Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-17
The Alley Problem.

Inc NaClOnal IaplLAll EhTk Ahu
Planning Commission proposes to re-
new a campaign that is almost as old
as the problem DISCRIMINATION OF
Washington's "alley population" 1t
has received and approved a report by
John Ihlder, suggesting that legislation
similar to the bill passed in 1914 be
adopted and that a legal pressure be
brought to bear that gradually will
clean up the alleys and transfer to other
and more suitable quarters an alley
population of from nine to twelve
thousand persons.
There are few campaigns that will
enlist greater public support and SYM
pathy. The menace to health and
morals that exists in the alleys has been
emphasized time and again and need
not be repeated. The sole difficulty APP
parently lies in how to 60 about moving
from nine to twelve thousand persons
out Of their homes without taking
positive steps to provide them with q
new refuge. That difficulty frustrated
and made a farce of the last legislative
attempt TO clean up the alleys. The day
upon which the law became effective,
after years Of postponing the day, found
the Commissioners helpless. Unless
some defect could be found in the law,
their only alternative was to turn FAM
lilies out on the street and let them root
for themselves. Fortunately, from the
viewpoint Of the Commissioners, a faw
was found in the law and the Commits
sioners were relieved Of their problem.
But as the war had made the housing
situation acute, the 1914 law never had
q really fair test:
Since that time natural circumstance
has acted to relieve the alley problem
to a small degree. william Henry Jones,
formerly professor and head of the
department Of sociology in Howard
University, has Just written q book in
which he discusses the alley problem
along with other subjects in "The
Housing Of Negroes. in washington,
d. c." The author recalls that while
there has been some gradual demolition
Of the houses and destruction Of the
alleys, the alleys remain in almost the
same condition which characterized
them IN 1914. But, he adds, "the status
Of the Inhabited alleys is at the present
time the most crucial Of their entire
history, because, having reached q point
of diminution, they are in danger Of
dropping out Of public consciousness"
The truth In that statement Is borne
out by the developments, or absence Of
developments, since the final failure Of
the 1914 legislation. The alleys have
been left to take care Of themselves. A
few of them have changed from "resi-
dentiar' to commercial territory, because
of the use of alley structures for garages
and repair shops. Some of the old dwell
lings have been condemned and torn
down. The health officer has done good
work in enforcing what regulations
may exist to remedy conditions. But
the problem is fundamentally as serious
today as 1t ever was.
Mr.. Jones believes, as Mr.. Ihlder and
the Park and Planning Commits
sion believe. that legislation is the most
effective instrument for cleaning UP the
alleys. Mr.. Jones maintains that there
is no ground for the sentimental plea
that moving the alley dwellers out Of
their homes will work unnecessary
hardship, provided it is done gradually
and with due warning. other housing
exists. he declares, and while 'it is
true that poor people must live some
where they should not be allowed
to live in the interior courts Of the
geographical blocks of the CITY,"
Washington welcomes the interest Of
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission in this revival of an
old campaign.