Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-21
Children of the Alleys.

One OF the conditions contributing to
child delinquency and high mortality
rates among children was briefly sum-
married. by the President in his address
opening the White House Conference on
Child Health and Protection, as follows:
''In the last half century we have
herded 100000 more human beings
into towns and cities. Perhaps
the widest range of difficulties with
which we are dealing In the betterment
OF children grows out of this crowding
Into cities. Problems of sanitation and
public health loom in every direction.
Delinquency increases with congestion.
Overcrowding produces disease and con-
tagion. Home life becomes more
di1ncult. Cherries homes produce NOR
bid minds"
Every one recognizes the problem.
Few agree on the solution, for it is
doubtful If there is any one practical
solution now applicable to the problem
a. q whole. washington is peculiarly
fortunate In that densely overcroWded
and congested tenement districts com
mon to many other cities are unknown
here. The Capital is at the same time
unfortunate In possessing a type of
housing little known outside the limits
Of the District of Columbia. The "alley
dwellings" of Washington are the re-
suit Of social, political and geographical
conditions peculiar to this city alone.
Everything the President said concern
ing the evils of overcrowding in cities
could be applied specifically to the
alley dwellings here. But If the Capital
u unfortunate in having to contend
with this problem, it is fortunate in
that the problem and the solution Dire
both tangible and relatively easy TO
grasp. It is unnecessary to expand upon
the evils attendant upon the isolated
alley communities Of washington, and
the solution of the problem lies within
very practical realms.
AS this is the National Capital and
the meeting place Of the White House
Conference. the conference should Ia
all propriety phrase In specific terms Is
. part Of its general program the eradi-
cation Of the Washington alleys, cares
fully noting, at the same time, that
such steps must Of necessity be accoms
panied by constructive action to sub
statute desirable homes for those des-
tined eventually to leave the alleys.
Generation after generation Of chill
dren have been born and reared In WASH
ington alleys. For nearly seventy years
social and civic agencies have pointed
to their baneful effects upon child life.
Presidents Of the United States have
mentioned them In messages to Con-
gress, and while there has been some
progress In removing some Of the results
OF the evil, the root Of the evil has been
virtually untouched. Hidden little com.
munities, breeding places Of crime and
vice and disease, remain.
A bill designed to clean up these alleys
"a accordance with carefully considered
program that will work no hafdshit5s
upon the unfortunate inmates Is on the
calendar In both houses OF CONGRESS.
The question Is whether Congress, busy
with matters of great import 10 the
country at large, viii find time 10 give
the legislation the careful attention Il
deserves. The residents of the District
are not constituents Of the Congress.
The members of the. White House Con-
ference on Child Health and Protection
are. They are as keenly alive to the in
terest and welfare of children in the
Capital as in any other American COM
munity. and should they include in their
program an item expressing desire
that Congress give serious attention to
the Capitals alley dwellings. as they
AFFECT the well-being of children. such
. petition would carry weight, would be
OF gratifying assistance to those In
Washington working toward the same
end.