Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-06
,ectors reported s42 alleys in filthy cond,-

IlOn.
"A law passed by the Congress in 1905
appropriated $4,000 Cor. the expense of
condemnation proceedings In the substitu-
ton of minor streets for alleys. but re-
the District of Columbia has interposed
fresh difficulties by declaring unconstitu-
tional the assumption of the law that the
entire cost of opening small streets as
substitutes for alleys should be assessed
upon the adjacent property owners. l am
not prepared to make any specific recon-
mendations to meet this new difficulty but
urge that 1t be not allowed to prevent the
abolition of inside alleys.
More Inspectors Needed.
For the proper inspection of small
houses, shacks and alleys, large and
efficient force of building and sanitary
inspectors is necessary. Two additional
inspectors will be available July /, 1907,
but these are not sufficient. The pressure
of regular work. the details of admins
tration and the amount of time required
each session in preparing and presenting
information to Congress make it extreme
ly difficult, in my opinion, for the District
Commissioners to give to the housing
problem the time and serious attention
which it demands.
Your message to the Congress on De-
cember I, 1904, the experience of other
communities and the conditions which /
have reported indicate the value of the
appointment of a special commission to
trict of Columbia. Recent housing COM
missions In other cities have not only con-
sldered questions of building construction
and sanitation, but many other matters af
fectng the physical, social, and moral well
fare of the dwelfers small houses.
Questions Of building, construction and
sanitation are being considered by the
building commission appointed by the Dis
lines may be safely delayed until this
commission has reported and its report
has been acted upon by the District Com
missioners.
Other Questions.
ION the other hand, there are many
questions affecting the welfare of the
dwellers in small houses which should re-
ceive the attention of a housing commits
sion. Such are, among others, the need OF
recreation grounds and public baths,
remedial agencies for the immoral life IN
the alleys and agencies for social better
ment, such industrial education, the free
public library and the encouragement OF
the excellent system Of model working
mems dwellings. similar to those built by
the Washington Sanitary Housing Com
pany.
This wide field merits attention from
the broad point of view of social better
ment, with the home and not merely the
house as the subject of fundamental In
terest. 1, therefore, recommend the ap-
pointment of commission to be known
this recommendation meets your approval,
I would make the following suggestions
regarding It:
tThen follow the suggestions given
above.l
THE task of preparing a satisfactory
housing code, of the Encouragement OF the
building space within the larger squares
OF the District of Columbia and of better
ing the physical, moral and social condi-
ton of the industrial classes needs the
serious consideration of sdSh a body. ana
its work would be productive OF VIDE
reaching and permanent beneht to the
District. Thus, the homes Of the poor
might have a consistent place In the fair
aspect of the nations capital
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES BRONSON REYNOLDS
Commissioner Macfarland's Comment.
When asked for an expression about the
report of James B. Reynolds to the Presi-
dent, Commissioner Mcfarland said:
1.-The Commissioners will, of course, CO.
operate with the Presidents home commits
sion, and hope for good results from It's
labors AS the Reynolds report inttmates,
much has been already accomplished in
the Improvement of housing conditions,
though much remains to be- done. Inc
Commissioners and organizations repre-
senting the citizens have been for many
years endeavoring to secure better con-
ditions, and steady Improvement has
been made. In the past two years there
has been special advance. A year ago
Congress passed the Commissioners bills
for dealing with insanitary buildings and
widening alleys into minor streets, and
gave the appropriation which the Com
mssioners asked, and the execution of
these laws was prontly begun and has
been vigorously prosecuted:
cover 80 insanitary buildings have been
dealt with by the Commissioners commit
tee since the first Of July. and all the cases
of widening alleys into minor streets that
the court could consider have been brought
before it on the recommendation of the
Commissioners committee on that subject.
The adverse decision Of the Supreme Court
on the alley matter deals only with the
distribution of the expense of the CONVEX
sion, and can and will be met by legisa-
ton, which the Commissioners will recon-
mend at the next session of Congress.
Last summer the Commissioners ap-
pointed committee of experts to recon-
mend a revision of the building regulations,
including those relating to housing condi-
tions. of which DR.. Kober and Mr. s. w.
Woodward are typical members. This COM
mttee. representing the best thought Of
this city, Is carefully maturing a report
which will doubtless suggest amendments
wherever needed in the building regula-
TONS"