Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-03
FOR CLEANER ALLEYS
Movement Inaugurated by
Monday Evening Club.
PROVIDES CARD SYSTEM
Reports Of Insanitary Conditions to
Be Noted and Reported-Co-
Operation Requested.

At "A meeting OF the housing committee
Of the Monday Evening Club. held at the
residence of Rev. John Van Schaick yes
terday afternoon, plan was adopted for
a comprehensive system OF reporting in
sanitary housing conditions in the alley
houses Of Washington. 1t provides a
convenient means whereby all persons
who arc interested in a cleaner Wash
ington can make prompt. intelligent COM
plants of bad conditions and secure
prompt action on such complaints by the
city health authorities.
\ card has been prepared on which all
the bad housing conditions WHICH are
Usually found in Washington are enumer-
ated. These cards, with instructions for
their preparation, are to be distributed
among the various social working or
=anizations that have agents. nurses or
volunteers circulating among the people
in the neglected sections Of the city.
System of Checking.
Whenever one or more of the conditions
enumerated on the card are found by the
person carrying it, check mark is placed
IN the card after each such condition.
Space is let on the back of the card
for more detailed accounts of such con-
ditions as may merit special attention.
The card. when so prepared, is imme-
diately mailed to an agent of the COM
nittee, who regularly files complaints,
based upon these reports, to the city
authorities, and the latter will report
10 this agent the action taken thereon.
In other words, the plan contemplates
the establishment Of clearing house for
complaints Of insanitary housing con-
ditions.
AS nc city can afford to have a suffi-
GENTLY large corps of sanitary inspectors
10 discover all the violations OF the health
and building laws. il was explained, this
plan is welcomed by the city authorities
The card and instructions We're drawn
up by subcommittee. one-half of whose
members are officials of the municipal
health and building departments.
Other Organizations to Aid.
An effort will be made to enlist the CO.
operation Of all the organizations in
washington which are interested in it's
sanitary condition. and cards and in
structions, it was decided, shall be freely
supplied to ali persons and organizations
desiring to cooperate. Several Of the
most active organizations of Washington
have already offered their services and
VIII place the cards in the hands of their
workers during the present week.
This plan, it was stated at the meeting,
was first adopted by the Philadelphia
housing commission about two years ago
n the suggestion of its founder and sec
Rotary, Gustayus y. Weber, and has re-
suited in the clearing up of some of the
worst sections of Philadelphia A num-
Der Of other cities have also adopted the
Philadelphia plan with good results. Mr.
Weber, VINO was also the statistician of
the homes commission, is now a resident
OF Washington, and is the chairman Of
the subcommittee on housing investiga-
zion OF the Monday Evening Club. which
has this matter in charge. He has ex-
pressed desire to hear from any per-
sons or organizations who wish to CO.
operate in this work, and will promptly
answer any communications addressed to
MIN at the Cosmos Club.
Receiving and Reporting.
The work of receiving and reporting
complaints will be in the hands Of Miss
Emma Duke, 1922 y street northwest
Those present at the meeting yesterday
were DIR. Jesse Jones' Dr. George NJ