Evening star., 1907-11-10
HOMES Commission
Preliminary Report to the
President.
HOUSING IN THE DISTRICT
Not Enough Buildings at Mcc-
crate Rent.
DISTRESS AND DISEASE
Social Betterment Subcommittee
HOUSING IN THE DISTRICT
DISTRESS
AND
DISEASE
Social Betterment Subcommittee
Two-Conclusion of Report.


James Bronson Reynolds into the housing
conditions of the District poor, has made
a preliminary report, giving a Gear idea
OF the work already mapped out by ii
and which Its members hope. If well done.
Will form not unimportant contribution
to sociological undertakings and knowl-
edge
The commission has a membership OF
fifteen Gen. George NJ. Sternberg is
chairman. and the other members are DR..
George NJ. Kober, William II. Baldwin.
Frederick L. Siddons. Prof George "
Cook. Mrs Whitefield McKiniay Miss
Mabel T. Boardman, Mrs. Thomas 7
Gaf, James Bronson Reynolds, S. ".
Woodward, John B. Sleman. jr., T. c.
Parsons, Emmett l.. Adams. p. J. Bren-
nan and William +. Downey. 1t was on
Mr. Reynolds suggestion that the mem
pership of the commission was made 10
include, among others. d real estate deal
er. practical builder, and two representa-
tives of trade unions The scope of Its
work thus far agreed upon is Indicated
by three Of the standing committees al
ready created the committee on building
of modern houses, Gen. Sternberg, chair
man, committee on improvement of ex-
listing houses and elimination of insan-
itary and alley houses, William II. Bald
win, chairman, and social betterment COM
mittee, Dr. kober, chairman. The COM
mission estimates that IL will take about
two years to complete its task The mem
bers serve without compensation and all
expenses must be met by voluntary con-
tributions. 8. w. Woodward is chair
man of the finance committee.
A Genuine House Famine.
In its preliminary report the corhmis-
sion calls attention to the fact that there
is at the present time in Washington "a
genuine house famine, so far as houses
and apartments renting from So to $12
month are concerned, and day laborers
who receive from 81 to $1.JO a day can
not afford to pay more than this.
The fact that there Is a scarcity OF
houses of this class shows that the de-
mand is not likely to be supplied by pri-
vate enterprise. The cost of building ma
terials and OF skilled labor Is so great
that the problem of building houses with
good ventilation. plumbing. etc, to rent
at these figures and pay or 6 per cent
on the investment Is difficult of solution.
Indeed, the only way In which 1t can be
solved appears to be by business phlan-
thropy.' That is by an organization
making enterprise. but for the purpose
Of benefiting the people for whom they
are built and promoting the general in
terests of the community"
1No FTeSiQcHl nOnSS MISSION
thinks that public health and morals re-
quire more small houses, and says:
THE more houses we have, built as
required by existing building regulations
and renting at from So to $12 a month, the
better it will be for the health and morals
Of the poorer class Of the community. Ev
cry citizen should feel a personal interest
In this matter. but aside from any philan-
thropic motive. the health and morals
Of our poorer neighbors are Of vital i'm
IN n
culosis, typhoid fever and other infectious
diseases among the poor of the city not
only increases the general mortality rate
to a degree which IL not creditable to us.
but furnishes foci of infection from which
our own homes may be invaded by dead
ly disease germs. Sickness and crime and
very materially to the burdens OF the tax
payer. and no one doubts that they are
homes, and by such an environment al
exists in our hidden alleys and In many
old and dilapidated houses fronting on the
streets in certain sections OF the city. The
better class OF wage-earners should be
encouraged to purchase suburban homes
With rapid transit and cheap fares 1t may
even be possible to provide suburban
homes for unskilled laborers. But projects
of this kind require careful consideration
and considerable capital. A slum in the
suburbs would be as bad as siuua in the
city, and modern sanitary homes can
only be built where there is an ample
supply Of pure water and sewer sys-
tenn
Distress as Relates to Disease.
The report Of the committee on social
betterment discusses distress and depend
ence as related to disease. and says:
TT is generally helC that the primary
causes of poverty and distress are physi-
cal, mental and moral. and while there
is much reason for assuming that this ID
true, nothing short Of a critical inquiry
will reveal the exact causes, and when
these and the extent to which they
operate shall have been determined. the
way for preventive and remedial meas
ures may be pointed out. so, TOT ex-
ample, there Is probably very intimate
relation between the causes or diseases
and diseases as cause OF poverty. ana
1t may prove of practical value 10 de-
termine the prevalence of certain diseases
among certain classes OF the population
with special reference TO wage earhers.
Another topic we'll worthy Of consid-
Grafton Is to determine more Clearly the
causes of alcoholism and to what extent
bad food. improperly cooked and the cola
dinner or lunch pail and other FACTORS,
sucn as wages. long hours dirty WORK.
etc. are responsible tor the growing evil.
and one which doubtless lncapacitates
many for work. The prevalence and ex-
tent of the drug and cigarette habits and
how they may be acquired Will llheWlSe
suggest preventive and remedial meas
ureS.
Conclusion of the Report.
The commissions report closes as fol-
cows:
"A radical change cannot be expected
until the results Of research and ex-
perience are made accessible to every
child in the land, and 1t Is hoped that the
time Is not far distant when uplifting in
fiuences will be the theme of education
in every home, school and church. The
human race Is now living in intelec-
tual and spiritual sgc, and has right
to demand that The facts concerning the
preservation and promotion of health and
morals should be made matter of public
education. which should not cease in the
primary schools. It IS to be deplored that
questions concerning the health, happi-
neeS and even the soul or spirit of man
should have received. upon purely sem
timental grounds. absolutely no attention
in the public schools, and 1t is hoped that
the work of the committee will serve 10
emphasize the Importance that during the
period of education and formation OF
character. greater attention must be given
to the consideration of such vital Ques-
tons as have been referred to in the fore
work.
Weston Reaches Syracuse.
SYRACUSE. n. Y. November 9.-E1-