Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-03
House Committee Represent
ina All Three Parties Aroused
by Tour of SIums.
FIND DIRT AND DISEASE
RAMPANT AMONG H0vELS
Representatives Reed, Walters and
Wallin Promise Their Aid to
Cure Conditions.

| Democrat, bull moose and republican.
| as represented on the House District
committee, expressed themselves In, no
uncertain terms yesterday afternoon on
the subject of the alleys Of the District
| Of Columbia, after q tour OF some OF
| the worst of the slums. The trio was
composed of Representative Reed of New
| Hampshire, democrat; Representative
Walters Of Pennsylvania, progressive,
and Representative Wallin Of New York,
| republican. There is no politics in the
| impression they received. Every one of
| them says:
1T Is bad situation. 1t never should
have been allowed to exist. We will do
| our best to cure it"
The three congressman went through
some of the alleys, under the guidance
| of DR.. Norris Of the health department,
and saw q problem different from any
Of those with which they have been
dealing in their own home towns.
Each Member is Experienced.
Each of the three members Of the Dis
trict committee has had experience in
| municipal affairs, and has had practical
problems to face. Representative Reed,
as mayor of Manchester. N. H., for sew
s~~es
through, In the face of opposition that
would have scared a less doughty fighter;
Representative Walters, as q newspaper
editor and publisher and leader OF move
ments Of all sorts in JOhnstown, Pa.
knows the city problem as well as any
man on the District committee, and Rep
resentative Wallin, manufactures and
home builder from middle state city
in New York, has dealt with big tasks
all his life.
This situation never should have oc-
cured said Representative Reed to
Star reporter. THE fault lies with the
way the city was laid out. If. In the
first place, the alleys had been made
call them in Manchester. Washington
would not be facing task today which
will require perhaps millions to accom-
plish. This alley situation here Is the
worst / ever saw. Never have l seen
such squalor as viewed In the four alleys
we visited. It will cost heap Of money
to get the alleys made into minor streets,
a. you call them, and the money should
be spant 70 as to get one hundred cents
for each dollar expended.
No Alleys in Manchester.
not q single alley. The blocks and streets
there are all at right angles and were
laid out that way seventy-five years ago.
believe personally it Is the finest town
on the American continent, and the ar
rangement of its main streets and back
streets would be interesting to study in
connection with the problem here. The
back streets do the service of the alleys
here-the ashes and refuse are taken up
from them and there Is not house In
the town which cannot be surrounded by
the fire department.
"Of course, if Washington cleans up its
all0vS there will! have tn he DrOVt.
sion made for the housing of the people
who are 0usted. l understand that there
Is a concern which rents sanitary houses
at q 5 per cent profit here, but my own
impression is that there would be moro
philanthropy In 1t at less profit.
Should be Finest City.
washington ought to be the finest and
most beautiful city on the continent.
Every American who comes here swells
out his chest as he looks around and sees
his city: and that's one reason why
Washington should be ashamed to have
| its alleys continue. Along this same line
| Of City Beautiful, a word about Penn
sylvania avenue might not be out Of
place. Here is the best known street In
| the country with q lot of shacks on one
| end of 1t. Would 1t not be better to have
| some fine government buildings on Penn
| sylvania avenue?
| Representative Walters, the progressive
member OF the District committee, said
| he was shocked TO see the condition in
| the alleys he visited:
| Its problem you won't find any
where else, / am convinced, he told a
| Star reporter. 1t is different from the
| tenement problem In the bigger cities.
| different from the sQualid boarding house
problem of the mining towns. There are
disease and dirt galore in the alleys here.
tuberculosis Is rampant in the homes
where the washing Of the city Is done.
| We simply must make minor streets Of
| these alleys, with the accent on the
must! ! am perfectly willing to make
a study Of the conditions, SO that can
| help with the legislation which is before
| the District committee now.
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