The Washington times., 1906-03-07
Eradicate Pest Spots Is
Advice of the Com
miSSiOnerS.
WANT CONGRESS TO ACT
Bills Looking to improve
ment of Washington Well
Advanced at Capitol.

A vigorous campaign TO secure more
beautiful Washington. also improved
! social conditions through the demolition
of dilapIdated and unsanitary buildings
! is in prospect.
The successful outcome OF The move
ment. according TO District Commits
sioner Macfarland. depends entirely uD-
on legislation pending in Congress
When the passage OF the Commission
ers' bill providing for the destruction OF
buildings found to menace the public
health is secured. he states, the work
viii be pushed eaergetically. and vastly
improved conditions will result.
Picture Somewhat 0verdrawn.
Commissioner Macfarland. although
acknowledging that the conditions iH
certain slum localities, particularly in
alleys in the poorer quarters, are In
need of immediate attention, regards
the picture as somewhat overdFawn
He states that the impressions gathered
by Jacob Rns. New York's wen-known
slum worker. with whom he visited the
local slum sections some time ago.
were taken somewhat hastily. and have
since been magnified by agitators.
The Commissioner gives his hearty in
dorsement Of the action of The Times in
illustrating the unwholesome conditions
in certain localities. as they actually
exist. and states that. in his opinion. it
is bound TO result in general good for
the community.
Il need hardly say" stated Mr.. Mac
farland. in common with the other
Commissioners, and our citizens gener-
ally. I have been working for years to
make the National Capital model in
every respect. and I rejoice IN the great
progress that has been made and that
am very hopeful Of great progress in
the future.
Bills Well Advanced.
The bills for what is called social
legislation framed by the Commission
ers are we'll advanced in. the present
session of Congress, and/we may ex-
Pect their enactment Conditions are
not as bad as they are sometimes de-
scribed- But we need preventive as
well as remedial legislation.
'"The Commissioners will continue with
the cooperation of the citizens TO en-
deavor 10 improve conditions. not only
by legislation, but otherwise"
Make Owners Responsible
William V. Cox. president of the
Board of Trade. declares that the most
effective means Of eliminating such
pesthOles as those sought out by The
Times lies in the publication Of the
owners OF such property.
These places are owned to a great
extent by people who are Indifferent
to hygienic surroundings" said Mr..
Cox today, and 1 believe if their
names were published and the blame
laid directly at their doors ii would be
an effective means OF cleaning up the
property and purifying the atmos-
phere of the city.
In many Instances the owners are
estates or individuals who are content
TO let the places go and receive a small
rent without having to eXpend any
money in improvements
THE Times is doing a good work in
exposing these pestholes, and while |
do not believe it is necessary to be-
come alarmed at their existence, be-
heve if The Times would publish the
owners names and let the public know
Just who is responsible for these condi-
tions, a sense of pride, If not humane
feeling. would induce these people to
clear up the filth"