Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
DOZEN LIVES A DAY
THE COST TO CITY
OF HOUSING EVILS
Supporters Of Tenement Law
Say They Are Opposed in
Demand for Appropriation
by Politicians and Land
lords.


Death. due to insanltary conditions in
houses Of the siums, which social work.
ers call death vaults" ended the lives
Of 1900 person IN iei3-a loss OF lives at
the rate OF one every two hours
Deaths from these causes are occurring
daily. according to the Philadelphia Hous-
Ing Commission. while Councils neglect
to make the appropriations asked for to
conduct the Division OF Housing and
Sanitation.
One year and four months have gone
by since the act creating the division was
passed by the Legislature and signed by
Governor Tener,
Every attempt to get Councils to grant
the appropriations has failed The fate
of the act now rests with the Finance
Committee of Councils. OF which John L.
Connolly is chairman.
Despite the statement of property own
ers that no death vaults" or insanitary
houses exist in Philadelphia. It became
known today that 1902 complaints against
landlords had been received by the Phlla-
delphia Housing Commission. The COM
plants came from women and men con-
Deeted with hospitals and civic bodies
and from physicians.
out of the 45O2 complaints filed. Bernard
]. Newman. secretary of the Philadelphia
Housing Commission. OF which Director
Norris, of the Department OF Docks and
Ferries, Is president, said only about 20
per cent. were corrected.
Men and women who have been closely
following the actions of Councils in this
matter expressed the opinion today that
there were two vital reasons for the app
preparations being held up:
l. The fear of certain politicians that
they will lose control OF important patron
age consisting of rich berths in the Health
Department
2 The opposition OF a real estate syn
dicate controlling houses in the slums
based on their objection to spending large
sums on improvements.
Secretary Newman, who has been active
In getting evidence Of tenement house
violations, said today that there was no
city In the country where the mortality
In the slums was great rs 1t Is. in the
slums OF this city.
Noted sociologists. working in conJunc-
ton with Mr.. Newman, said that in the
SSth Ward a person had n splendid chance
OF reaching the age of 70. because most OF
the dwellings in that ward were sanitary.
But In the 10th Ward they declared that
human being had only Ave chances in
ten of living to three score and ten In
the rckety, dark and filthy tenements
there.
Harry Levin, president OF the Interna-
tonal Tenement Owners Association, |
which has i6T members. with much prop |
erty in the 7th Ward, of which Select |
Councilman Charles Seger is leader de-
MED today that insanitary conditions ex-
listed, He said that counsel had been |
engaged to fight the appropriations and |
eventually have the act repealed.
The International Tenement Owners
Association Is not Incorporated. There
are only two officers in the association.
Levin Is the president and Isaac Paul is |
the secretary To become q member Il |
Is necessary to pay 50 as entrance fec. |
Then there are payments of 81 a year
for each property owned by member.
Levin denounced the new act as too
drastic. He said that under the new act
property owners had to pay 81 for each
room besides the regular taxes.
"The laws are too severe on u.s." he
said. I'VE are ready to give our tenants
sanitary quarters. but we can't tolerate
this new drastic measure All our
profits are eaten UP II we should start
TO put in new plumbing and make other
improvements required by the new law"
Secretary Newman, when informed
that Levin had stated that he objected
70 paying 81 for every room as n tax
said:
THAT is not so. The law says plainly
that 81 shall be paid for every apart
ment. The law was carefully drafted
and every phase was gone into before II
was presented to the Assembly. as We
didn't desire 20 take advantage OF the
property owners,
There Is only one solution In this
great problem, and that is for Councils
TO grant the appropriations asked. If
the appropriations are granted II will
mean the establishment OF a department
which win enable the city to keep q
sharp watch on violators."