The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-01-18
THE SNOW LAW AS 1T IS.
a DeIusion, Snare ana AN An
nOynucn.

nOyaucc.
correspondent who signs himself "a Con-
slant Reader" and says he has been fined SO
for not promptly cleaning tho snow from his
pavement, asks tho very pertinent question
why the Government officers are not compelled
TO keep the sidewalks around tho Government
buildings clear OF slush, snow and Ice. THE
CRITIC docs not know why, but 1t does know
that there should be n law to compel soms one
10 see that II Is done. man can fall on
Government pavement and hurt himself as
badly as when he falls on private pavement.
Said gentleman tho other day, "rhe snow
law here Is n perfect humOug. There Is no
system about It's enforcement. II a policeman
feels like enforcing 1t he does so. II not no
let's things slide and tho people slide, too.
Why, can take you 10 two or three police
stations and show you that tho sidewalks In
their immediate vicinity are dangerous tp
walk over, and nothing Is done about 1t.
Another thing. Take almost any street In thn !.
city and walk half dozen squares and sea II
this is not tho state OF affairs; A, i, O aud d
clean Off their pavements promptly
an ana al keep them clean ano no gaiSs,
him attend to tho matter. Then you come to
corner and on tho opposite side OF the street
is vacant lot. The snow Is never cleaned OF
OF that. somebody owns that corner lot, aud
that somebody should be made to clean It. Go
on down the street and you Will ind the same
state of things as In the square above. Some
What 10 the consequence? The man who
cleans his pavement has to wade through
snow, plod through slush, or slip on Ice, and
all because his neighbor does not obey the Law
and 10 not compelled TO do It."
asked
"why, by n change In the law, which tho
Commissioners might urge and which 1 DO.
lieve Congress would pass promptly. The law
should be changed so as to authorize the city
authorities to clean on the Payements where
understand that II after a given time his pave
ment is not cleaned he will mud some ono
thorities. Then lot the police be compelled to
arrest the owner and the Police Court fiue him,
and take enough out of the fine to pay the
laborer who did the. cleaning. Every
winter there are scores OF men In this city, as
elsewhere, who make living by doing odd
Jobs. policeman reports that has failed
o clean his pavement after given time. The
lieutenant gives a laborer n written order 70
go and do the work, and tho presentation of
that order, with an Endorsement that the work
has been done, Will secure tho laborer's pay.
1t would be very simple process, but a
very effective one. The pavement5 would be
cleaned, tho property-holder or tenant would
have 10 pay the bill, and Industrious people
would get employment"
SLOW about tho Government pavements
How would you regulate them?"
"By very simple clause In the law. Every
Government building, or reservation or park
has superintendent or some one responsible
for Its safe keeping. Let Ia clause bs Inserted
In tho law holding that ofIicer TO personal re-
spopsibility, and Impose g llne upon him per,
fails to obey this law. Why, the psvements
around Government property are often IN n
more disgraceful condition than those ia any
other part OF the city,"
"But suppose the police don't attend d
their duty under the proposed law any bette,
than they do now, what theu?"
81 have not considered that point at all. Til
idea has never suggested itself TO me, that the
police Will not be compelled to do their duty
We are a poor sort OF a Government, indeed, II
We can't compel that. Hold each lieutenant
responsible In his precinct and a few com
plants from citizens would soon make them
vigilant. Something must BIO done II tho pave
fore, the present law is a humbug and a de-
| luston."