Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-19
TENEMENT OWNERS
UNITE TO OPPOSE
HOUSING DIVISION
Engage Counsel in Move to
Have Law Requiring Sani-
tation Repealed Councils
Ignore Measure.


counsel to attempt TO have repealed th'
act creating Division Of Housing and
Sanitation in the Department OF Health
and Charities This became known today
The act. which had the suy2ort OF set
Element workers. the clergy and noted
socioIosists, was passed by the Legisla-
ture and signed by Governor Tener July
22 1918. and although the measure became
law more than year ago. Councils
have continued TO ignore all requests for
appropriations to conduct the new divi-
Hion. This department would have direct
supervision OF the hundreds OF insanltary
houses.
Attorney John II. Fow will seek to have
the act repealed. According to Mr.. Fow,
the new act is unconstitutional. He states
that II gives virtually the right TO con-
denim property without due process Of
law.
Director Harte, of the Department OF
Public Health, has included in his budget
for 1915 the amount necessary to operate
the new Division Of Housing and Santa
tion.
Should the appropriations asked be
made Il will mean thousands of dollars
expense to the owners of some of the
dinsy. unventilated and insanitary homes,
which settlement workers describe as
nothing but death vaults"
SANITARY INSPECTION MADE
QUATE.
Director Hartes plans are to merge
the existing inadequate divisions of the
tenement house inspection and sanitary
inspection with the new bureau. Under
the reorganization 40 women nurses
would be employed.
The law requires owners to obey the
following rules. which. according to Ber-
nard J.. Newman. secretary OF the Phila-
delphia Housing Commission, have been
violated by landlords for years:
To connect the house directly with a
sewer.
To repair broken plumbing Immediately.
To keep roofs, stairs and nre-escapes in
constant repair.
To protect the cellar against flooding.
To keep halls and outside spaces clean.
To use no part OF the building for a
sweatshop, and conduct manufacturing
only under permit from the Board of
Health.
To allow no storing OF innammable ma
terial in the structure.
To provide every room with a suitable
window opening to outside air.
p
mlscuous herding that breeds vice.
Why Councils refuse to aid in relieving
the suffering OF thousands OF families,
who live, eat and sleep in rickety tene-
ments. where the light seldom appears,
is a puzzle to many persons.
That certain members OF Councils are
controlled" by large property owners
was freely expressed in real estate circles,
as well az In City Hail.
MINISTER TELLS OBJ TOUR.
The Rev. DR.. John Clarence Lee. pastor
of the UniversaIist Church OF the Restora
tion, Master street. below 18th. who ac-
eompanied Bishop sufrragan Garland on
a tour through the section where the
death vaults" are erected. today urged
that Councils should no longer ignore
the act a
IT am In favor OF Councils appropriate
ing money to be spent in the establish
ment OF q department. which would keep
an eye on the rickety houses where poor
families live" said the Rev. DR.. Lea
II personally visited houses located in
the slum district At the time l accom-
panied a committee Of clergymen, among
whom was Bishop Garland. After We |
sAw the conditions and with our own |
eyes saw how men, women and children |
live in the little unvenulated rooms, /
where the light seldom appears, We we're |
convinced something should be done to
relieve the situation. Councils should no |
longer ignore the present conditions For
the sake of humanity something must be
done"
Director Norris. of the Department OF
Wharves, Docks and Ferries and presi-
dent of the Philadelphia Housing Com
mission, today said;
when the Housing Commission was or
Hanlzed several years ago, AZ the request
or over 20 local charitable organizations,
It vas soon realized that no permanent or
substantial Improvement In housing con-
dltlons IN Philadelphia could be made
without an amendment OF existing laws.
1T was necessary that the municipality
should have q greater degree OF control.
snd that the means for exercising this
control should be unlfed AMI slmplinsd.
After long and careful inv estiBation. in
study OF the housing laws OF other /
states. hall was introduced In the Lssis-
laturs which WAS passed with few amend
OBJECT OF Law.
There is nothing about that law which
ls sither radical or revolutionary. It de-
zIare5 that tenants, even OF cheap prop
srtles. are entitled to certain things
Ehieh ars essential to health. morality
snd decent LYING. and It provides a means
81 seeing 70 it that the rights or tenants
srs not ignored and the health and safety
81 the entire city impsrilsd BY q denial
8 these essentials 70 decent living.
IT Involves some extra expense to the
eiig. mainly because il creates corps OF
iEa1sct0rs suiHelentiy numerous 70 really
Inspect. bat the return which Il will yield
s. health and comfort. not only 70 the
zislrlcfs directly affected but to the en-
fIrz elLg. Anounta 20 tenfold or one hum
6feafold the eost u e impossibls to a.
rsihc 4 nzsleet 70 put this act into eject
la any ether than one of two causes
aIfher the sinister Influence of sium land
'arda Qr a willingness 20 sacrifice comfort
scsucF ana life ITSELF rather than put Ia
aaardg tna positions Of Z few favored
te4aoldzrs
Ihe hsV Dfs wayne Channeli. pastor OF ,
~ st. stevens Methodist Episcopai
1ltcn. aeFInauloWn avenue near Ash /
zA1 9lfs1l. aho elsa sargzd o. a COM
16s4 Walch visited fanemsnis, TO-DAY
a6s ta4 foilaFinE statements
+Hte iaH s very clear ard niaiu-so
'IaIa 1nzt anF 1air-u1Indzd person can un-
as M fI 3 Flfsl that Councils /
sa 7E 4aoEe tha present altaatIan
~ aa# Hiis Ia ne siam auar-
e F te4E 4Dafenfl4-lar. )
~ zes es sa1zFa,