Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-24
C0UNCILMEN TACKLE
PROBLEM OF HOUSING
Appropriation by City to Build
on Municipal Land
Among Plans

City Council is preparing to tackle
the housing problem. Members Of that
body announced today that they have
several plans for relief in view which
will be pushed to fruition following the
reassembling of Council after the August
vacation.
These plans comprehend the enact
ment of legislation either by the mu-
nicipality or by the State Legislature.
One of the first developments will
probably be the appointment of spe-
cial councilmanic committee to study
the question and provide the basis Tor
the necessary laws.
Leaders in Council are giving special
attention to program that is receiving
consideration by officials and housing
authorities in New York. This pro
gram is for the city itself to appro-
accommodations on city owned and
vacant real estate.
Studying New York Report
In this connection city officials and
councilmen are studying report maue
by the housing committee Of the re.
construction commission of New York
to Governor Smith. Among the recon-
mendations was the following:
Study and report on the advisa-
bility of enacting enabling acts per-
mitting cities to acquire and hold, or
let, adjoining vacant lands and, If nee
| essary, to carry on housing
Director of Public Welfare Tustin,
who has been carrying on study OF the
housing problem for some time, urged
In1. Ill a..I ntk
to consider that New York report with
Philadelphia in mind.
"The idea contained in that report"
said the director, lis splendid. !
would urge Council to appoint a COM
situation with view of the city's ap.
propriating funds for the purposes
named. If municipal legislation will
not be adequate, then Council can rec
ommend action by the state Legislature,
which reconvenes next January
Hall Declares His Interest
Charles b. Hall. councilman, said
that he was deeply interested in the sug.
gesti0n contained in the New York re-
port.
II will be glad" said Councilman
Hall to offer resolution in Council
| bu'ihb thN way loI VI
n special councilmanic committee to in
vestigate and report upon all phases OF
the housing problem with particular
reference to the plan of having the
city appropriate funds.
Il would offer resolution urginG
that the director of public welfare study
the problem in all its details and make
a report containingsrecommendations tc
City Council. = l understand that Drec
tor Tustin. as the result of his work or
the housing problem up to this time
is supplied with mass of information
which would be useful in such a re
port.
THE city's borrowing capacity 4
now $44 200, 900. and next year II vii
be larger by at least $40 900 900. s.
that there Is no question about the city
fine financial condition. or course. 1,
this offhand and informal statement
would not care to pass on the leya
questions involved in the New ior
plan"
) Councilman w. w. Roper, chairmal
of the committee on public welfare o
y Council, announced that he was so i'm
pressed by the Importance Of the housing
!, problem that he planned to spend som
time studying the subject in New Yor
p and New Jersey.
Il. an boihB w stuug thV puUotto
] during the summer recess Of Council.
said Councilman Roper. 'and will b
better prepared when l return to co
, operate with Director Tustin and Coun
, Gilman Hall and other city officials an
councilmen. feel that no more i'm
t portant question in a big, broad sens
q lies Immediately before us.
0 VIII Study Legal Phases
IL will also study. as a member Q
: Councils law committee. the lega
d phases of the problem with relation I
= the appropriation of money for housing
Certainly it is good thing for us :
get all the suggestions possible, and thi
: latest one from New York is wort
s while; particularly so for the reaso
s that appropriation of money by th
Il city bridges over the question Of prof
= and loss to the builder and provide
housing facilities at reasonable price'
my own thought. however, Is tha
y legislation by the state curbing landlor
: profteering and speculation is one
our greatest needs, New York an
!, New Jersey have already passed sue