Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-08
UNSANITARY BUILDINGS
Bill for Their Condemnation Approved by
the Commissioners.
FroSi"ton for . Commission to Ex-
anime Structures Deemed Unit for
Use as HabitatiOns,

The bill which provides for the creation
| OF commission for the condemnation of
| unsanitary buildings in the District. which
originated In the central relief committee
| ana was prepared by Surgeon General
Sterhberg. today received the approval of
the District Commissioners, and by them
!" VIII PROBABLY be soon forwarded to Con-
gress.
lie Dill provides that the senior assist
| ant 10 the Engineer Commissioner OF the
District. the health officer and the insnec-
,or Oh buildings shall compose the commits
sion. with jurisdiction and authority IN
examine into the sanitary condition of all
dwellings, in the District and If in ,ba;r
Judgment they find the same unfit for
human occupation, by reason of defective
Ventllation. damp walls. leaky roofs. i'm
perIect drainage or general decay from
uliap1uation. or because they are in a filthy
or offensive condition, to condemn the same
ana 10 require the occupants thereof 10
Vacate within thirty days from the order
OF condemnation.
Commfs"ioners Shall Give Notice.
before proceeding to condemn the said
commissioners shall give notice Of ten DAYS
TO the owner to show cause why the build
Ing should not be condemned. such notice
to be personally served in the case of resi-
dents and by publication where the owner is
nonresident 1t Is made unlawful for
the owner of any condemned building 70
allow the same to be again occupie5 after
tnirty Gays from the date of the order
OF condemnation, and the police shall eject
any occupant who shall not vacate the
premises at the expiration of the said
thirty days.
When the owner of a condemned building
shall make such changes or repairs. in the
opinion of the commission, remedies the
conditions which led to its condemnation
the commission is authorized to cancel the
order of condemnation; provided that
buildings Of wood. having an assessed value
for taxation of not less than $4OO which
nave been condemned, shall not again be
occupied, but shall be demolished by the
owner thereof within period specified by
the commission; and If the owner fails to
do so, the same shall be demolished under
the direction of the District Commission
ers. the cost thereof to be assessed against
the premises on which the building was
situated, and the tax to be collected in the
same manner as other taxes are collected.
Penalty for Violations.
Any person violating any of the provI-
sions of the act, or aiding or abetting in
violating the same. shall. upon conviction.
be fined not more than $40 or imprisoned
in the work house not more than five days
for each day during which such violation
continues.
the District Commissioners of an inspector.
at an annual salary of 81 200, whose duty,
among others, shall be to examine into the
sanitary condition of all dwellings in the
District, and wherever the same are found
to be unfit for human occupation, to report
the same to the commission.
The bill also provides for an appropriation
of $4,000 to execute the provisions there
of. one-half of which appropriation shall be
charged against the revenues of the Dis
trict.