Evening star., 1897-04-03
TIE e M ENT HO u S e S
Commissioners Draw Up a Bill on the
Subject.
Provides for o Commission to Have
Charge of the Matter
The Details.

The Commissioners have drawn up a bill
creating tenement house commission in
the District The bill Is as follows:
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House OF
Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That the
senior assistant to the Engineer Commis-
sioner Of the District of Columbia. the
health officer Of the District of Columbia
and the inspector of buildings of said Dis
trict be, and they are hereby, constituted a
tenement house commission, with jurisdic
ton and authority to examine into the
sanitary condition of all tenement and
lodging houses of the District of Columbia,
and If, in their judgment, they find the
same unfit for human occupation by reason
of defective ventilation, damp walls, leaky
IoofS, imperfect drainage or general decay
from dilapidation, or because they are in d
filthy or offensive condition, to condemn
the same and to require the occupants
thereof to vacate within thirty days from
the order of condemnation.
Section z. That before proceeding to con-
denim any tenement or lodging house under
the provisions Of this act, said commission
shall give ten days notice to the owner to
show cause why the said tenement or lodg-
ing house should not be condemned as
aforesaid. such notice in case the owner is
found within the District of Columbia to
be served upon him or her personally ana
In case such owner is nonresident Of
the District of Columbia, then by publica-
tton once week for two weeks In some
newspaper published in the District Of Co
lumbia, such notice to contain a descrip-
ton Of the property. It's insanitary condi-
ton and fixing time and place when and
Where such owner may be heard in opposi-
tfon If he desires.
Section B. That upon condemnation by
said board of any tenement or lodging
house in the District of Columbia, as unfit
for human occupation, the occupants there
OF shall, within thirty days from the
GATE OF the order of condemnation, vacate
said premises
Section 4. That 1t shall be unlawful for
the owner of any tenement or lodging
house in the District of Columbia con
demned urder the provisions of this act
10 allow the same to be again occupied
after the expiration Of thirty days from
the date of the order of condemnation and
any occupant of such condemned tenement
or lodging house who shall not have va.
Gated the same. at the expiration Of thirty
days from the date of such order of con.
demnation shall be elected by the police
Section D. That upon the owner of any
tenement or lodging house condemned un
der the provisions of this act making
SUCH changes or repairs as in the opinion
OF said board will remedy in a satisfac
| tory manner the conditions which led tt
the condemnation of the property saiC
| board Is hereby authorized to cancel it:
order OF condemnation ard the tenement
| or lodging house may again be occupied; pro-
vided. that when tenement or lodging house.
built of wood whose assessed value fol
| taxation be less than s4O0 have been con
| demned, they shall not be again occupied
| as dwellings, but shall be demolished un
| der the direction of the Commissioners o
said District.