The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-12
ELIMINATION Of
| SLUMSEXPECTED
Creation Of Housing Commit
tee viii Add Impetus to
the Work.
PLAN OF SENATOR WORKS
First Task Of Board viii Be to Decide
ON Locations for Model
Sanitary Houses.
PLAN OF SENATOR WORKS

The elimination of the slums Of the
National Capital will soon be . reality.
Work with this end in view Is already
being conducted by various organizations
interested in sociological conditions In the
District. but an impetus Is about to be
added This Is none other than the crea-
ton Of the District Housing Commission,
provided for in a resolution introduced
in the Senate by Senator Works OF Cali
fornia.
The resolution already has passed the
Senate. and there Is every reason to BE-
lieve that the measure will meet with the
same prompt action on the part Of the
House The creation Of the housing COM
mission is expected TO solve the various
problems now confronting those working
for better living conditions among the
poor and destitute OF Washington.
Various plans for bringing about the
desired end have been suggested by Diff
ferent persons" said Senator Works yes
terday. and / reached the conclusion
that the most satisfactory way Of coming
to an agreement on a method Of operation
was to have a commission appointed to
take care Of the matter
Will Have Five Members.
he commission will consist Of five Per-
sons, three women and two men, who
will be appointed by the President, to
serve without compensation. They will
devise plans and the means OF caring for
and housing improvident and needy per-
sons Of the District.
The commission will be Of a temporary
nature. remaining in existence only long
enough to gather information. study the
situation, and finally submit recommen-
dations to the President. The Chief
Executive. who is much interested in
housing conditions in the Capital. will
study the report OF the commission care
fully and will then transmit II to Con-
gress. together with his own views and
suggestions in connection with the mat
ter.
The first work OF the commission will
be to decide upon suitable locations for
"a sufficient number of model sanitary
houses for the accommodation OF such
persons as should be cared for under the
direction of the national government.
The commission will study different
types OF houses and will make recon-
suitable style OF building. Plans will be
embodied in the report. together with an
estimate of the probable cost Of con-
struction.
Houaes for Those Who Can Pay.
- y
of erecting additional model houses for
the use of those persons able to make
some compensation for the use of them.
The commission will decide upon the
best method Of renting such houses. and
will make an estimate of the probable
rates.
Much attention will be directed to the
problem OF properly experimenting and
maintaining the sanitation OF the houses
and the grounds provided. Much other
data. touching various phases OF the
housing problem. will be compiled by the
commission. and extensive recommended
tons will be formulated as to the kind
of legislation needed for the carrying
out of the plans decided upon.
The establishment of the model houses
will make 1t possible for the poor of the
city to live under sanitary conditions at
moderate rents. and will thus speedily
abolish the slums of the city.