed out as plain as
day that disease and death lurked in
the death rate is higher than Il ought
to be. and is frightful and unwarrant-
ed among young negroes; that poverty
causes the slum, but in turn Is caused
by it; that vice and crime are bred by
OvercrOwding, and prevention and cure
are worth more than blind punishment;
that no principle OF justice is violated
by tearing out the ,roOkeries; that now
rather than later is the time to remedy
conditions; that a national body ought
to legislate in national sense and set
high standard for other communi-
ties.
Mr.. Van Schaick said the day of the
INSCRIPTIONS landlord. whether a church
corporation or private usurer. was
passing away. He urged these four
things as imperatively wanted:
'First-A law that will enable the
Commissioners TO open up every hidden
court and blind alley in Washington;
the conversion of these into minor
streets where possible and their COM
plete destruction where this is neither
practicable nor wise.
''Second-A law authorizing the
Health officer or some other agent 70
condemn or pull down unsanitary dwell
ings.
"Third-An act designating the mini
mum amount OF air space in cubic feet
that shall be required for each sleeper
in tenement. and providing for sani-
tary inspection by day and by night
for tenement conditions.
'Fourth-Light. water. sewerage. and
ventilation in every building offered for
rent in Washington'