existing conditions are to be relieved, unless by legislation, to prevent overcrowding, so rigidly enforced as to turn away from the city all laborers who are unable to secure proper shelter. This would involve rigid inspection and great hardship to a class of citizens whose services are needed for civic improvements, etc. To force the laborers from the city would lead to the development of suburban slums, or the overcrowding of other localities. A scarcity of labor would naturally lead to an increase in wages, and those who remained might thus be able to pay for better houses. But for building operations, street improvements, transportation service, care of buildings, grounds, etc., a large number of laborers are required, and it appears to us to be not only the interest, but the duty of the citizens of Washington, the municipal authorities and the Congress to see to it that sanitary houses are provided for this class of the population in sufficient number to enable them to avoid the evil results of overcrowding and insanitary surroundings. |