The Washington herald., 1907-05-06
FOR POOR OF THE CITY

Commissioners TO give TO the housing
problem the time and serious attention
which IL demands.
Your message 10 the Congress on De
cember /, 1894, the experience Of other
communities, and the conditions which
have reported. indicate the value OF the
appointment Of & special commission 20
consider the housing problem of the Dis
trict OF Columbia Recent housing com
missions ia other cities have not only
considered questions Of building construc-
ton and sanitation. but many other mat
ters affecting the physical. social and
moral welfare Of the dwellers In small
houses.
Questions OF building. construction,
and sanitation are being considered by
the building commission appointed by the
District Commissioners. and action on
these lines may be safely delayed until
this commission has reported and its re-
port has been acted upon by the District
Commissioners.
Many Other Questions.
"On the other hand there are many
questions affecting the welfare OF the
dwellers In small houses which should
receive the attention of a housing com
mission. Such are. among others, the
need or recreation grounds and public
baths. remedial agencies for the immoral
life in the alleys. and agencies for social
hetterment, such as Industrial education.
the free public library and the encourage
ment OF the excellent system of model
wOrkingmen's dwellings, similar to those
built by the Washington Sanitary Hous-
ing Company
This wide field merits attention from
+ the bread point of view OF social better
ment with the home and not merely the
{ house as the subject of fundamental i'm
terest- ]. therefore. recommend the ap.
/ pOintmeut OF a commission TO be known
as The Presidents Homes Commission.
/ II this recommendation meets your ap-
proval, l would make the following sug
/ gestlons regarding it
First. The Presidents homes commission should b,
composed of aftesn members 70 include among ots
ers neal estate dealer practical builder aud tx,
/ representatives Of tnde uni0nS
second. That the commission should be instrictcs
u ascertain and consider the rtsUJs Of the best ef
fors Of public enterprise and private philanthroT.
10 Improve The homes and better The lives CT the In
dustrial Glasses Ia other cities ia the country.
Third. II should be instructed to invite the Co
operation Of all having interest in the housing Prob
/ lem and the home problem IN the District and be
fore presenting its lEal report it sh01d give plbi
hearings the saalu points Of its programme s.
/ that all Just criticisms may be heard
/ Fourth Il should be advised 70 recommend so "a
! as possible reforms which may be accomplished b.
y0W executive order OF by the action OF the Dstric
| government
/ Fifth. The commission should serve without CON
pensatiou, and al expenses incurred should be born
/ by voluntary contributions
Work Highly Important.
I
Z housing code. of the Encouragement o.
the building space within the large
/ squares Of the District of Columbia, an,
| Of bettering the physical. moral. an,
| social condition Of the industrial classes
needs the serious consideration Of such
body and its work would be productiv
of wide reaching and permanent benef
TO the District. Thus. the homes Of tn
poor might have q consistent place in tn
fair aspect of the nations Capital
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES BRONSON REYNOLDS"
Invitation to Gen. Sternberg.
Accompanying the report there wa
| given out at the White House a copy o
2 letter from the President to Gen
/ Sternberg expressing the hope that tn
former Surgeon General would find i
possible TO serve on the commission
Gen. Sternberg said last night that h.
had not received the letter, which wa
/ dated Saturday, and consequently coul
not discuss the plans of the proposes
commission. 1t Is thought that tn
President wishes TO have Gen. Stern
berg head the commission
Gen Sternberg is the president Of IN
! Washington Sanitary Housing Com
pany. referred to in Mr. Reynolds re
port. and of the Washington Sanitar
Improvement Company. a similar or
ganization formed ten years ago. TIL
Housing Company was organized thce
years ago under a charter from Con
gress. and capitalized at 100000. II
aim Is 70 provide sanitary homes 70
the laboring classes at minimum ren
tails The company pays dividends Of
per cent The old company has I'll
same amount of capital stock, but pay
per cent divideads.