The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-19
City Has Failed to
 Provide Housing
(Continued from Page D


 During the last two weeks, it was brought out at the meeting, five fani- lies, unable to pay s15 month. have been evicted from their homes, be- cause they couldn't afford to pay $25. Able to support themselves, when any kind of provision is made, they have had to go to the -poorhouse because nothing else offers.
 Landlords, especially on the East Side, it was reported at the meeting are raising their rents generally. Some of the tenants have occupied the premises for more than 20 years and never before have they been faced with such a situation has develop ed during this administration They have had their choice of meeting the raise iR rent or getting out.
 Many of the poorer families, living in less pretentious quarters have had their rent raised from $3 to $4 a month. The result was that when they couldn't pay, their furniture went out on the street.
 Recently the board quietly consult ed City Attorney William H. ComIey, Jr, on what constitutes a pauper. It was brought to their attention that though a person who can. pay rent is not a pauper, when evicted because the rent is too much for him, it is up to the board of charities to provide for him.
 With all this confusion, and the lack of activity toward remedying conditions, there lis not prospect of better conditions Far from that, the board of charities members learned. Commissioner John MacLaren Rich ardson reported that in an interview he had with a prominent official of the Remington plants, he learned that IS, 900 -rNorkmen will have been brought here to work in the new buildings by January I, and that something must be done to house them.
 On top of all this, it again has be- come necessary for the sboard to ask a special appropriation to furnish the new Hillside home. The people, in a vote agreed to allow the charities $175,O 900 for the building and equipment. Long ago. the inefhciency of the administration became obvious to the charities department when it 1 saw the money being frittered away 1 After much manipulation, the board l found it would be able to pay for the 1 building. Now, however, it will ask ! a special appropriation of $25,OO0 to ] buy furniture.
 Already some of the ground on the | site provided by the citizens of | for their poor, has been given to the Remington Arms plants
 
 Arms plant graded, land around the Hillside home free of charge. The people of Bridgeport had already pro- vided for this work, but the money went for other things
 Commissioners Richardson and Judge were appointed a committee to inquire intoA the conditions of persons n this city Who have been evicted.
 Commissioner Behrens and Judge were appointed a committee to CO., operate with William R. Webster and Rev. John R. Brown of the Charities Organization society to look into the problem of getting rents. for these persons. 1t was decided to- have a conference. with City Attorney Conley with a yiew to learning whether not land ords have the right to evict persons who can afford to pay the rent that is charged. before the raise.
 All this came as the result of a 1 from Supervisor Connolly | of the New England Charities. Con ] litions in Bridgeport have been | studied by persons in other cities | while the administration here has been in a dormant state