The San Francisco call., 1907-01-16
WILL Dat TIE FOR
TENEMENT LAW
California Club Resolves
to Make Effort to I'm
prove Conditions Here
STATE AID SOUGHT

The California Club, woman's club
that does things" has resolved to
lead the fight before the Legislature
for the enactment of a law regulating
the construction of tenements in the
cities of the State that will prevent a
duplication OF conditions existing be-
fore the fire. Profiting by the fight
that has recently been won In New
York and basing their ideas on the
lessons taught by the terrible con-
ditions that existed in Manhattan be-
fore the fight was won, the women Of
the California Club are well equipped
for the contest that is before them.
The club listened yesterday TO lee
ture by Miss l. Eaves on conditions
existing in New York and San Fran
cisco and was astonished to learn that
in San Francisco since the fire tene-
ments had been erected that would
not have been tolerated in New York
even in its blaclxest day. These tene-
mehts are not only fire traps, Miss
Eaves pointed out, but are culture
places for germs that will in time
threaten the health of the community.
The lecture was given in Calvary
Church and was illustrated with
stereoptican views. Miss Eaves first
explained Illustrations OF sanitary
conditions found in New York before
the new law was enacted and showed
conclusively that they were unspeak-
able. That human beings could fall
so low as to exist IN the filth the IL
Illustrations depicted was almost beyond
understanding, and it was with relief
that the spectators viewed the illus
trations of the modern tenements con-
structed under the new law, which re-
quires that the first aim of the archi-
tect should be to supply light and air
in plenty and to absolutely insure
sanitary conditions.
Concluding with San Francisco, Miss
Eaves produced pictures taken by her
self showing how rapacious landlords
OF San Francisco had even outdone
New York at its worst One building
was pictured which Miss Eaves said
was worse than anything she had seen
in the East. Entrance TO the rooms on
the various floors could be gained only
by means of the porches in front,
eight stories. The entire building is
of wood, and the lecturer pointed out
that If fire ever started below every
one of the hundreds of families now
housed in the tenement must perish.
The rooms are dark and unsanitary,
she said, and it will prove the home
of pestilence unless the authorities
take a hand, condemn 1t and order 1t
destroyed
THE question I have asked myself"
though" said Miss Eaves, sis whether
a good law of this kind could be en-
forced here. II we do not have honest
machinery to carry the laws into effect
every new law simply widens the field
for graft. Under the conditions now
existing in San Francisco the efficient
enforcement of such a law would be
doubtful"
In line with Miss Eaves' view, an
effort will be made to have the State
take up the enforcement Of the law If
one Is passed. This would place the
inspections of tenements under course
of construction within the hands of
the State administration and in all
probability would insure it's enforce
ment to the letter, especially as the
California Club would always be on
the alert.