The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-16
CONGRESS COMMITTEES
ON DISTRICT AFFAIRS
MEET WITH Mr.. RIIS
Discuss Means to Better
Housing Conditions.
EXPERIENCE IN NEW YORK
Health Department Should Have Au-
thority TO Act and Public Opin-
ion Should Be Aroused.

The Senate and House Committees on
the District of Columbia held a joint
meeting at the Capitol today tc consider
tenement house conditions in washing
ton. and to hear the views Of Jacob A.
Riis, of New York. on his experience
along this line in the metropolis. Gloss
attention was paid TO everything the
phnanthropic worker described. and
members of the two houses made fire.
ouent inquiries as TO the applicability of
New York methods to the National Cap
ital.
Mr.. Riis described in detail the work
ings OF the tenement house laws in New
York city, and said their enforcement
depended on public sentiment. This
feeling. he added. was even more effec-
tive than the law itself No law could
be made a success, he said, unless the
officials in charge had the appreciation
of the public in their work. Otherwise,
their work would be regarded as revolu-
tionary.
The first necessity is to awaken the
public to a realization cf the appalling
conditions existing in the very heart Of
the city, and then support the officials
in whatever measures may be neces-
sary, however drastic. TO remove the
disgraCeful conditions whfth breed dis
ease and death
Want Power to Act.
The speaker said the best way to
bring about these reforms was to put
power in the hands Of the board of
health. and give them the support of
the regular police and the sanitary po-
lice. He said in New York people of for
eign nationality interposed little or no
a.
ments and he thought there ought TO be
none by people OF American birth here.
The fact that the death rate in Wash
I inston is higher than in forty OF the
! largest cities Of the nation was brought
! up in the meeting and was discussed.
/ The opinion was expressed that these
conditions should not be hushed up. but
should be made known. so that effective
remedies could be applied.
These horrible conditions do exist
here" said John Joy Edison. while in
I New York they have secured beautiful
Z parks. and l am IN favor Of bringing
those methods here. The disposition of
families taken from novels which may
be destroyed viii be met by the COM
mercial instinct OF builders, who viii
put up a better class of houses"
He spoke OF the work of the Sani-
tary Improvement Company. and said
the investment in these houses brought
in a return of per cent. per cent oi
hich is regarded as income and PEI
cent reserved for repairs and improve.
ments.
Sewers as a Start.
Mr. Edison said if Congress would sp,
propriate money for the sewer system
il would be making the best start to
ward better health conditions. Mr.. Gal
linger announced that a bill 10 carr5
out the New York plan is under prep
aration by the District Commissions
and will soon be sent TO Congress.
Mr.. Riis advocated calling upon Rob
ert W. de Forest. the tenement house
| commissioner Of New York city. foI
suggestions in framing a strong bill Hc
said the awful crowding here, OF whole
families in one room, was not such q
problem in the metropolis. He urged
members of Congress not 10 be dis
couraged by what might seem 70 be toe
great expense. declaring the present
cost Of clearing away frame shantieS
would not be one-twentieth Of what Il
would be after brick tenements re
placed them. II took $3.50, 600 to destroy
Mulberry Bend in New York. ant
ten years 10 do il, Mr.. Riis said. but Il
was worth every cent of II.
Mr.. Woodward said H. A. Willard
and General Ketcham were about (
: erect 200 buildings in one square. on z
sanitary building plan.
The healthfulness Of pump water II
cities was discussed and Mr.. Weller
, offered 20 take members of Congress q
see appalling conditions within three
blocks of the Capitol. Mr.. Riis was [,
have gone 10 Hagerstown today. bu
because OF a bad cold will go back e
New York tonight.
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