Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-10

the landlord to learn Is that it is against
his interest TO have unsanitary conditions
prevail In his property; that it is to his
interest to have his property maintained
in clean and proper condition, that
even though this involves spending or
money, 1t viii be money saved in the
end; that the character Of his tenants
is of vital concern TO him, and that he
has 1t within his power to choose his
tenants: and finally, the landlord should
have awakened IN him sense Of moral
responsibility with regard to the wei
fare Of his tenants. He has an unusual
opportunity for Influencing for good or
III the welfare Of hundreds Of lives
TENANT ALSO
HAS OBLIGATIONS.
The tenant too, has his obligatioa- Mr.
WELLER makes an important suggestion
when he says.
ut is desirable to make It to the in
terest Of the tenant to take care Of the
house as though Il were his own prop
erty. The best method that has been
devised, thus far, OF accomplishing this
has been the admira ole plan that Is adopt
ed by some companies. OF allowing each
family repairs and re-decorations each
year to the amount OF one months rent
and then permitting the tenants, II they
so maintain their rooms that It is not nee
essary to spend this money. TO have the
benefit Of it as a reduction deducted from
[ their rent. This gives to each family
direct incentive TO careful use Of the
/ property"
/ Mr.. WELLER thinks the majority Of ten
/ ants are willing to keep property in az
i good a condition as they find It. except
for the natural wear and tear; that to
] think all are destructive, greedy and dis
honest is as wrong as to judge all land
/ lords adversely.
The truth is" says Mr.. WELLER, both
/ are human, and tenants are very apt T.
reflect the attitude OF the property owner
/ toward them. II he exacts rent for p
! dilspidsted building. they win perhapf
! increase the dllapidation They say
what's the use? He doesn't care what
I kind OF a place ne gives rs to live Ia. Why
should we care what happens to III"
i "A to the duties Of tenants. Mr. Weller
thinks most Of them are through ig
noranee not intent. Perhaps it would be
more accurate to say through thought
lessness. 1t is so much easier to throw
waste material out Of window Of tene-
ment IL one lives on the upper floor than
/ it Is to put it In a pail and carry II
\ down several flights Of stairs Man,
would not do this II they understood
that this practice resulted In conditions
that cause sickness to themselves and the
children as well as 70 their neighbors.
IMPROPER HOUSES
PRODUCE DISEASE.
The third party to the landlord tenant
/ problem is the community Improper
housing conditions produce disease. pow
erty, sickness, crime and death, and the
victims Of these conditions add their
voices to the social unrest
! To be sure, our present interest is not
I so much how we are housed as where we
are housed if at all.
/ To return to the girl problem. Des-
/ titution, or poverty, is said to be the
greatest cause Of delinquency in girls
Linked with poverty, as both cause and
effect, is improper housing. Any en-
vironment that tends to drive the child
away from the home circle, any cir
cumstance that loosens the home ties
| and sets the young life adrift is the
storm that cuts the rope which fastens
the frail boat to its mornings.
Environment leaves its incffaceable
records on the souls, minds and bodies
Of men, there to he read by all able to
understand. A child living its early
years in dark rooms, without sunlight or
fresh air, does not grow up to be a
normal, healthy person. but is anaeuiic
weak, sickly, like a plant grown In the
dark. She is handicapped in her school
life; her earning capacity is diminished
and her resisting power weakened. 1t is
not of such material that strong nations
are made. Improvement Of social condi-
tics, as indeed of all others, starts with
the improvement of domestic life. When
there are no homes there will be no ma
ton.