Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-02
SITE IS SUGGESTED
BY DR.. VAN SCHA|CK
Proposes Location Near His
Home for New Municipal
Lodging House.
BOARD CHOICE PROTESTED

Answering the protests of scores of
property owners and others against the
proposed location of the new municipal
lodging house at 322-24 street north
west. on the ground that it would seri
ously injure that neighborhood Rev.
John Van Schaick. jr.. president Of the
board of education. today invited the
District Commissioners to locate the
institution on q vacant lot near his
residence in Massachusetts avenue, be-
tween 14th and 18th streets northwest.
After vivid pictures had been drawn
by Rev Harry -. Mitchell. pastor of
the Metropolitan Memorial Methodist
Church: John b. 1.arner. William Mex
Clayton and others, as to the harm
that will be done ii the lodging house
is built in C. street. DIR. Van Schaick
surprised the protestants at 4 hearing
before the Commissioners this morn nG
by lndorsing the proposed location,
then Offering one in his own neighbor-
hood substitute.
Views of DR.. Van Schaick.
DR.. Van schafck said It is better to
locate such institutions near churches
than police stations. that they should
be brought from dark streets and out
Of the way places into the light, where
the conditions of the unfortunate per-
soEs temporarily sheltered may be
known. This. he declared. to be the
only policy under which there will
cease to be -:omeless men.
Both DR.. Van Schaick and A. n. Ty-
son. superintendent of the existing ma-
nicipal lodging house. on Eth street
adjoining No. police station. ex-
pressed the opinion that the protest
ants were unduly alarmed as to condi-
tions that would follow the location of
the new building on c street. 1t was
stated that the institution would not
house dependents Of the worst class
but that those sheltered would be re-
quired to work for their lodging. and
that the treatment accorded them
would be constructive and helpful
stances were cited by Mr.. Tyson Of
many men given help by the municipal
lodging house who are making good"
Selection Called a "Blunder."
Preceding these speakers. the Com
rnissioners had heard their selection of
the G. street site condemned as Il serious
blunder 1t was declared that one of the
principal sufferers from the location of
the lodging house 1T this place would
be the Young Women's Christian Home
on the opposite side of the street. John
r. Larner, depicting the dangers that
would confront young women returning
home from work at night. declared that
the institution, if built. will be ruinous
to the home.
Prediction was made by the Rev.
Harry d. Mitchell that retention of the
G. street location for the lodging house
will blight the future of that section.
He called attention to the fact that the
location is but two doors from the par
Asonage of the Metropolitan Memorial
Methodist Episcopal Church, which
probably will be abandoned. he said.
unless the Commissioners recede from
their position.
Others Enter Protest.
Mrs II. L. McIlvane. who gave her
age as eighty seven, was a participant
I'm the proceedings and entered a vigor-
Gus protest against retention of the
site, as did several others, including
Mrs Murray Leadguard. president of
the board of trustees of the Young
Women's Christian Home.
The Commissioners took the protests
under advisement. Under an apprOpri-
alton in the current District act they
have allowed $4,000 for the purchase