Evening star., 1934-08-26
THOROUGH PROBE
Of C|TY'S SLUMS
TO START SOON
Full Extent of Law to Be
Invoked to Halt InSani-
tary Housing.
MONDAY MEET CALLED
TO OUTLINE ACTION PLAN
Properties Owned by District
Among Buildings Certain to
Be Purged.

The full force of the District gov
ernment, to the extent possible under
existing law will be thrown behind a
move to eradicate insanitary condi-
tions in the housing of Washington
relief families, Commissioner Melvin
C. Hazen declared yesterday.
Seven District executives concerned
with the problem will be called before
Hazen tomorrow morning to be in
structed to make a thorough investi-
CATION of the subject and to take
action.
This step was precopitated by the
report OF the survey of the housing
conditions among 6,595 families. only
a part of those in the District now de-
pendent on relief. The Commissioner
was aroused over the findings that
many of the dwellings where relief
clients are quartered lack sanitary
facilities, are badly over-crowded and
have inadequate light, air, heating
and plumbing.
The survey report, compiled by
Norman T. McManaway, and edited
by Leroy A Halbert, director of re-
search for the emergency relief di-
vision, declared that many of the
housing units are really uninhabit-
able" but are producing high rentals.
Condemnation Provision Wanted.
Aside from an effort to correct in
sanitary conditions, which may be
ordered under present law, Commits
sioner Hazen will direct the corpora
ton counsels office to give special at
tention to the drafting of an amend
ment to the present act for condem-
nation of insanitary buildings. in a
move to put more teeth" into the
matter.
For the past six years the District
has made no move to force the raIng
of insanitary buildings because OF
court decisions requiring the District
to pay damages to property owners
for buildings to be demolished. 1t
was found this practice was too ex-
pensive and cumbersome.
Oficials to be called to the con-
ference include DR.. william c Fow-
Ter, health of1cer; Col. John w. Och
mann, building inspector; Capt. Hugh
P. Dram, director Of inSpecNon; John
B. Gordon, director of sanitary en-.
gineering; Elwood Street. director Of
public welfare; Mr.. Falbert, and
Robert e. Lynch, acting corporation
counsel.
Can Make improvements.
"The survey report outlines condi-
ffAy,C fhaeo for,ai1ioc vxyI1iNn
should not be permitted to exist"
Commissioner Hazen declared. Even
If the restrictions Of our present con-
demnation law make it inadvisable to
attempt to eradicate insanitary build
ings, believe much improvement nav
be accomplished by a concerted move
for cleaning, repairing or undermining
these structures
IF there is overcrowding to the
extent that menaces to health are
created, believe something can be
least. II garbage and refuse are
being dumped into inhabited alleys,
then we will see about more fire.
quent services by the collection de-
partment and have police check
against any who are carelessly or
willfully creating such conditions"
District Properties on Spot.
Commissioner Hazen also announced
his intention of seeing that the Dis
trict government, as a property owner,
is not to be pictured longer as per-
mitting inSanitary conditions to exist
in housing-it rents to landlords who
rent, in turn, to relief families, among
others. A number of such instances
were cited in the welfare survey re-
port.
I'VE at least can stop that" Hazen
said. I'VE can order these properties
placed in livable condition and see
to it that necessary changes are made,
or we can bring about the end of
the renting If insanitary or health
hazards exist in properties owned by
the District they must not be toler-
ated, If the law gives us any way of
ending them
Il want the officials of the various
departments interested in this matter
to make a careful check of the find
ings reported in this welfare study
and to do whatever is proper to cor
rect conditions"
Municipal Center Site Included.
The District owns a good many
residences bought in the process of
acquiring site for the new Municipal
Continued on Page 2, Column g.