New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04
DISCUSS HOUSING REFORM
National Association Opens First
Conference of Kind.
BLAME FOR CONDITIONS
Tenants and Community Must
Share It with Landlords,
Says One Speaker.

Robert w De Forest. president or the
National Housing Association, opened the
first national conference on housing ever
held IN America at the United Chariies
BUILDING. Fourth avenue and 22d street,
Yesterday afternoon. This conference ne
explained. in his address Of welcome de
veloped out OF conditions which made II
needful. 1t did not spring, as Minerva is
said to have done full grown, from 'he
head of any ambitious person"
The most definite stand at the afternoon
session was taken by Otto w. Davis. super
intendcnt OF the Associated Charities OF
Columbus. Ohio, who spoke upon the prob
lens of the small house. After asserting
that nearly every tenement house law IN
the country was modelled on the New YORK
law. which covers only those houses that
contain three or more families he pointed
out the fact that the great mass OF the
wage earners outside of New YORK hved
IN one and two family houses.
eft is right for the reformers 10 start
with the tenement" he said. but why STOP
there? Is 1t right that any one anywhere
should construct dark rooms for human oc-
cupancy? There are only two cities tnat
know OF In this country where man can
build all the dark rooms he wants TO- pro
yided that not more than two famlnes i've
I'm each house Does the need lot pun
air and running water and toilet oiiiy
arise when we move into house In when
two other families lve?'
.rho two main causes for conditions
ravrerce WELLER declared ARE neglect
and ignorance on the part OF tho tenants
an the mart Of the owners and on the par'
If the community. I find that the worst
evils arc not due. as is so oi'eh s'"'ou'
tne greco of the landlords. -,
In discussing the programme john y"
Glenn director of the russell Sabe rum
cation. pointed out that the American te"'-
encv was TO subside after a law hah p'e'
y; ssed. instead of keeping the sentiment
which rassed it alive. I'VE Americans Nv
said "have still to learn that laws don ell
force themselves"
The first paper Of the evening session
read by Paul Feiss, chairman Oh u"o
housing committee of the Cleveland N"'"
her of Commerce dealt with housing
form through legislation. though 100 iiu0"
legislation tended. in Mr.. Feiss opinio'
TO weaken the individual conscience III
decidinc the division of authority petWce"
city and state Mr.. Feiss thought 'heio
shor1d no a state code defining the mini
mum of regulation permitted throusnou'
the state. but permitting indiVlduai com
munities TO go as much peEohu '"'' '
they might desire. 49,,
"In theory and wherever prdcucd"''
continued Mr. Feiss. II believe that inc
Health Board should be given entire con
troll Of all features relating TO occupancy
Of existing and new buildings. To inc
pu;,di,q recruitment should be left all
matters relating TO construction from the
engineering and architectural Po''' "a
view"
Mrs. Bacon, Of Indiana amused 'le oo"'
ference with a vivid description OF inc "i-
successful efforts To get an eflcieh' tehc-
mcnt act through the Legislature OF mat
state "The bill passed the lower house
with a majority OF IS to - said MIS-
Bacon, "and the newspapers called "
monument To our efforts, but the senate
promptly wrote our epitapn upon the monu-
ment."
In paper on privy vaults Charles Is.
Rail Of Chicago. declared this country
showed eight TO ten times the number OF
deaths from typhoid which prevail In TER
many Praising the work In the Canal Aoh'
he said there were three cities there cleaner
than many wards in Chicago. j. W Ma
gruder. secretary OF the Federated 'harl-
ties Of Baltimore, described the $2oop'pl
sewerage system which would be finished
| in that city by 1914. II was the most STU
pendous work of its kind ever attempted IN
| the history of the world he said.