Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-29
1Oi4FAILED TO GIVE
BETTER HOUSING, BUT
MADE TIA Big ISSUE
Closing Months of Year
Marked by Vain Appeal
of the Poor for Enforce
ment of Reforms.

The work in this city in 1915 for better
housing conditions, while unproductive Of
actual reforms, was fruitful in making
the question one of public discussion and
In placing the responsibility for the lack
OF progress. The closing months OF the
year were marked by vain appeal OF
the poor for the enforcement Of the new
Division Of Housing and Sanitation. APP
propriatons for the maintenance Of this
division were withheld by Councils FL
nance Committee. although the division
was created by the Legislature and sign
| ell by Governor Tener. Every effort TO
get Councils TO appropriate the needed
S213,71O failed.
The movement for better housing con-
ditlons was inaugurated by the EVENING
LEDGER some weeks ago.
The new housing law. which, If en-
forced, would have given some relief to
the poor OF the congested sections, was
enacted July %. 1918 The act had the
support of SO social agencies, noted ply
sicians, jurists, lawyers and civic workers.
PRESENTED PROOF OF EVILS.
For many weeks physicians and men
in all walks of life brought forth con-
elusive proof that crime, disease, do
nestle troubles and other evils we're due
to present tenement conditions. This
proof was accompanied by facts and fig
ures. Director George w. Norris, of the
Department of Docks, Wharves and Fer
ries, president of the Philadelphia Hous-
ing Commission, was among those who
labored hard to change conditions.
Some of the rights which Councils
failed to give the tenement dwellers are:
l. To have a sink with running water
in every house and in every apartment
of two or more rooms in a tenement
house IL there is water main in the
street
2 To have the house directly connected
with the street sewer and other inde-
pendent and unhealthy arrangements dis
continued,
g. To have broken plumbing repaired
at once
a. To have unsafe stairs, leaky roofs
and similar defects repaired and kept in
order
5. To have the cellar protected from
being flooded by ground water. and the
rooms protected from dampness due to
defects in the walls.
6. To have in q tenement house the pub
lie halls and other spaces outside the
apartments kept in a clean condition.
g. ~ lllSioL tiltil llO phlN OI Iit Dullu-
ing be used as a sweatshop, and where
manufacturing Is done 1t must be under
permit of the Board of Health.
s. To insist that no material of easily
lnhammable character be stored in the
building, so as to make a fire risk.
o. To insist that every room shall have
a window OF ample size opening TO the
outside air.
10, To live with privacy and without
the promiscuous herding that is recog-
nized as prolific breeder of vice and
crime.
CoUNCILMEN's OPPOSITION.
Among the Organization Councilmen
who opposed the granting Of appropria-
tons were Select Councilman Charles
Seger, of the 9TH Ward This ward is
full OF cellar rooms" and filthy tene-
ments. Another Councilman who de-
rlared himself against the housing laws
was Common Councilman John p. Con-
nelly, chairman OF Councils Finance Com.
mittee.
Among those who asked that the tene-
ment plague spots" be eliminated was |
Archbishop Prendergast, Clergymen of |