Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-17
COLD WINDS PIERCE
FLIMSY WALLS; POOR
AFRAID TO PROTEST
Tenement. Dwellers Suffer,
While Sinks Are Frozen
and Windows Lack Panes.
The Law Flouted.

Proof that the new Division Of Hous-
ing and Sanitation created by the last
legislature and Ignored by Councils
Finance Committee was q necessity was
found today through an inspection OF the
tenement house district made by the Phil
adelphia Housing Commission.
The homes OF the tenement poor who
within the last two days have renewed
their appeals to Councils to grant appro-
priations for the new Division of Hous-
ing and Sanitation presented heart-rend-
ing scenes.
Many Of the houses entered by Bernard
j. Newman. seci etary Of the Philadelphia
Housing Commission, showed that land
lords had failed 10 correct certain Viola
tions complained Of more than q year ago.
In many of the dilspidatod old red brick
tenements of the 10th Ward, OF which
State Senator McNichol is leader. mothers
as well as little girls are busy these days
covering UP so-called windows with
sheets Of wrapping paper. The windows
are broken Landlords have delayed in
repairing them In other Instances land
lords and renl estate agents are taking
their time in putting In new window
panes In place Of the shattered ones.
AFRAID TO COMPLAIN. ~
When inquiries were made at different
houses as to how long the present con-
ditions had existed the occupants sim
ply shrugged their shoulders, Others said
they were afraid to make complaints.
Why are YOU afraid2" a gray-haired
umbrella mender was asked He lives
in3the heart of the 10th Ward.
II owe a part OF last months rent.
answered the man in choking voice
Since tine cold spell set In occupants
or Phlladolphia's dirty, unventilated, win
dowess and kitcheniess houses, which
Archbishop Prendergast recently referred
10 au n haN tN IL 1ifr
into their hard-carned savings
Yes, II loo.-s as If we must suffer for
the sins of the property owners" said
an intelligent mother, who is compelled to
buy two buckets OF coal daily to protect
her children from the effects OF the wind
which penetrates through an old side
wall
The tenement poor do not buy their coal
by the ton They would Hike to buy
ton at 4 time. They can't afford It. So
the tenement poor go out daily and buy
their coal at some corner coal store.
Buckets Of coal these days are selling at
cents There Is another grade of coal
which sells for less Buying coal by
the bucket usually brings the price up to
about Sl4 a ton, which can be bought on
the market for half that amount
MANY SINKS FROZEN.
Frozen sinks are plentiful today In
LHe nome OF MIS- AIlile hlln, on SpTlnS
street near sth, thSre is sinl; in the
''kitchen" which hasn't furnished any
water FOR three days. Mrs, Kim has two
children. Michael years old. and Cathe-
rine. 10 months old. Her husband, Harry,
Is working Mt Jacksonville Fla.
"G can't get any water from the sink
IN my roo1i," she said, because it is
frozen"
In the glare of a lighted match it was
seen that a cake of ice had formed out
OF the water which became clogged
.un when the cold weather set In.
Where do YOU get water for cooking
purposes?'
FL have to go into the courtyard next
door, answered Mrs. Kim.
Mr. Kiln said that she had complained
yeral times to the man who collects her
ffnt, but that he simply told her that
ner complaint was ION file"
Within the last two days many appeals
zDr aid have been received by the Society
n Organized Charities, at il9 South 18th
rect Many Of the requests came from
Occupants OF Philadelphia's tenements
Many of the applicants were III. They
Here stricken living in houses with
amp walls.