Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-05
INDUSTRIAL LOSS IN
BAD HOUSING, SAYS
SAMUEL L. FELS
Prominent Manufacturer Fa-
vors Action That Will
Remedy Existing Tene-
ment Conditions.

Industries in different lines are otter
affected through the present tenement
evil. in the opinion of Samuel s. Fels, a
prominent manufacturer OF this city
MIR. Fels said the working ability of
many men who live in filthy tenements
was impaired. as n result OF present
living conditions. lie declared it often
happens that men become ILL., Their alb
sence from work usually affects the daily
output of orders.
For years Mr. Fels has been prominent
IN civic work. He Is n director of the
Philadelphia Housing Commission and is
one of the many representative men who
are urging Councils Finance Committee
to grant an appropriation for the new
Division of Housing and Sanitation.
The act creating Housing and Sani-
tatlon Division was passed by the Legis-
lature more than year ago. Governor
Tener signed the act. Councils Finance
Committee, of which John p. Connolly
is chairman, Is ignoring the act. Mr..
Connolly has already intimatcd no ap-
preparations will be made for the new
department..
Several Councilmen, among them dual
officeholders, have gone on record that
they would not vote in favor of appro-
priations. Among these is Select Council
man Eduard Buchholz, of the 10Th Ward,
who also is n Real Estate Assessor Mr..
Buchholz contends that it is impossible
to teach foreigners the art of cleanliness
with n bathtub.
III present conditions" said Mr. Fels,
were changed 1 feel certain it would
not only help the employe, but also the
employer 1t is my opiEion one can often
tell by a mans work the locality where
he is employed. Better work is turned
out by men who live in healthy and sani-
tary rooms.
"The man who lives in n dirty, filthy,
insanitary room In the congested tene-
ment section doesn't turn out as good
work as the employe who lives in a
sanitary house which has a toilet.
bathtub and a courtyard. 1t is common
sense that the surroundings of home
have a great effect not only On the per-
son from a physical standpoint, but also
upon his work.
ut is natural when a man becomes Ill
as Il result OF living in the wretched tene-
mehts he can't work. Now. suppose
large number of men employed at the
same plant should become i'll on one day
directly through the present living condi-
llOHS-ll NOulu INttll llldl Gel tam OTutIS
could not be shipped.
"I think If we had better living condl-
tons all persons would benefit by it, 7
hope Councils Finance Committee will
grant the appropriations. The measure as
passed by the Legislature Is just one
and thousands of poor families will bene-
ht by it If Councils sees ht to grant the
appropriation"
As the day approaches when Councils
Finance Committee will pass their iudg-
nent on the measure, more Councilmen
are falling into line by declaring that
hey won't vote for the appropriation.
Several of the Councilmen who yesterday
attended the special meeting to discuss
plans for helping the unemployed refused
% be interviewed,
Among the Select Councllmen who de-
,lare that they Will vote against the
measure are Select CounciTmen Charles
seger. of the 7th Ward, in which dis
ricts there are hundreds OF cellar
The other Select Councilmen |
ire dual officeholders.
PICTURES TELL STORY.
Here are few pictures which Councils
las been asked to eliminate:
"a room in a three-roomed house where
I've cots take up the entire floor space
md are used by day and night shift OF
'oarders. In many such houses 15 per-
ons sleep-in others %. while in one so
eople were found living in two rooms"
Another picture snapped by the camera
nd which deals with the tenement house
vii shows;
"One-room apartment where the ten
mt was found to be losing her eyeslght,
nth, vermIn. decayed garbage were
verywhere. The neighbors claim this
ondition existed for more than a year
efore it was reported"
Another scene snapped by the camera
I the Philadelphia Housing Commission
hows:
"A cellar used for sleeping. The cell
X Is II inches above the sidWalk and
n level with the yard. In some cellars
abies have been found sleeping In rooms
nat have no windows The old law only
lterfeTed with such living when the eel
lr was in a tenement. The new code
nder the division of housing and sani-
alton also requires to have a window TO
ne outer air"