Evening star., 1934-11-29
SLUM CLEARANCE
PRAISED BY |CKES
AS us. OBLIGATION
Secretary Institutes Seals
Drive by Explaining Aims
in Capital.
TUBERCULOSIS RATE
HERE HELD TOO HIGH
General Campaign to Wipe Out
Disease Is Possible With
Moves Started.

Increased expenditures for slum
clearance, low-coSt housing, alley rem
ovation and tuberculosis sanitaria
were advocated today by Secretary of
the Interior Harold L. Ickes as an
obligation on the part of the Gov
eminent in the war against tuber-
culosis.
1naugurating a series of radio talks
under auspices Of the National Tu-
berculosis Association in support of
the sale Of Christmas seals, Secretary
1ckes cited Washington as an exam
pile of what the Government is striv-
ing TO do throughout the country in
improving sanitary conditions in the
big cities.
There is no city in the land that is
free of the obligation of meeting the
menace Of tuberculosis. he said. This
is true even Of this city Of Washing
ton. the proud capital of the richest
country in the whole world.
Darker Side" Presented.
Here we have a beautiful and gra-
cious city, to the building and develop
ment of which some of the best archl-
IcCIo anu pIdIlIlClo III lllc COuIllly
have given their best efforts ever since
Maj, LEnfant first drew his inspired
plans. Yet this city, with its dis
tinctive circles, its broad avenues and
its parks, including one of the love-
liest city parks in all the world, pre-
sents darker side of disease breed
ing novels of the worst sort: hidden
testers. which, for many years. have
resisted all efforts for their removal.
thanks to the greed of absentee prop
erty owners.
Here in Washington, according to
late statistics, is the third highest
tuberculosis death rate of all the large
cities of the country" Secretary Ickes
said.
Hospitals Held Inadequate.
This is due in part to an made
quate supply of hospitals for the care
Of the victims of this communicable.
preventable and durable disease. But
with respect to these conditions. am
glad to point out that the Federal
Government under this administration
is assuming a responsibility that all
previous administrations have ignored
or evaded.
president Roosevelt has set Cp 4
special commission, financei With $50
600 from P. w. A.. to study alley con-
ditions in Washington and make plans
to open them up to air and sunshine.
The Public Works Administration has
also made a loan and grant of $780,
900 to build an adult tuberculosis hos
pital to stand side by side with the
new children's sanitarium that has
just been put into operation.
In addition to all this the Secre-
tary pointed out the Housing Divi-
sion of P. W. A. will go forward in
this city with one of its slum clearance
projects, provided the owners Of land
will permit us to purchase what We
need at reasonable prices, SC as to
make it possible for us 70 build
project on a low-rental basis
Slums Declared Disgrace.
Secretary Ickes declared that slums
are a disgrace to our civilization.
but reminded that no longer is the
Government standing aside doing
nothing about them.
Not only as a major move IN the
war against tuberculosis but for many
other weighty social reasons" he Sai1.
the cleaning out Of our slum areas.
both in our cities and on our country
sides, ought to be made one of the
objectives of the Government"
For my part" he added, II know
of no better outlet for such public
funds as can be spared for the pur-
pose than slum clearance, low-cost
housing. alley renovation and tubercu-
losis sanitaria.
Thank God, government has at
last admitted its responsibility in
the premises by inaugurating move
ment for slum clearance that, If car
ried on with the vigor and enterprise
that we are capable of putting be-
hind it, will. in course of time, clean
up our slum areas everywhere"
Funds Are Declared Small.
The expenditure of s150, 100000 in
P. w. A. funds for such programs
in half a dozen cities, he declared,
would barely scratch the surface"
but was at least beginning"
Secretary Ickes made vigorous
plea in behalf of the Christmas seals.
AS a philatelist. or stamp collector.
he declared that he had a personal
interest in the issuance of the tu
berculosis stamps. Private collectors
are eagerly awaiting them, he re-
minded, and full sheets of the vari-
GUS issues are priced among them.
He recommended that the Ameri-
can tuberculosis stamps be given the
same recognition and validity that
European governments give their