Louisville, Ky., is at last making progress in the task of securing
better housing for the people. Three years ago a law which set much
higher standards than those previously prevailing was secured. The
act simply gave the city permission to employ a housing inspector
instead of commanding it to do so. As a result, Louisville’s housing
legislation remained until last summer a matter of purely academic
interest despite all the efforts of the housing committee.
During the vacation season four medical school inspectors were
assigned to housing work. There were hopes that these men would
accomplish something but when the schools opened again in the fall
and the result of their efforts was summed up the total, according to
the housing committee, was disappointingly small.
Meanwhile some amendments had been made to the law which included
a mandatory provision for an inspector. This inspector was to be
appointed by the health officer, Dr. W. E. Grant, who is in sympathy
with those who are working for better housing for Louisville. The
city administration pleaded that it was too poor to pay an additional
salary but the offer of the Charity Organization Society to provide
the money was not accepted. At last, however, a policeman was
detailed to the task and though he was without training he proved to
have tact and persistence. As a result one hundred violations of the
law were corrected within two months.