Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-17
HARTE AGAIN ASKS
CASH TO ESTABLISH
HOUSING DIVISION
Health Director Estimates
Expenses of Much-needed
Bureau at $2I3,710, With
$50 Persons Employed.

| Councils have received another formal
request to appropriate funds FOR the
establishment Of tho Division of Housing
and Sanitation In the Department OF
Health and Charities. in according with
the act OF the Legislature signed by tho
Governor July %, 1918.
Director Harte. OF the Health Depart
ment has included in his annual budget
OF estimated expenses for 1915 a detailed
statement of the cost OF maintaining next
year the division that It is contended
would give vast relief against vicious and
unhealthful congestion in rckety tene-
ment structures peopled mainly by aliens
in the thicISly populated wards OF the
city.
Councils have taken no action on pre-
vlous requests for establishment OF the
division that would merge the existing
inadequate divisions OF tenement house
inspection and of sanitary inspection and
would give proper housing to the families
OF many OF Philadelphia men now unem-
ployed.
HARTE ASKS s713,nO
Director Harte has asked for 1913, 40 for
the division OF housing and sanitation.
which would employ $50 persons. OF whom
more than 75 per cent. would be lnspec-
tors. number OF the attaches would be
required TO speak Yiddish and Italian that
confusion might not result from their ef-
forts in the alien quarters.
The establishment OF that division
would eliminate or transfer the So en-
ployes In the present Division of Sanl-
tary Inspection, maintained at cost
last year OF $IO,37O, aud the 10 employees
or the Division of Tenement House In
spection. operated at "A cost of S12,2s0
Councils Committee of Health and
Charities considered the budget sub
nttted by Doctor Harte last week and
gave the customary perfunctory approval
to the entire statement, including the
estimate for the housing and sanitation
divisions cost. The budget according |
to procedure, was referred to the Finance |
Committee OF Councils where in the ses- |
sions OF the Subcommittee of Finance the !
real fate OF the division will be deter
mined.
Last year Councils not only ignored re-
quests that appropriations be granted
the division, but resisted action i'm the |
courts when John c. Moltor. Chief of
he Division of Housing and Sanitation,
attempted to mandamus Councils to pay
MS salary and the salaries of the force
inder him In compliance with the act OF
he Legislature.
Litigation aimed TO compel Councils to
establish the division Is still hanging in
he courts In view OF this litigation and
he attitude or Councils, It IS regarded
,s certain that the Finance Committee
Il Councils VIII slash from the budget
he estimate for the housing division.
WOULD BRING REFORMS.
The law under which the division of
iousinE and sanitation was established
would effect beneficial reforms In the
ZONES OF the poorer class OF the city, in
safeguards and improvements
hat would be felt financially by landlords
q squalid tenemsnts.
The law requires owners to; Place a
Ink with running water IN every house
nd in every apartment OF two or more
ooms In tenement, II water main is
4 the street; connect the house directly
nth a sewer; repair broken plumbing
keep roofs stairs ana fire. I
scApes in constant repair: protect the
ellar against nOOdng keep halls and
utside spaces clean use no part OF the
uilding for a sweatshop. and conduct
only under permit from !
10 Board OF Health; allow no storing of
material in the structure:
rovids every room with a suitable win \
oW opening to outside air; give ample
larters to prevent promiseuous herding {
lat breeds vice. .