New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
FOR DECENT HOMES
Defeat the Lockwood Bill and Preserve the
Tenement House Department..
ro the Editor of NM Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir Az your valuable paper has always
been an exponent of laws and questions af-
fecting the public welfare, sincerely trust
you will grant me some OF your space for
protesting against the Lockwood -Ellenboger
bill now before the Legislature at Albany
which proposes practically to abolish the
Tenement House Department.
As a resident of this city all my life. and
in behalf OF all other citizens who are un-
aware of the dangers contained in this bill
! emphatically protest not only at abolish
ing, but at curtailing in the slightest degree
any Of the powers and duties now vested in
this department. During the thirteen years
OF its existence this department has caused
the removal of practically every school sink
within the city and the substitution OF
modern sanitary. well ventilated and ade-
quate water closet accommodations for
every family; it has Investigated and acted
uron nearly 100000 complaints, has caused
the installation OF 25O,0O0 windows in dark
rooms and has caused the erection of $4,000
fire escapes where conditions so warranted
The public owes its thanks for the proper
safeguarding of its interests as provided by
the tenement house laws to the present
Comm .ssioner. John ]. Murphy. Mayor
Mitchell recognized his ability and zeal in
50 ably conducting his department by re-
tanning him in Office.
How many citizens are aware Of the fact
that the new type of tenement as construct
Cd in conformity with the existing regula
tiOns ia the equal of and is likewise unsur-
passed by few in any city in this country
and probably in Europe? If any doubt eX-
ist' as to the superiority of our present
I A
with those Of twenty or twenty-five years
ago. | we'll remember the dark, narrow,
poorly ventilated halls, wooden stairways
leading into rooms. many of which were en-
tlreiy without windows tnO means OF Civ
ing you a little of Gods sunshine), with
foul, rotten plumbing and with insanitary
and inadequate water closet accommoda
tlons. These structures we're non-freproof
and veritable iretraps The construction OF
the new law tenement is such that not
single loss of life has occurred in one OF
them since the departments existence. Do
the citizens consider an annual cost Of $780,
coo for this department as too big price
to pay for services that vitality affect the
sanitary conditions and safety Of their
homes? What a wave of indignation swept
over the country at the Triangle fire. Pub
lie Indignation ran sky high at the needless
sacrifice of human life, with the result that
the Fire Prevention Bureau was organized
II we should abolish the Tenement House
Department the residents in tenemcnts
would be subjected to similar unsafe condi-
tions in the event Of fire. Combine its
duties with another department, and we
shall never have these regulations so zeal
ously guarded. This measure. like all Of a
similar nature. is instgated and fostered BY
selfish real estate organizations, chiefly be-
cause the department has performed its
duties so well as to become detrimental to
their interests.
Irs therefore incumbent upon every citi
zen 20 urge his representative at Albany TO
use his influence TO defeat this measure
Its defeat means to you The continuance
of clean. decent homes, with proper light
and ventilation. and Of conditions conducive
20 the good health OF your family, Of good
moral surroundings and hence a better citi-
Eenrv. A. II. GOLDNER.
Brooklyn. March 4. 1915.