Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-18
WEALTHY WOMEN
HgAR EXPERTS TELL
OF HOUSING EVILS
sixty Organizations Are
Represented at Confer
,uce in the Curtis Build
mo Councilmen Cen
sured.

..nsp,ent district. ,
,gar,en whose names are prominent in
,ssv attended the Monday conference
Eteg,slatIon, arranged for the purpose
hesrlng the housing problem of Phila-
eHsta discussed. Among them were
suresentatives of more than oO womens
LIMITATIONS. In the audience sat sew
els , yoinIsters, whose congregations in
rs.d women and children who live in
s'rsss often referred to as -"dens of
sVt1S Ths brickless, windowless and yardless
..asnAnt was described by several promi-
asnt speakers.
prn,nciIs' Finance Committee was
.vsrelv censured for refusing to appro-
,,iats funds for the new Division OF
ffiouslng and Sanitation by Fred c. Field,
ssrretary of the Octavla Hill Association.
d urged that voters turn their attention
ID candidates who are willing to CO.
sn,rate in sanitary movements. He also
.rsed that a comprehensive survey be
made of the city in order to wipe out the
ssease-breedlng spots.
CoUNCILMEN CENsURED.
.1s II possible that such conditions really
.1lst in the goth century," asked young
sccisty matron.
Mrs. Frank Miles Day. who presided,
announced that today's meeting was the
arst Of a series of Monday conferences
osalIng with subjects now pending in the
legislature.
In my opinion the housing question Is
one Of the gravest problems that faces
Philadelphia" said Mrs. Day Councils
mould do something toward changing
sons living in houses which need imme-
date improvements. and 1 trust that
the legislature this session will take
notice of existing conditions"
The problem of reducing the slum Is
one that affects not onl your humber
fellow w-citizens who are compelled to dwell
there In this age when disease carriers
are 30 many-it affects all-your neighbor
N the street car may have come from q
home reeking with disease-the homes OF
your servants may send you the worst
lind Of contagion," said Mr.. Field
"Today our Councils are defying the
people Of the city by not putting into
force an act passed by the Legislature In
1918 Philadelphia as yet has taken no
united stand on this matter. You must
provide for the enforcement OF this law.
We should back up officials who really
stand for what is right and we must elect
officials who will listen to the will of the
people Let Philadelphia awake!"
URGES SURVEY BY CITY.
Mr.. Field described the manner in which
ccunclps Finance Committee refused to
pay any attention to the new Division of
Housing and Sanitation, which was pro-
yded for by the last Legislature. He
urged that voters should not forget the
Incident
The municipality, according to Mr.. Field,
should undertake q complete and COM
prehenslve survey OF the city in order
to ascertain what might be done In the
way Of removing dlsease-breeding spots.
This survey, Mr.. Field said. should be
Gone by the city with the assistance of
property owners.
The proper study of this problem is be-
yond the resources of private organlza-
hons There are many groups of small
houses in which poorer tenants can be
accommodated at low rents which are Inn
possible in any large reconstruction
Scheme. The tenants themselves are not
lued to live in great reconstructed blocks.
for these where the buildings can be re-
paired and proper sanitary appliances,
sunicient light and air provided, the land
lords should be forced to do so at their
own expense,
There are other old properties, how
Wer, where 1t would be necessary to de-
sroy portions OF the buildings to bring
he property up to reasonable standard.
N these cases the municipality ought to
" able to compensate In some way for
me property destroyed and be able to
make loans at low rate to carry on i'm
provements.
"Othar
Nnere neither OF these two ways could be
carried out, and here the municipality
.noald be able to buy up and rearrange
snure blocks or to sell them. perhaps at
'oss, to private organizations that will
ueEelop them under direction of the
proper authorities.
LAND SPECULATION A FACTOR.
The question of land values and specu-
'auon always enters into these problems,
iAe suburban districts are daily being
made more valuable by the growth OF the
cV and SPECTATORS are taking the profit.
me city should assist in keeping down
'and values by owning the suburban areas
and selling at low prices to home builders,
n many continental cities this has been
'0ne with the result that all land specu-
Nuon has been stopped"
The octavia Hnl Association is a pri-
'a'e organization. striving to redeem old
l'u'ss by reconstruction. repairs. intro
.ucuon OF plumbing facilities, etc. The
-sre Is carried on through paid women
.eneetors, who visit the homes, collect
'.hu, see that proper living conditions
~ maintained and become friendly visit
- % the family. The association began
49, IN 1896, with capital OF less than
~" and its growth, while slow. has
constant. The capital today is
1, - - .SOO,OOO in addition to 5000 worth
ploperty managed by 1t as agent.
~ ohg the organizations represented at
y. eonrerenee are; Tne Civic Club, New
frsasury Club. Philomusian Club, Women's
,sasue Tor Good Government. the Equal
S,-naenise Society. College Club, Phila-
iSvS,gHla Section OF the Council OF Jewish
'spaen' the Agnes Irwin Alumni and the
ne irsl ana School League. Miss Mary II.
~ asn - Is secretary OF the committee.
ars' Augustus Eshner, treasurer.
NJ, en- chronological history OF the housing
ase-non In Philadelphia was given by
psnfa ]. Newman, secretary OF the
4, e,sa.saeiphia Housing Commission. The
5'r speakers were Chief Clark. OF the
~ 9zu or Tenement House Inspection.
-a Ut. EaFol Arounrria4