Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-12

Definite assurance that Counclis v,,
organize the Division of HOUSING ,,a
Sanitation in the Department Of Ppb,,
Health and Charities and win mai.
necessary appropriations for salarIoa =,
the employees before the bodies adlorn n,
the summer recess. was given by Joh,
P. Connolly chairman of Councils,
Finance Committee today.
The bill ordering Councils to estsb,,,A
the housing division, which was svr,A
| by Governor Brumbaugh last nigh, r-u
become operative as soon as Council,
make the necessary provisions for n,
organization. The new measure, whlIs n
repeals the 1918 code which Counclls rs.
| fused to put into effect, Is essentIaI,v
compromise bill containing MANY ssc.
tions of the former act and omittIne
many others.
Mr.. Connolly said today that Governo,
Brumbaugh had sent him a telegram eariv
this week, asking assurance that ~
bill would be put into effect pronptIv
should he sign It, At the same time N.
Governor sent Director ziegler a similar
telegram. After a number of Conference.
reached and both he and Director Zieglsr
gave the Governor the answer desired
The new bill leaves the number of posl-
tlons to be created up to the dissertation 4,
Councils. How many positions there win
be, Mr.. Connolly would not say TODAY
The amount of the appropriate ton, ia ia
made for the division, he said. has not
yet been decided on.
The provisions of the bill signed by IN.
C,OVRrpnr Hro b,r
eral Brown and State Health Commits.
sioner Dixon after a long series OF pub.
lie hearings and executive conferences
attended by members of Councils and bv
members of the Housing Commission
here. The new law is admittedly com.
promise, but those who were active in the
fight for better housing conditions saw
1t is much better than no law or than a
law which Councils would not put into
effect.
The bill, though general in most of lts
terms, contains a penalty clause which
VIII enable the city to punish those who
refuse to comply with the law. 1t also
required property owners to underdraln
the properties and prohibits cellar living
These In the estimation of the propo.
nents of the 1913 code, are its most i'm.
portant points.
The Governor made 1t plain when hs
signed the bill that he had received as
surance from Councils tnat they would
not again adopt dilatory tactics with
the measure, as they did with the 1911
code. There was little doubt at any
time, however, that the Governor would
sign the bill as the suggestion for the
measure which was made
by Senator Ware Immediately after the
"toothless' housing bill was
defeated originated with the Governor
himself.
Bernard j, Newman, secretary Of the
Philadelphia Housing Commission, made
the following statement today regarding
the new enactment
''The bill is compromise bill and while
It contains many sections of the 1918 act
yet II omits many others that are very
Important. II Is, however. much better
than the laws in force prior to 1913 and
will enable the city to rid itself OF many
nulsances. Especially will 1t require
property owners to underdrain their
properties and will prohibit cellar living
It's best feature is the penalty clause
which will enable the city to punish
hose who will not comply with Its or
iers."
Director zleglsr, of Health and Char.
ties said that the housing bill by Cover
Tor Brumbaugh was one of the most
official acts in this STATE
iince he assumed office.
I'VE will go ahead with the Organise
ion of the division as soon as Councils
appropriate the money to employ the in'
pectors and others provided for in the
lew law he said.