Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-15

Menace to Health.
"One great evil that for years has been
menace to the health Of the people OF
Washington is the existence of the dwell
lings that are unfit for human habitation
These dwellings often house our servants
and large part Of the washing Is done
there. and thus the filth and disease germs
which infest these houses are not only con-
fined to their Inhabitants but are carried
into our own homes. The enactment Of q
law for the condemnation of these houses
was agftated for many years by the COM
mittee on the improvement of housing con-
ditions OF the Associated Charities. Finally
on May l, 1906. a law was passed providing
for the appointment of a permanent COM
mission with authority to condemn such
habitations 1t is gratifying to know that
since Its enactment seventy insanitary
dwellings have been removed with compar-
atively little expense and without single
lawsuit.
Another menace to the health and NOR
ais of the city Is the existence of the closed
alleys. Several Investigations of the
living conditions in these alleys have been
conducted recently by the aforementioned
committee. The agitation resulting from
the disclosures of these Investigations has
been instrumental In the appointment by
the District government of a special COM
mission on the opening Of Inhabited alleys.
This commission has already made reports
recommending the opening into minor
streets of a dozen of these blind alleys
"A commission appointed by the District
government Is now at work revising the
building laws of the District and much good
is hoped for from it's work. The improved
housing committee is now making a COM
pilation of the best building and sanitary
laws of other cities. which is intended to
serve as a basis Of suggestion for future
housing legislation.
Child Labor and Consumers League.
DIR. Henry ]. Harris of the industrial de-
partment presented an interesting paper
on the child-labor bill and the use of the
Consumers League label in Washington.
DIR. Harris dwelt at some length on the
first proposition and gave a graphic por-
trayal of the evils attending the employ
ment of boys under the age of sixteen
years from 6 O'Clock in the evening until
midnight. He pointed out the demcralizing
influences which particularly beset the
youthful messenger boys and cited many
facts showing that it was not only in
furious to the health of children, but ex-
tremely dangerous to their morals for their
employment in after-dark services In ques-
tionable quarters of the city. DR.. Harris
called especial attention to the work of
the National Consumers League and en-
Joined the women of the city to assist the
league in it's commendable work of improv-
ing the conditions under which their lines
of goods are made by patronizing the firms
that purchase of factories using the league
label. He gave description of the work
or the league and presented some facts
relative to the discoveries of that body in
prosecuting its work. He spoke of the
aims of the league and said that II was do
ing much. not only to- improve the condi-
tions under which goods are manufactured
but also to eradicate child labor from fac
tories.
1.-The special object of the National Con-
sumers League" he concluded, sis to Sc
cure adequate Investigation of the condi-
lions under which goods are made. in order
to enable purchasers to distinguish in favor
of goods made in the well-ordered factory.
The majority of employers are virtually
helpless to maintain q high standard as to
hours, wages and working conditions under
the stress Of competition. unless sustained
by the cooperation OF consumers; there
fore. the National Consumers League also
proposes to educate public opinion and to
endeavor so to direct its force as to pro-.
mote better conditions among the workers,
while securing to the consumer exemption
from the dangers attending unwholesome
conditions 1t further proposes to promote
legislation. either state or federal when
ever 1t may appear expedient. The Ma
tional Consumers League further recog-.
nizes and declares that the interests OF the
community demand that all workers shall
receive fair living wages. and that goods
shall be produced under sanitary conditions;
that the responsibility for some of the worst
evils from which producers suffer rests with
the consumers who seek the cheapest mar
kets. regardless how cheapness q brought
about. and that II Is. therefore. the duty
OF consumers to and out under what Oondf-