New-York tribune., 1905-01-14
PHIPPS TO HOUSE POOR.
FOR TENEMENTS, 81, 900, 900.
Rentals To Be Used in Erecting
More Buildings Names Trustees.

Henry Phipps formerly of Pittsburg but now
of this city, has placed in the hands of thirteen
men whom he has named to be associated with
him in d society S1,OOOOOO to be used to ac-
quire land in this city and to erect on it i'm
proved tenement houses for the working classes.
The houses are TO be built on business basis.
The earnings are to accumulate and to be
used from time to time in putting up more tene-
ment houses The announcement was made
yesterday by Robert W. De Forest. who said
that the following men had consented to act
with Mr. Phipps as trustees of the society to
be organized to carry out his plans:
Mayor Mcclellan tex Of charles $. Brown.
hciol. Dr. e R l. Gould
Isidor St-aus. Charles A. Moore.
John Arbuckle Georse z; Gordon
Alfred White John S. Phipps. -
Myes Tierney. tChsrles Stewart Smith
1t is understood that Henry Phipps will him
self be president of this society, that Isidor
Straus will be it's vice-president and Robert W.
de Forest chairman of its executive committee
Mr. Phipps has called in as advisers some of
those who are best informed on the tenement
house problem. Four of the men named-Roo-
ert W. de Forest Alfred T. White Myles Tier
rey and Charles 8. Brown--were members of the
New-York state Tenement House Commission
Of 1900. which framed the present tenement
house law. Mr. de Forest was Tenement House
Commissioner under Mayor Low. DR.. E. r. L.
Gould is president of the City and Suburban
Homes Company which is engaged in building
model tenements on an extensive scale
Mr.. Phipps is we'll known in connectiu%- with
many philanthropic enterprises in pennsylvania
among which may be mentioned the playground
for children and the free gymnasium al Alle-
ghary city sTltirthe r4TeHfy Phipps institute for
the study. Treatment and Prevention OF Tuoer-
cuIosis at Philadelphia
Mr. Phippss letter in which he outlines his
plans follows
have asSed yoe on c matter have had on my
mind for some years and which now have pleasure
N nropose to organize society for the purpose Of
building tenement houses in the city 9l ~ o & m
PEE pc gone M ~ huiiding conditions are such 70
m undue cost of construction unreasonable
delay then in the other boroughs of the city OF else
propose to give sOOoOOO for, this purpose |
expect the terements e Pe cos so nfper sIo%ing
Sroper amount for maintenance and repairs
Intend To have the earnings accumulate ana 70
be used from time to time in erecuns more 'eHe-
ms3ts, :. tn., n. rooms should not be rented
at a price below the market rate do not WISH 20
discourage individual investors from 6uliqthS
might check building operations raise rents anu IA
me- Ine eng HisI to aid and who must rely in large
measure on building for purely business reasons to
If there is period Of high and great in
faton then the work should go very Slowly OF oe
stopped on the other hand. If there IS a period OF
great depression and lack of employment IT may be
well to go aS jaSt van ANA at tbe Same time
IL would certainly be an advantage to nave one
and suits tenants before starting to erect second
NV object is to make this money do as much good
I should like the buildings to have all the light
and air possible to have {nT ePsb a to have
spaces around them, IN which the children could
It may be we'll to erect buildings for perhaps two
three classes Of wage eSIaers or M ay pGSSIy
thus to relieve the market and incidentally oenent
/ shall look with great interest to the progress
of the work and perhaps may see much OF 1t nm
I intend to have the gentlemen whom I have
invited to the meeting constitute tne trustees OF te
One Of the first things win be to elect officers.
The trustees are to have the power 70 90 every
taking the work upon myself -
deposit in a trust company, or with committee
OF this board. sufficient cash from time TO time TO
insure the performance or my part
Mr. de Forest said that as soon as it was de-
eided in what locality and how the benefac-
tion was to be carried out, the facts would be
made known. There would be no delay.
DIR E r. L Gould. one of the trustees named
bv Mr Phipps said last night regarding the
gift OF Mr.. Phipps
II ts the most admirable and beautiful kind Of
philanthropy. for Il pays It's own way and Il Is
mil
y,sntaI Of mi social problems of this cty-the ques
tion Of good. wholesome homes for wage earners.
1s Understand il. II is his intention TO give
away something for nothing. but 20 deal with the
matter on satisfactory commercial basis. In
other words he does not wish that there shall be
any unfair competition with builders. Tenement
im1rovement In this city IS needed more than any
other one thing. 1 glad to be able TO say
Something in this direction especially Mr. Phipps
hos done me the honor TO make of the
trustees This gift is founded on the order OF the
Pea hody fund of London. which also accumulates
II js q very hopeful thing % find who was
borr outside New-York do such a splendid thing as
Z like n he cifV a
something.
Alfred T. White. who built some model tene-
ment houses in Brooklyn. said:
Mr. Phipps in my Judgment has chosen the
yyIsest form OF benehcence. The proper housing OF
all classes Is the first essential the health OF the
and TO good citizenship. and il Is a
most effective factor in morals we'll In London
Mr. Peabody's original gift made about forty years
ago. has already trebled through accumulaJive in
vestment of the income, and Mr. Phipps's similar
gift for the benefit OF NewYOrk is likely to multiply
those results even more rapidly.