The Washington herald., 1909-05-22


morally deprsved. socfalisticaly inclined
rnass-and then spending millions OF dol
lars on hospitals 10 cure them. provisions
20 punish them, and police to repress
them.
This sentiment was voiced in different
construction by nearly every speaker. and
seemed one Of the strongest appeals for
better conditions Ia the consested dis
tTicts Of the larger cities
Commissioner Macfarland expressed his
qualification at the conference being held
in this city, and said he was deeply in
terested in the subject. officially and per
-sonsIly. He said Washington, being the
Capital City, founded by George Wash
fngton and being one or the first planned
cities. should be in all respects the most
perfect He said Washington had much
10 show and much 10 learn from the con-
ference
National Plan.
"A national constructive programme for
city planning was the subject OF an ad-
dress by Henry Morgenthau. who. after
telling OF advances made IN construction
IN the last few years. declared most Of
the tenements and houses erected were
for the middle classes and not FOR the
workingmen whose earning power has not
Increased above g a week and who can
not afford TO spend more than $i2 a month
for rent II is the problem Of caring Tor
this. latter class. he declared, that Is na-
tiond in its scope. and is the one IN
which the conference Is vitality inter-
ested-
The speaker then told of the best meth
DDS for preventing the increase OF the
evils arising from congestion
Gen. SteTnberg said Washington is
known as a most beautiful and most
desirable residence city. but that It Is
not so well known. even sby those who
live here. that in certain portions OF
the city there are hidden sIums, where
the poorer classes live in Overcrowded
houses. many OF which are not supplied
with sewer connections. and that these
conditions. inSanitary in the extreme
make the mortality rates excessive among
these unfortunate citizens Of the nations
Capital
Poorer Classes suffer
The speaker declared that the clerks
and skilled. mechanics had been wen pro
vided for. and had suitable homes. but
the unsknled Iaborers and poorer classes
have not been provided for at all He
said these people are compelled 10 live
! n alley houses. fnsanitary and unclean.
and much overcrowded- He then quoted
statistics TO show the extent Of conges-
ton and the resultant high mortality.
Benjamin c. Marsh declared four things
10 De necessary for the normal and
! healthy development OF cities.
First-Cities must learn their own con-
ditions.
secoad-These conditions must be
brought home 10 the conscience CT the
citizenship
Third-The most successful methods OF
remedyin existing evils and preventing
/ their recurrence and Of planning the city
/ healthf.-! must be studied and explained.
Fourta-Each city must apply to its
! own conditions the principles proven sue
cessfuI anywhere in securing normal de-
veiopment and healthy citizenship.
The conference viii meet to-day IN
/ the board room OF the Municipal Build
/ ing. Franklin NacVeagh. Secretary OF
the Treasury. presiding. Several promi-
neut men viii speak In the evening a
| banquet will be held at the Raleigh Ho-
\ tel
On the top floor of the Raleigh Ho-
| tel the conference has a large collection
| OF maps, pictures. and models, showing
plans and conditions in all large cities
Of this country and Europe