The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-20

witnessed was that last night on the measure drafted by City Attorney Comley, which restricts the construc- tion of three-hoor tenement houses to brick. !
 Following the hearing, which at traeted a large gathering, including. many builders, most of whom opposed the bill, and many representatives of church and other organizations who favored it4 the report was widely cir 'culated that thes five aldermen of the ordinances committee were agreed to report the measure fayora bly,.
 Its fate in the. common council is prob b1ematiral. There isaa strong agt- tation among builders to defeat the bill. On the other. hand, the Good Housing association is spending much time and money to effect it's passage.
 The ordinance committee is com, posed of Aldermen yVshitney, Winter burn, Caldwell, BIakesfea ana Clancy, all of whom were present.
 William R. Wsbster. 1ce-presidedt of the Good Hnusfng association. mar sha,Iled the speakers in favor of sthe. ordinanca9 sI am convinced that tlsis ordinance Ia necessary,'' said Mir. Webster In his onening remarks, eff 1t is only to 1es4en the fire hazard really believe that general living con- ditionE will IeS much improved if the ordinance passes.2'
 Mir Webster then introduced Attor- -ney David IS. Day, who said that 36 cities in Massachusetts had adopted a similar law after the terrible fires at Salem and Chelsea deTnonstrated the great danger of .eheanlg constructed wooden. tenements houses in which three> or more families lived. He said that the cost Of brick over wooden frame construc ction was only 1z or 13 per cent. and that tn e light increase in the cost of rent was more than com pensated for by the Improved living condition
 Yes, declared Attorney Joshnat Ne1tzer, who spoke in opposit1on to. the ordinances later <. but how about cent of the residents Of this city arp- workingnnen whose average wage is between $500 and $6e0 per year. Divide this by weeks and see how much they get Does MT. Day mean to tell us that these men can afford to pay from SIS to $2O per month for rent? That is what these rents will cost if you com pei the property owners to build of brick. This is a question of necessity and not of morals. Who in this city have children except the working peo- pie who live in tenement houses? If the manufacturers Or the ministers want a. city beautiful why not start yome agitation to have workingnen paid accordingly so that they may pay rent for fine houses ?''
 Revx John R. Brown of the First Baptist church, who was one of the speakers for the ordinance, said in part Every man has right to the best possible 1nvironTnent and he does not get the best possible environment in a tenement house. I am convinced that if this law passes, better homes for Workdngmen can be built and rent Cd is true that they may bring less profit to the landlords, but after looking over the homes of working men in other cities am convinced that Sucn homes can be built here and ment- I believe the prevention of the building of more three-deckers will be for the moral and social betterment of the community and will assist in keeping young people in the proper en- yironment.'s
 nents as closely together as has been the custom in years past said Charles p. Davis, president of the City Plan Commission, shows to my mind that the owners have no respect for their tenants and that the revenue is the only element that enters into the matter of buildings as far as the owners are concerned.'' MT. Davis ex- p1ained that in accordance. with proper city blaming Individual homes for the families were favored rather than ten
 
 Rev. J. P. wagner, president of the Pastors association and pastor of the Sunmerfield M. B. church, spoke for ! the pastors, saying that all were in fa- vor of the ordinance and they hoped it would pass
 Alfred c. Blossom, ErepFessnting the Remington Arms-y M Co., said that the managers of lis concern. in view of the large number Of outside workmen whom they expectsdSto bring to Bridgeport. hoped that some reg uIatfon would Be made so that sil b. stantial buildings only would be built T do96 not think the builders fn this city have naoneys enough to build fol the 10000 people who are certain tc come here with the workers in our fac tories. T know that outside capita would rather invest in substantial buildings. where they can be assured 1 of a fair return on their. mopey.''
 A. D. Nou1ton of the Mems League 1 of Oltvet Congregational church spoke for the league in favor of the ordi- the Good Housing association, also l spoke in favor of it.. He repeated fr part what Attorney Day had said. Alfred Hardoncourt advocated build
 ing all exterior walls in Bridgeport ol
 brick in the future. You lessen youl fire hazard and increase the beauty o1
 your buildings he said.
 I What brick concern do you repre-. sent?'' asked Samuel Dave.
 The TFTsi<e Brick Co. of New .Jer. sey.'' said ATr. Hardoncourt with l smile. N i 'I thought so.'' returned MT. Dave
 There are lot of you fellows vhe have heard of this proposed ordinancs
 and who hope to get in here with AT
 advertisement for your wares. he
 Iieve this is public hearing for the
 taxpayers. citizens and residents O. Bridgeport only and I don't believ,
 that anyone else should be allowed tn,
 privilege of the floor =
 There, were 6 number Of salesne,
 for various so-caIled freproof buildin:
 materials in the audience but none O
 them ventured to speak after MT liar 1 dOncourt.
 Continuing MT. Dave took issue witt ARev. MT. Brown on the moral 's.ids <
 the question: He said he considered