New-York tribune., 1920-09-21

might be applied a. snee. The state
apparently owns considerable property
that was either acquired by escheat or
was bought in at FAX sales 1t might
be we'll to direct the Comptroller either
to arrange favorable short term leases
or dispose of the property, if it is to
be used for housing, at such prices as
will encourage it's development.
Permanent Relief Sought
"We come now to the third consider
ation-pfovision for a permanent hous-
ing policy.
"The existing Accommodations ase
far from the standards OF adequacy
that normal family has the right to
expect. l was conscious that the, state
was facing a problem of housing, both
from the fundamental point Of view
and from that Of the shortage in the
supply, when I asked the reconstruc-
t'on commission to study and to sug-
eest permanent policy for the state
in this regard.
1.-The evils Of bad housing are only
zoo apparent in New York City-but
my study and experience here have
shown me that an inadequate stand
ard OF housing exists in nearly every
city and town in the state. The tene-
ment house law has some measure of
beneficent effect, Dut in the smaller
communities, investigation shows that
housing is without even elementary
supervision as to safety and SANTA
ton.
Nor is the situation of such recent
growth as is popularity supposed. Since
we passed the tenement house law Of
twenty years ago, nothing constructive
mas been done. We rested with that
achlevefnent and every attempt to aid
IN developing solution for other
communities has met with failure.
ANY attempts to amend the present
tenement house law are likely to be
viewed with alarm and suspicion if
they are aimed at detailed and specific
sections of the law. 1t is, however,
probable that the law can be made to
MT present conditions if it is applied
with greater elasticity. would,
therefore, recommend as an aid to the
construction of multi-family homes
that there be created for the tene-
ment mouse department a board Of
appeals similar to or identical with the
One at present functioning for the
HHar!diHg Han. Department in the City of
New YORK If such a board is con-
stituted, deviations from the letter of
the law, which make possible new
methods of construction. can be care
fully considered by such a board and
the law be less hampering in its effect,
Quarters Prove Menace
Building houses for some groups in
the population has become an unprof-
liable business. Hence these groups
have for generation lived in the left-
over housing or in the cheapest and
most poorly planned type of home that
grudglng and unrealizing community
would provide. AS result of the
present emergency a still larger por-
tlon OF our population is being forced
back into. houses of a standard below
That which we have accepted as decent
American homes.
Except for the report of the recon-
structlon committee and the findings
OF your own committee, we have been
aided by no state agency in the con-
sideration Of this very important
problem. In the enactment of labor
laws we are guided by the Industrial
Commission. In the enactment Of
health measures, by the State Health
Department. In matters affecting the
conservation of our natural resources,
by the Conservation commission. The
Banking Department, the Insurance
Department and other state agencies
all deal with special subjects that need
executive or legislative action.
"But in housing, dealing with the
elementary need Of shelter and estab-
fishing homes, there is no state or
local agency to aid the legislative and