Evening star., 1897-05-29
CREATE A NEW COMMISSION
District Authorities Moving to Secure Better
Sanitary Conditions.
Dwellings Are to he Inspected and
Approval Of Congress Invited.

The Commissioners have drafted a bill
creating commission for the condemna-
ton of insanitary dwellings in the District
Of Columbia and will send 1t to Congress
with their recommendation for its early
enactment. 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 Commits
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
commission. with jurisdiction and authority
to examine into the sanitary condition of
all dwellings in the District of Columbia,
and If in their judgment they find the same
unfit for human occupation by reason of de-
fective ventila ton, damp walls, leaky roofs,
imperfect drainage or general decay from
dilapidation, or because they are in a filthy
or offensive condition, to condemn the same
and to require the occupants thereof to
vacate within thirty days from the order
of condemnation.
Sec. 2 That before proceeding to con-
denim any dwelling under the provisions of
this act said Commissioners shall give ten
days notice to the owner to show cause
why said dwelling 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
and in case such owner is NONRESIDENT of
the District of Columbia, then by publica-
ton once week for two weeks in some
newspaper published in the District of Co.
lumbia, such notice to contain descrip-
ton Of the property, its insanitary condi-
ton, and fixing time and place when and
where such owner may be heard in oppo-
silion If he desires.
Sec. 3. That upon condemna ton by said
board of any dwelling in the District of Co.
lumbia as unfit for human occupation. the
occupants thereof shall, within thirty days
from the date of the order of condemnation,
vacate said premises.
Sec. 4. That i. shall be unlawful for the
owner of any dwelling in the District of
Columbia condemned under the provisions
OF this act to allow the same to be again
occupied after the expiration of thirty days
from the date of the order of condemna-
tion and any occupant of such condemned
dwelling who shall not have vacated the
same at the expiration of thirty days from
the date of such order of condemnation
shall be elected by the police.
Sec. 5. That IL the owner of any dwell
ing condemned under the provisions of
this act shall make such changes or re-
pairs as, in The opinion OF said board, will
remedy in a satisfactory manner the con-
ditions which led to the condemnation of
the property, said board is hereby author
iZeG to cancel its order of con3emna ton,
and the dwelling may again be occupied.
Provided, That dwellings, built of wood,
having an assessed value for taxation o:
not less than $i00. which have been con.
demned, shall not be again occupied, but
shall be demolished by the owner thereof
within a time specified by said board; and
If said owner shall fail to so 1emolist
such dwelling, the same shall be demolfsh-
ed under the direction of the Commission.
ers of the District of Columbia, and the
cost of such demolition be assessed as a
tax against the premises on which said
dwelling was situated, to be collected in
the same manner as other taxes are col
lected.
Sec. 6. That any person or persons vso
! lating any of the provisions of this act. OF
aiding or abetting in violating the sarre
shall, upon conviction thereof in the Police
Court upon information in the name of the
District of Columbia, be punished by a fine
| of not more than SO, or by Imprisonment
| in the workhouse not exceeding five days
| for each day during which such violation
L continues.