Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-02
COUNCTLMEN LEND
DEAF EAR TO CALL
OF BETTER HOUSING
Seger and Connolly Con-
temptuously Refuse to In
dorse Movement for I'M
provements in Homes of
Poor.

The widespread appeal Of the poor for
sanitary homes. It was predicted today
by those who heard the remarks OF
Common Councilman John p. Connolly,
chairman of the Committee of Finance,
yesterday at a meeting of that body,
will be refused.
Common Councilman Connolly is known
as the mouthplece of the Republican Or
ganization. Keen observers of housing
conditions and those interested in the
movement to eliminate the siberian
cells" living graves" tenement caves"
cellar rooms" Giving tombs." ''garret
sleeping rooms" and chamber" of hor-
rors" are of the opinion that many OF
the Councilmen will be guided by what
Connolly said.
In carefully worded statement before
the Joint Committee ON Finance of Coun-
ellis yesterday Mr.. Connolly said in part:
Before taking up the work of consider
ing the annual budget, 1t Is only fair to
state that a resolution has been adopted
by the Finance Committee, and the chair
man has been instructed to make an
nouncement at this time that. i'll making
the annual appropriations FOR 1915 there
will be no salary increases anywhere, no
new places created, nor an adjustment Of
any of the places. exc NJ where 1t is
felt to be absolutely In tive"
CONNOLLY NoNCl INITIAL.
propriations for the new division Of hous-
ing and sanitation" Mr.. Connolly was
asked later
"I have nothing to say" he replied.
Are you in favor of the present housing
conditions?"
81 refuse to answer" said the Coun-
Gilman.
what is your attitude toward the new
act passed by the Legislature?"
1T have nothing to say" was Mr.. Con-
nelly's answer,
Mr. Connolly, before leaving the City
Hall, said that nothing will be done
until Director Harte of the Department
of Health and Charities, makes his APP
preparations known to Councils upon his
return from Jacksonville, Fla. Director
Harte is expected to return soon.
Among the members of Councils Sub
committee on Finance Is DIR. Thomas Nor
ton, who is a dual officeholder Resides
being coroner's physician he is a Com
mon Councilman. He will have voice
and vote on the appropriation with which
to conduct department that ia to MAIN
tain stricter watch on the owners OF
tenement dens." ri.
Since the movement for the -bettermsnt
of housing conditions in the congested
quarters of the city began noted ply
sicians have pointed out the effects OF
the tenement-house evil.
Recently DR.. Ross V. Patterson, sub
dean of the Jefferson Medical College.
said that the mother. as well as the un-
born child, was greatly effected through
filthy conditions.
Doctor Morton's attention was also
called to the unsanitary conditions which
exist in Philadelphia's tenements Doc
tor Morton expressed the opinion that the
present act was somewhat too drastic
and too severe upon the small property
owner whose land and house was mort
gagged. He thought that the present act
should be modified.
sEGER STILL ETANDPAT.
Select Councilman Charles Seger, OF the
7th Ward, in which hundreds of cellar
rooms" are located, and who already
has expressed himself as being against,
tine new housing laws. declined to say
whether he had changed his views yes
terday.
~ have nothing TO say" he said as he
the chamber of Councils.
Have you changed your views?"
II won't say word to you, because
Concluded on Page Five