New-York tribune., 1920-03-27
for
State Aid to
Build Homes
Continued from raae one

and high cost of materials, arc all in
volved in the present stagnation of the
building market there. 1t should be
possible for those engaged in the jn-
| dustry to come together and overcome
the material obstacles to an increased
program.
Labor's Assistance Sought
II should like to see q more earnest
effort made among those in the build
ing trades to eliminate The trade OBJ
stacles. and l am certain that money
and other Interests needed will be
forthcoming.
"In the meantime we have q tenn
porary situation that must be met. To
do it serious consideration should be
given to any measure which seems to
afford relief. No doubt the joint legis-
lative committee of your honorable
will have some solution to offer.
am ready to 60 with you as far as
the constitution of the state will
permit"
con the other hand, all parties to
the industry ought to stretch point.
The loaning institutions ought to be
reconciled to the higher costs and rec
ognize them actually in figuring the
percentages of their loans, and labor
and employers in the building trades
should lay aside their quarrels and
wait for time when strikes would
not affect any of their own people be-
laid aside in the public interest"
Turning to the long-standing hous-
ing evils, Governor Smith points out
that it has been years since any homes
have been built for the poorer classes
Of the population, and that there is no
prospect for such building in sight.
"The temporary amelioration of our
acute difficulties in meeting this hous-
ing shortage and the consequent rails
ing of rents does not reach the funda-
mental causes of the present housing
crisis" he says.
eve cannot look forward" he goes
on, "to the possibility of supplying the
workers Of the state with decent homes
in wholesome environments unless we
make some fundamental changes that
will enable the workers to build their
own homes, that will assist in working
out plans Of cooperative ownership,
and that will enable such large scale
planning of model dwellings, as will
prove economically sound, executed in
such manner that the dwellings are
safeguarded against excessive profits
on the investment and that rental val
ues are kept within a reasonable re-
turn"
After pointing out that there are to-
day actually 400 fewer apartments in
New York City than there were a year
ago, he says:
SIN other cities of the state the short
age is, roportionately, no less.
Big Rush for Tenements
"In 1916 there were over $4,000 vacan-
cies in the old-law tenements in New
York-meaning houses which were
built more than twenty years ago and
which are not subject to the require
ments called for by the tenement house
act Over 10000 of these have since
been occupied. Such vacancies as ex-
listed and those that still exist are in
houses that are not habitable by human
beings, but, due to the fearful short
age, people are being driven down and
down and packed tighter and tighter at
the bottom.
This must eventually have most
evil effect upon our population. Since
this class OF houses can under no cir
cumstances be considered profitable, no
private investor will ever build it again,
and it is for the relief of those con-
ditions more than any other that per-
manent housing program is necessary"
The report of the Reconstruct ion
Commission, in addition to urging the
legislative program, declares that or
CARNATIONS Of tenants offer a far bet
ter chance of dealing successfully with
prepared by the joint legislative COM
mittee.
In opening its report the committee
says:
"After a thorough study, which is
outlined in this report. the majority Of
the Housing Committee has reached
the conclusion that no temporary So
luton will serve to meet our present
housing difficulties. To supply that
need will take years, during which the
shortage creating the emergency will
continue to exist.
ITO legislate against rent raising
will not help to supply the need Of
more housing. Legislation temporar-
lily postponing the suffering of the
dispossessed is desirable There is an
insufficient supply of decent houses.
AS result a large part of the popu-
lation is housed in manner detri-
mental to the health ana safety of
the community.
vironments in which to bring up chill
dren cost more than most workers can
afford. 1t is Impossible to supply the
population Of this state with decent
homes unless the cost Of living be re-
duced."
10000 Apartments Needed
"Tho present needs in New York the
report puts at 10000 apartments. 1t
finds that the rise in construction costs
has been so great that buildings which
could be built even last year to rent
at SO room month, now must cost
$14.
cit is necessary to charge for new
construction a rental far beyond the
means of large part of our popula-
tion," it says.
A detailed study of East Side con-
ditions is reported, in which condi-
tions and landlords are alike scored,
OF these conditions the committee
says:
"The survey disclosed that families
were crowded together in dark ill.,
smelling apartments. Yet the tenants
were afraid to complain to the land
lord for fear he would dispossess
them.
Since the Investigations of the
housing committee were made condi-
tlons in the oldlaw houses have grown
worse.
"A great part of the houses in which
the working people of New York live
have come into the hands of absentee
landlords or lessons. The latter ara
holding the properties, very often
only Tor a short time with the iden