The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-09-30

missioner OF f1OuSluS. Ou6 u lhS
first and most important functions
of the state is the protection and
promotion of the home. 1t Is the
duty of the state to see that the
home is not driven to the howell
and the tenement; that greed and
avarice are not allowed to rob the
home of pure water. fresh air, and
sunlight; and that nothing inter-
feres with wholesome home condi-
tions.
While the home is the matter OF
first Importance, all the legitimate
interests of the state are inter-
related and inter dependent.
Hence, any movement to improve
home conditions is in league with
all other movements to advance
any legitimate interest. Especial
ly is this true with reference to
building and allied Industries and
professions Every sanitary and
healthful home is an argument for
BODYBUILDING and homecoming.
The leaders of the better hous-
ing movement are pledged to no
"cut and dried" methods. They
contemplate no radical and sudden
economic revolution. The housing
problem is not to be solved by
economic panacea." From the
first this movement has aimed to
be thoroughly constructive.
Exposing bad housing condi
lions is worth while only when 1t
results in a practical constructive
program-one that stays out OF
the clouds and on the ground.
Better housing, like other re-
forms, results only when common
sense is duly respected.
Ideally, a state housing law
should apply to every section of
the state. Actually, only certain
fundamentals can so apply-such
as space, light, and ventilation.
Certain other minimum require
ments for the city cannot apply to
smaller communities till they
reach larger proportions. But by
gradually growing in line with
few fundamentals, and later COM
ing under the complete require
ments Of a state housing law,
smaller communities may prevent
the development of unwholesome
conditions and so avoid curative
remedies such as must now be ap-
piled to the larger communities.
To cure is an expensive way; to
prevent is a cheaper, better way.
Stricter requirements may ap-
ply to the undeveloped areas sur
rounding our cities, and to all new
construction, than can be made to
apply universally or to the built
UP districts of the cities.
The new Iowa state housing
law aims ''to promote health,
safety and welfare of the people
by regulating the light and ven
tilation, sanitation, fire protection,
maintenance, alteration and i'm
provement of dwellings,; to define
the classes of dwellings affected
by the act, to establish admins
trative requirements, and to es-
tablish remedies and fix penalties
for the violation thereof
This act, known as the housing
law of Iowa, chapter 123, acts OF
the 3sth general assembly, was
approved March 81, 1919, and be-
came effective on July 4, 1919. 1t
is mandatory for every city of
$4,000 or more population, and for
every city as its population
reaches $1,000. All cities and in
corporated towns having a popula-
ton less than $4,000 are en-
powered to adopt ordinances COW
ering similar matters. Its enforce
ment is in the hands of the health
officer or board of health of each
city. The state board of health is
authorized to examine into the
enforcement in any city, to take
steps necessary to secure enforce
ment, and to apply provisions of
this act to mining camps. The
housing law, two enabling acts,
and a concurrent resolution pro-
viding for the printing OF the
law, were passed without ais
senting vote.
The law may be summarized as
follows:
/. General provisions. These
provisions determine the mini
mum population of communities to
be affected by the law. The Iowa
law at present is mandatory for all
cities of 5000 or more population
and permissible for every organ
lied town and city in the state.
The state board of health may ap-
ply certain provisions of the law
to mining camps throughout the
state.
Also, under this head dwell
ing" is defined as ANY house or
building or portion thereof which
is occupied in whole or in part as
the home, residence, or sleeping
place Of one or more human
beings, either permanently or
transientIy." Dwellings are sub
divided into G private dwell
ings, |. e., dwellings occupied by
one family alone; (2) two-family
dwellings, /. e., dwelling occupied
by two families alone; (3) multi
pie dwellings, l. e., dwellings occu-
pied other than as in % or (2).
rTrJor +bie bead he have MANY