New-York tribune., 1920-09-14
Smith Limits
Session
ToHorasinggBill
Governor Tells Women He
Will Continue to Try to
Hold Attention of Leg
islature to the Problem
Does Not Want the Credit
Will Place Honor for Solu-
tom Where 1t Belongs;
Pledges His Cooperation

Governor Alfred E. Smith threw
down the gauntlet to the state Legis-
lature on the housing problem last
night. He spoke before the joint meet
ing of the Women's City Club and the
City Club Of New York, held at the
latter's clubhouse, IS West Forty
fourth Street.
~ will state positively" he declared,
that had nothing in my mind in
eeaiiing the special session except an
honest attempt at a solution of this
problem. l have tried, and will con-
tinue TO try, to limit this session to
the question of the housing problem, so
that the attention of the Legislature
will not be diverted from it.
II promise right now my heartiest
and sincere cooperation. | feel so
keenly about this subject that if the
Legislature has been actuated by. the
motive that nothing must be done for
which | am to receive the credit,
promise I will come out on the steps
Of the Capitol at Albany and publicly
declare the credit belongs to them, if
they will only do it."
Housing Problem Old, He Says
Governor Smith declared the hous-
ing problem was not entirely due to
the war, but had been with the state
for years. ut has been neglected in
this. state for years." he said. 1--WE
put ourselves to sleep twenty years
ago when We passed the tenement law"
He said there was no agency in the
state government that had ever had
any Jurisdiction over the housing stu
alton, and that such an agency was
necessary in meeting the problem.
he declared that 81 city in the state
could be empowered to do anything,
provided it was predcated upon the
ground of public health and welfare
He cited the cases Of the legislation
prohibiting employment of women at
night work in factories and the subse-
quent decisions Of the Supreme Court
Ill connection Herewith.
81 hold that if there is a condition
III this city that endangers the public
health or welfare the city has the
right to relieve it as much as it has
the right to pledge its credit to stamp
out cholera. smallpox or any other in
fection that overlook it,
Would Give Builders Inducements
The Governor said that both the
State Of New York and the city own
large tracts Of real estate within the
city limits which are at present idle
in some cases. He said that so far as
the state is concerned he would recon-
mend that inducements be offered to
the men who were ready to build on it,
wherever it could be done without
prejudice to the rest Of the state in
terests.
lie reviewed the various solutions
put forward to meet the crisis, but
added that he believed "these are all
things that just help" With regard to
the extension Of state credit he said:
"The sin of it is that the Legislature
did not even debate it,"
The other speakers at the meeting
were Elmer G. Sammis, counreL OF the
joint legislative committee on hous-
ing, who declared that partisanship had
not entered the study of the commit
tee and would not enter the coming
session of the Legislature while deal
ing with the proposed measures; John
Alan Hamilton, of Buffalo. chairman of
the housing committee of the State Re-
construction Commission, and R. Full
ton Cutting. Miss Mary Garrett Hay,
president of the Women's City Club,
presided