Year: 1879

Mayor Cooper on taking the chair aid:-The i'm
portance of the subject to be discussed tonight is
pre-eminent, affecting. it does. the daily
life and the health and happiness of
large part Of the population of our city.
The system of tenement houses in New York has
been the growth of recent times, and it is rapidly
growing in extent it is incumbent those who
think that a considerable number of these
tenement houses are not such as can be
considered satisfactory. whether we regard them
from u social moral aud sanitary point of view, to
assist in public discussion of the facts and of the
remedies that can be applied. II our present system
is faulty defective vicious 1t is duty to make
known the facts and call attention to the remedies
But while doing must be careful to take
thoroughly impartial view of the subject. Exagge-
rated statements would not only be unfair but would
prejudice the cause wish to aid; do
/ think that undue blame should be attributed
to those who, as owners and builders have contrib
utcd to results we deplore We must take to our
selves share OF the blame for allowing an injurious
system to grow up among us without effort on our
part to prevent it. But seeing as do on the list OF
supporters of this movement the names OF many of
most respected. well known and influential citi-
representing all denominations and professions
and enployments, feel that the time has come
when some remedy should be sought. and
that these names area are guarantee mara ,,1 that when
earnest effort to efectually carry it out. Happily
this is not question of politics religion class.
carry forward an investigation OF such great impor
tance. shall not attempt to state the facts or to
DISCUSS the remedies 1nat leave fOr the speakers
who have been invited to address you. Various
plans OF reform are suggested, each of them, no
doubt with Its own advocate, and each
of them appealing for support different
grounds. We cannot in a moment change the
habits of life of generation however faulty they
may appear; we cannot interfere with vested rights
except where they are manifestiy violation of the
natural rights of the community. We must be sura
that we see our way clear before we talk OF compul
sorry measures to obtain better habtatons for q
tain portion OF our people But we can do some
thing to improve the. condition OF the worst
houses acknowledged to be dangerous 10
health and condemned BY the experience Of
medical men and those well informed in sanitary
matters. Plans for improved dwellings are excellent
in their way and most desirable, but we must not
forget the necessity of bctterfng existing habta-
tions and we must strive by all the means in our
power TO make city what its natural advantages
cnttle IL to be in its sanitary conditions and In the
advantages which 1t can offer to sober, industrious
and thriving population.


ABSENT FRIENDS


At the conclusion of Mayor CooPer's speech Mr..
Peew announced that Judge Noah Davis, who bad
been expected TO address the meeting, not able
60 he present because OF the change In the time for
the meeting; and that Mr.. D. Wills James and The u,
read lottcr from Judge Brady, in which the Judge
promised TO attend the meeting IL possible.


PARKE GoDwIS's SPEECH.


Mr.. Parke Goodwin was introduced as the next
speaker after the Mayor retired. and his remarks
were full Of the sharpcst dcnuncaton of the great
evil. / have read, said he. q book called 'Asmo-
deus the Devil on Two Sticks. in which the limp
ing hero of the author had the power of liftng the





hidden secrets that these roofs had concealed.
Now this book had satirical object, railing ut the
Wees OF great city, showing what an amount OF
pretension sclnshncss and folly urked behind the
most spccous exterior. our work is also Asmodea,
but not for the purpose OF satire. only instruction.
We desire TO learn the truth to dispense Justice. to
exercise charity. We lift the roof off the dwellings
of 100000 peoples see them huddled together
more like brutcs aud savagcs than human
beings; we crime. degradation and drunkenness
originate in these larger houses; learn from the
records of the Board Of HEALTH the courts of justice.
tl.at
spring into birth and full development tho seeds Of
poverty, squalor filth, degradation vice; we recog-
nizc the dreg spots of the city, the ndcibe plague
marks Of our civilization Let us look at this subect
IA the only ghtn which IL can be considered. There