The Washington herald., 1907-02-17
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE,
WOE OF COLORED TENANT.
! lie Describes the HardshipS of Get
ting Along in Washington.

/ lie Describes the Hardshipz of Get
ting Along In Washington.
+ Editor The Washington Herald:
| Allow me space In your valuable paper
to ask this question: What viii become
Of the respectable colored tenant in the
District OF Columbia"
/ have been thinking over this subject
/ for several years, but, in view Of the
fact that improvements were being made
along ali lines, it was hoped that eondi-
I lions for the colored tenant would be bet
/ tered as well; since conditions have grown
worse, instead OF better. I deem 1t nay
duty as citizen to call the attention
Of all welI-thinking and fair-minded citi-
zens 10 the actual existing conditions OF
the colored tenant.
There are many sanitary dwellings be
/ ing erected every year, but unfortunate
| ~. none can be had by a respectable col
0red tenant II seemed that when tho
apartment house came into existenct
there would be a possible chance for him
but this, IA all intents and purposes. MADE
conditions worse.
/ have been an actual resident in this
city for the past twenty years, and
have noticed that ID is almost next Il
impossible FOR the colored householder tC
locate IN a decent dwelling in any part
Of the city. And when he does succeed
in finding some kind Of shelter the land
lord and agent refuse to make the ueces-
sary repairs. and the tenant has 10 adj
just himself TO conditions as he finds
them. Ny efforts along this line from
time 10 time have been, To say the least
disbeartening.
There are, approximately 10000 cOloTed
people I'm this city. and about twice as
many white people all preaching "sani-
tary conditions % living and the proven
ton Of consumption and other diseases.
Despite the warnings OF large meetings
held under the auspices Of the Associated
Charities and leading physicians, no steps
have IS yet been taken 10 better the con-
d!tion Of affairs
What is the use Of a health depart
ment. maintained by the government al
an enormous expense every year. 81 one
third Of the population IS allowed % live
in dfayidated houses. the walls and cell
iugs II which are infected with disease
germs Of every conceivable description
When house Is FIRST erected. newly pa
peTed. with aH mosern improvements
tEdt house Is advertised and rented 10
white tenants. They live therein until
the walls and interior woodwork become
rotten. defaced and time-worn and the
exterior weather-beaten and in need Of
paint. &c The white tenant then vacates
this house. and 1t is then rented TO q col
ored tenant a. from = 70 ~ per cent in
crease in the rent. and the coI04ed ten
ant moves 10 because he cannot do bet
ter
II IS a well known fact that most all
the large Insurance companies especially
those giving straight life policies charge
higher premium on policy taken by
q colored man than by white man. be-
cause they say that the death rate among
coiored people is invariably greater than
that among the white population Now,
SO long as the death rate among the col
ored people Is far III excess over th-t OF
the whites. is it not a fact that in course
OF time this death rate viii make its way
into the white population And then
what viii be the result2
Ny references have been largely 10 con
oiuons as they exist in this city. but
what is true here Is true in large de-
Gree IN other cities Of the country.
It Is To be hoped that some philanthro-
pist Of means and influence, in the name
OF God and for the sake OF humanity.
viii take up this question. and give il the
most favorable consideration. and put
forth some effort that will tend 10 bet
ter the deplorable conditions which exist
in many respects throughout the cities OF
this country. JOSEPH y BEAMAN.
February 10.