The morning times., 1896-02-26
CITIZENS FILE PROTEST
Objections to Bill for Regulation
of Alley Premises.
WILL OCCASION HARDSHIP
District Officials Regard the Measure
as an Advantage To Alley Holdings.
Amendments Pr0posed-Author of
the Measure Not Known-FalIs
Church Electric Railway.

The hearing given yesterday TO the
opponents OF the bill to regulate alley
entrances and providing, in effect. for tie
gradual abolition of alley dwellings, de-
vclors tie fact that in not more than
dozen squares in the entire city can houses
be erected under existing law. and that in
stead OF being a detrmont The proposed
law win in reality tie an advantage 10
alley holdings
This was shown in Capt, Fiebcger's
comment upon the measure, and was sug-
gcstcd in his amendments.
An inspection OF the city's map shows
that the thirty foot alleys, upon which
only are buildings permitted 10 he built
under existing law. are nearly al with
out exit TO a street. Where there are exits
the width is Ielow standard width, with
few exceptions.
The origin OF the measure discussed yes
terday is a subject of inquiry and of no
small amount OF conjecture. The health
! officer lad no knowledge Of ii in advance,
! the building Inspector knew nothing about
! il until il was rinted, and the Conlmis
sioncrs are equally without data in respect
10 its preparation.
The disclaimer Of Mr. F. L. sidGons yes
tcrday relieves the civic center of the
responsibility and it is understood the
board Of trade did not prepare it.
SOME GOOD FEATURES.
Those who opposed the bill as a whole
in the discussion OF it Lefore The Commits
siOners admitted that it has some good
features, notably that providing for the
| extension OF alleys in q straight line from
street to street.
What they objected TO most was the
clause which prohibits repairs 10 alley
| houses.
They claimed il was practically an cX-
tinction of that class of huildines and pro
tested against il as an arbitrary injustice
| againstthe ebumblcrcitizens Commissioner
Powell probably voiced the sentiments or
his colleagues when, in response 10
suggestion of Miss Kate H0smcr, lie said
alley houses ought to he abolished
Miss HoSmer had made plea in behalf
of the alley residents, and said the effect
| of the bill would be TO drive all OF this
| class OF citizens out Of their homes.
That is what should be donc-they ought
to be driven ont OF the alleys, returned the
Commissioners, meaning, of course, that it
would be for their good TO change TO other
! quarters.
The advocates for alley houses insist
that they are a necessity. People who
obtain employment in the business portions
of the city, they claim, find a domiclle at
! reasonable rate and much nearer to their
| work, avoiding a long walk twice Il day,
| by patronizing the alley houses. They
I
! be driven to the suburbs, and would thus be
unable to hold situations that AT present
keeps the wolf from the door.
| RETICENT AS TO INTENTIONS.
1t is, of course, not known what the Com
miSsloners VIII do, as they gave no intima-
ton of their intention, but the known policy
OF the District administration is to grad
ually abolish alley houses, and 1t is be-
! lieved that the recommended amendment
made by Capt. Fiebeger, viii receive their
! Endorsement.
MeSsrs. Lacey and Hines. stockholders in
the proposed Fails Church Electric Railway,
called upon the Commissioners yesterday
| 10 inquire as TO the restrictions they
| propose TO suggest when reporting upon
the bill granting the road right of way
in the District. The company's officials
believe they VIII get the bill through
| all right, but the District authorities will
have the privilege of recommending certain
amendments.
The Commissioners recommended adverse
action upon the matter, the main reason
being the provision for Il ferry as n means
OF crossing the Potomac, but the repre-
sentatives Of the road seem to have over
come the boards objection In their argu-
nlents before the House District Committee.
BIDS OPENED TODAY.
The Commissioners will today receive
and open the bids that may be on file for
the contract for destroying the city refuse.
| under conditions heretofore noted in The
| Times.
There was but one proposal IN the
hands of Secretary Tindall yesterday, but
there may be a dozen in by - O'Clock.
tits pretty certain there will be two bidders
! as Contractor Warfielais understood TO have
| prepared one for submission.
1t is well understood that the proposals
do not bind anybody. the request for them
being prompted by the desire of the
board to arrive at an approxima ton OF the
expense of the system as the basis for an
| appeal to Congress for funds TO meet it.
There will be another call for proposals
in case Congress concludes to act favorabIy
upon the Commissioners suggestion, when
made.
a delegation OF Baltimoreans waited
upon Commissioner Ross, President OF the
board. yesterday afternoon and extended
him an invitation TO attend Il mass meeting
TO be held at Music Hall, in Baltimore, next
Saturday evening, in the interest of the
Baltimore Centennial ASsocia tiOn. Mt.
RosSinformed the committee thathisans wer
viii be conveyed 10 them this afternoon.
Among Others invited To participate in
the oratorical effort of the occasion: are
Senator elect Wellington OF Maryland;
Congressman Eddy OF Minnesota, Senators
Elkins and Faulkner OF West Virginia;
Senator German and Mfr. B. II. Warner.
Senator German has advised the committee
that he cannot attend.
The delegation represented the Young
Mems Auxiliary Association of the Cen
tennial Commission, and was composed as
follows: R. NJ. GIacken, president; T. j.
Pritchett, a. Oetento, W. T. Wills, Jesse
| Rosenfeld, Capt. j. a. Burgess, d. w.
Glass, L. Gottschalk, and w. II. Herzog.
|
VIII Aid the Commission.
The Venezuelan commission has received
| n D intip,.t ;,,T, fro IN tIp nnvaI