Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-12
HEAD OF. j. S. BANK .
ANDBU|LDERS TALK
Committee Of Operative Asso-
citation Asks Norris to Favor
Housing Boom
WOULD START NEXT YEAR

Following a conference between
George W. Norris. governor Of the Fed
eral Reserve Bank, and n committee
from the Operative Builders Associa .
tion, plans were made for dwelling
house boom for next year. State :
inents regarding the conference will be
issued today by Mr.. Norris and Daniel
J. Crawford, Jr., representing the
builders.
The committee questioned Mr.. Norris,
It is said, on statements he was re
ported to have made recently, that II
would be unwise to launch building
boom now, because he not only be
ieyed that drop In the price Of all
building materials would affect ad-
people who came here during the war
were going to leave the city. Neither
Mr.. Norris nor Mr.. Crawford would
comment on this last night.
The builders also are reported to
have asked Mr.. Norris to make known
his position with regard TO the pro-
posed abolition OF the usury law IN
this state. which prohibits the charging
of more than 9 per cent interest on
loans. The builders are interested In
this proposition, as they hold that any
increase in the rate Of interest would
seriously affect mortgages and building
loans and add to the already great
burdens Of home owners and home buy
ers.
Favor City Experiment
The idea that Philadelphia should
launch municipal housing experiment
next year und follow the example sc.
by many European cities, is beins
strongly advanced by several groups in.
cluding the Philadelphia health council
and tuberculosis committee. DR.. c.
Lincoln Furbush, director Of the De-
advisory committee on housing are
closely interested in this problem from
different angle and the possibility II
being considered Of interesting mum
Der Of wealthy men. who have beer
dcvoting themselves to philanthropi'
| work.
Miss Evelyn NJ. Carpenter, who Il
in charge Of industrial work for thu
Philadelphia Health Council, bclieve
that the city should make an appro
priation and establish a housing ex
pertinent II for no other purpose thai
to set the pace in building for mex
year.
The Venice idea" should be adoptet
here, as II has had singular success
in Italy from the viewpoint of santa
tion. disease prevention and social up
lift, she said.
Venice Idea Suggested
philadelphia would do well to in
vestigate the Venice idea. which ha
brought health and happiness to hun
drcds of workmen in that historic city
and has aided in giving Venice a re
markably low death rate from tuber
culosis. The details Of the Venice ide,
were given me by Miss Aneta Cont
who is at present engaged In Ameri
canization work in this city.
'The city Of Venice has built n mode
settlement for the accommodation o
some 500 families. The houses ia thi
settlement are owned and maintuine
by the city at, very low rentals
Families can live In these homes jus
so long as they live up to the require
ments. These requirements deal mostl
with very exacting code of santa
tion. Occupants must keep their house
scrupulously clean, and inspectors max
frequent visits to see that the rules ar
observed. Families who do not live vi
to the regulations are ordered to va
cate. The settlement has been th
means of raising the living standard
of workmen in Venice