Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-24

Tnsanitary dwellings in the slums, Judge
John NJ. Patterson, of the Court of Com
mon Pleas. today charged were chiefly
responsible for breaking UP homes.
Hundreds OF fatherless children who
apply for aid from charitable organIza
dons are reared in houses Of the sumS
which settlement workers call Giving
graves" according to Judge Patterson.
Sanitary conditions in houses of the
slums. Judge Patterson declared, could
not only decrease c(rime. but also give
new life to the Apache of the street"
For more than year every effort to get
Councils to grant an appropriation for the
maintaining of Division of Housing and
Sanitation has failed
The Legislature in 1918 passed an act
creating the new division The law how
ever, has never been enforced. The rea-
son Is that the Committee ON Finance of
Councils, of which John p. Connolly is
chairman, has continued 10 ignore It.
With an appropriation of S213,710 the
Department OF Health would have been
able to employ more nurses and inspec-
tors. The duties of these persons would
have been to keep better watch on the
tenement owners for violations.
CAUSES OF CRIME.
Judge Patterson is one OF the many
representative Philadelphians who be-
lieyes in better housing conditions. The
quicker present social conditions in the
different alleys known as poverty lanes"
are improved. Judge Patterson believes.
aome OF the cells in prisons will no longer
contain wife-beaters and other prisoners
whose present predicament is due TO bad
environments.
Living in certain houses which soclol-
osists have characterized as death
vaults," siberian cells and chambers
OF horror" Judge Patterson declares
win continue to increase the court
docksts.
Judge Patterson today indorsed the
EVENING LEDGER's stand for better hous-
ang conditions. He added conditions
among those now existing in the 'livIng
graves" and siberian cells" must
change. and that the change can't come
soon enough.
s,rhers Is no question In my mind that
many cases that come daily to the courts
would never have been heard OF but for
ths present conditions" said Judge Pat
tsrson-
CoAfMENDs THE EVENING LEDGER.
.-rhs EVENING LEDGER deserves the
eammendation OF every true public
spirited citizen for the stand It has taken
IN behalf OF the men. women and chill
dram who spend the day and night in
some OF the poorly ventilated houses OF
Philadelphia have visited some OF these
places which, have been pictured by the
camera and described in detail by set
tiement workers."
Il feel certain something will be done.
feel sure that those in whose power IL
is 10 change conditions will realize the
importance Of the situation confronting
them"
Living IN inBanitary houses helps TO
breed crime not only among children, but
also among groWn-up persons. 1t Is a life
either in tho gRrret. In the alley where the
sun shines seldom or In some dark, filthy
inEanitary and dust-covered kitchen
where the windows are small and often
reed repairing"
FILTH BANIsHEs AMBITION.
a working man with q family who
lives In some OF the riekety broken down
fenaments naturally has no ambition Ia
life- he can be led astray easily. He
also falls into evil company. What is
ehs result2
sEla no longer Is the kind father and
He takes 70 drinking. His salary Is spent
f0ollshly. He Is not only changed man
amonE his neishnors, but also when with
his family"
ssfhe next tins we hear from this man
g when he Is afralsned In a police court
The charge sometimes Is wife beating.
4hcn a trial follows. On conviction a
sentence ia prison il pronounced me
s7le becomes penniless. The children are
fasheHiezs ana they have 70 apply 10 some
charitable organization for aid The
eumaz comes when the once happy home
Is broken up.