New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-16

houses. This committee ls or the oPlN-
ion that the construction OF these large
F tenements causes congestion and should
not be allowed. The city is spending
a very large amount OF money 10 DIS
perse the population, and the marked
tendency toward large tonemcnts
should be viewed with alarm by those
working TO improve housing conditions.
"The principal phase Of this question,
discussed by those appearing before
the committee, was the method Of de
creasing the cost of the three family
house. for its construction has prac-
tically ceased in Kings and Queens
3 counties.
/ Recommendation tending 20 reduce
+ the cost Of construction of these three
family houses had to do in the main
with the hreproohnC now required, and
suggested few changes affecting the
hygiene Of such buildings.
I'VE are inclined 10 believe that over
regulation. or overlnspection, by the
city departments. resulting in extreme
annoyance to owners, Is an element OF
much importance in producing the
larger buildings, lnasmuch "a the large
/ buildings could better afford to attend
to inspectors complaints, while the
small buildings, as rule, occupied IN
enough 10 endure non-eSsenual annoy
ances.
1--WE believe that in regulating tene-
ment houses, "a construction - now
required IN the tenement house law,
the results have not been entirely sue
cessful, or entirely satisfactory. even
as the interstate commerce act did not
produce the results the public de-
manded. and neither the public Tor the
railroad was satisfied, for overregu!a-
ton has tended 10 change the owner
ship Of tenement houses TO class OF
people who do not particularly wish
the tenants well, and who are willing
10 avoid laws made for the tenants
benefit whenever practicable or pos
slble.
, I'VE also feel that overinspection and
unnecessary annoyance are part OF the
| clements preventing the construction
+ OF the three-family houses, and from
| our Investigations believe that II -
| POSSIBLE that a surplus Of inspectors
are causing troubles to owners, not IN
/ the end beneficial to the tenants.
1--WE feel that neither Overnspecton
nor cost are, however, the complete
/ reasons for the construction OF the
large buildings, but that there are
OtnGI Causes SoNlOlNG VA anu 4't''-+'N'''''
which also tend to their production.
/ These other causes have not Dech IN
vestigated.
/ 1--WE, however, feel that it is not our
purpose or our desire to be placed IN a
position of trading with those who
/ have produced tenement house reform
/ for the purpose of furthSring the con-
| struction of any particular class OF
| buildings. but we do feel that the tene-
/ ment house situation Will not be IN
proved to the extent that II should un-
| less those large buildings upon cheap
lots are no longer constructed. and un-
| less al least a part of the penalty Tor
| filth and i'll use is borne by the tenant,
instead of as nOw-all borne by the
landlord.
I'VE strongly recommend that the
Tenement House Committee, constltut-
ed for the purpose Of tenement house
reform, should be asked, lnasmuch as
il assumes the guardianship of the
tenants interests, TO further guard the
tenants interests by changing the ten
ement law, so as to produce class or
buildings which are better Tor the
tenants than these now produced, and
that the city should not be allowed 70
further clog up with these large fifty
foot four-family- buildings 10
the detriment of the health and the
morals of the tenants, where the land
values do not require such cOnstruc-
ton. The methods of producing these
results and the character OF the new
legislation we do not now suggest, but
we do feel that immediate cOnsidera-
ton of this big question, so important
TO Brooklyn and TO Queens, should re-
ceive the direct attention OF the Iene-
ment House Committee, or 1t should
intrust this needed reform TO others
At a meeting of the Tenement House
Committee held on May II Alfred J.
White and Darwin K. James, jr., were
appointed to confer with the commit
tee Of the Advisory Council upon this
subject. Thus it is anticipated that
thorough plan of cooperation will be
arranged for by the Advisory Council
and the Tenement House Committee
of the Char ties Organization Society.
This Join committee Will consider
the subject 'ery thoroughly during the
summer months and in the fall, so
that by the next session of the Legs
lature it is cutie possible that legisla--
ton may be agreed upon which Will
tend TO mitigate the severe conditions
which have for the last decade con-
fronted small property owners. In tins
entire matter the members OF the
Tenement House Committee have been
actuated by an earnest desire to reheye