The Washington times., 1913-05-27

meat shop run by q white man, who
| is frequently the only white resident
i'of the alley. ! am Informed that he
acts not only as the merchant of the
alley, but as the rent collector and
the agent for the loan sharks. In
fact. he virtually farms out the alley
under the greedy eye OF some more
Intelligent white man down town.
Il could tell You many things of the
heroic work which has been done by
philanthropic or religious .socleues and
other organizations seeking to better
the moral and physical condition of
our alley inhabitants. The moral and
phy ysfcal heroism of some Of these ladies'
In their warfare with alley conditions
is almost beyond belief. Thev all
Conditions cannot be permanently bet
tered. AS soon as they raise the self
respect or the moral and economic
conditions on one alley family that
family moves out of the alley to better
quarters and tne vacancy thus created
is promptly filled.
Sometimes the new comers are from
small towns or country districts. who
are brought to alley conditions by the
irregularity of employment or misfor-
tune. They are quickly degraded to the
alley standard by the same continuing
alley Surroundings. and then the alley
missionary starts in again on the nope
less task of raising another famlly out
Of the depths. While our sympathy and
our unbounded admiration go out to
these volunteer workers who have done
so much, yet 1t Is a grave reflection
upon US that we permit such condition
to exist. We 20 on manufacturing
criminals, paupers. and sots We
vide work for the visiting nurses. and
then we expect private charity to undo
this work which grows faster than they
are able to deal with it.
Need Sanitary Houses.
Il am free to confess that the destruc-
ton or reformation Of a bad district is
only half Of the subject. 1t Is necessary
to provide sanitary houses for the d.s-
placed population. I examined with
some care the buildings constructed and
now operated by the Washington sani-
tary Housing Company. and II does
seem to me that they have made a COM
plete success. limited only by the means
within their control.
TT has been found that this property
by careful management will net per
cent on the investment. There is wait
ing list for each class Of this property,
and so far no vacancies have occurred.
This investment Is not sufficient to at
tract the ordinary owner Of alley prop
erty. 1t is apparent that the controlling
motive In the investment Ii public
spirited philanthropy. It has one great
advantage over 50 many charities in
that II results In the incubation OF
spirit of self-reepect and self-support
among those who come within its reach.
II Is In no sense a paupertzing charity.
1t seems to me that this is one move
ment which must arouse the most active
and enthusiastic public spirit among the
people of Washington.
LAS to the remedy for these condi.
tions am convinced that the inhabited
alley must be wholly eliminated. We
should provide legislation which will
in some practical and efficient manner
bring about the elimination of the IN
habited alleys within the next few
years 1t is not sufficient merely to
strengthen the sanitary and police laws
and try to maintain q better standard
of conditions In the alley tenements
The officials after a great
deal of trouble and Investigation might
compel the owners OF certain buildings
to make necessary repairs or sanitary
changes. but :he hidden situation Of
the property makes 1t almost impossible
to maintain such a standard. The very