Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-17
NEED OF SANITARY HOUSES
rEATuRE OF LECTURE BY GEN.
GEORGE NJ. sTERNBERG.
Work Of the Presidents Commits
sion Outlined-Neglect Of the
Poorer Glasses.

LAS has been done in other municipah-
ties. We might get money from the gov
eminent to build sanitary houses for the
average laborer in the District. We can
get money to build expensive bridges that
are not much needed; we can get money
to build expensive churches-they are
building a magnificent cathedral on the
outskirts of the city now; the members
Of the Senate and the House are providing
themselves with marble palaces; the Ma
tional Museum is to be housed In. mag
nificent new building. But our pQJr neigh
bors seem to have been neglected until
President Roosevelt took up the matter
and finally appointed the Presidents
homes commission"
This was the sentiment voiced by zen.
George NJ. Sternberg. chairman OF INC
commission, in an address on the woi
of that board before the MONDAY Even
ing Club in the Sir George Williams room
of the Y, NJ. c. A. building last night. He
was pointing out the need for money 70
build sanitary homes for the poorer class
es. and declared that this was the urgent
need of the city at present.
Gen. Sternberg began his address by tell
ing of the appointment of the Presidents
homes commission. following the report TO
the chief executive on the housing c0ndi-
tons In Washington by James b. Key
nolds That report pointed out many OF
the evils of the local housing conditions
and outlined the work for the commission.
Extracts were read from this report to
show the extent of the commissions work.
Work of the Commission.
The commission has done considerable
work. it was stated. and paid agents are
at work gathering statistics about the
housing and social conditions of the poor
err classes of the city. These statistics
are expected to show the number of per-
sons occupying rooms In specific houses,
connections of the house, If any. with
water and sewer mains; income of family;
expense for illness, etc.
Several subcommittee have also been
appointed. the speaker stated The hrst
was the committee on finance. headed by
8. w. Woodward. The commission will
receive 5000 from the Sage foundation
as soon as similar amount IS raised In
this CITY, The members of the commits
sion have subscribed $l,oOO TO tnat iund
model houses. In this connection Gen.
Sternberg told of the work Of the two
companies formed by him to erect model
homes. Ten years ago the first was or
class of laborers. This company has built
200 two part houses. each part renting for
from SO to ST per month. This rent Is
too high for the average day laborer. he
declared. 1t was found, however. that
the average laborer was forced to pay
extravagant rentals. in proportion to the
value of the property. and another COM
pany was formed three years ago. called
the Sanitary Housing Company. to build
fats to rent from 81 to % per month. AS
that pays only 4 per cent on the invest
ment little capital has been interested,
but the company has built forty apart
ments. To get a reasonable return on the
money invested. DR.. Sternberg declared,
1t is found to be impossible to build SAN
itary houses and rent them for less than
s. per room under the building regula-
lions, which, he said are very exacting.
Sanitary Homes Needed.
From figures obtained from the District
records. he declared, he found that little
is being done to satisfy the needs for