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30 SANITARY POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
tively little known in the City, there are instances
in Field Lane.
In respect of the first class of houses, I should be
disposed to look upon each holding as the house of
its occupier, and not to interfere within his threshold,
except on the ground of some commanding necessity.
I would require only that the general arrangements
of the house should be adapted to the number
of its holdings; that, for instance, numerous families
should not be left competing for the use of a single
privy, but that such accommodation should be provided
in strict proportion to the requirements of the
inmates; that every room should be efficiently ventilated
; that water should be supplied to the highest
occupied part of the house, and a water-tap and sink
furnished on every floor; that the dust and refuse of
the house should be removed at least once daily.
In dealing with the worst specimens of this class,
it may be requisite to go further than I have here
intimated; and it appears to me that for this purpose
your Honourable Court must address your
regulations not to the tenant, but to the landlord.
He, I apprehend, must be held responsible for the
decent and wholesome condition of his property, and
for such conduct of his tenants as will maintain
that condition.
Seeing the punctuality with which weekly visitation
is made for the collection of rents in these
wretched dwellings, it would not be unreasonable,
I think, to insist on some such regulation as the