Evening star., 1898-09-19
REMOVAL OF DANGER
Provisions of Bill to Govern Unsafe Build
ings and Uncovered Wells
ommissiOners to Ask for ssisIa ton
Upon the Subject-Draft of
the Measure.

The Commissioners OF the District
have under consideration the draft
| of bill designed to authorize them to re-
move dangerous or unsafe buildings and
parts thereof, well the covering up of
uncovered wells, csterns etc. on unin-
closed lots in the city and more densely
populated suburbs. AT their request, the
attorney for the District has prepared the
| draft of the bill TO be submitted to Con-
gress for passage
The proposed measure provides that if
| in the District of Columbia any building
, or part of a building staging or other
structure, anything attached to or CON
nected with any building other structure
shall from any cause be reported unsafe
! the inspector of buildings shall examine
such structure, and if, in his opinion, the
same be unsafe, he shall Immediately noti-
! ~ the owner. agent or other person having
an interest in said structure. to cause the
same to be removed, made safe and secure,
| or tnat the same be removed. as may be
necessary. The person or persons so noti-
, fed shall be allowed until u clock noon
| of the day following the service of such
notice in which to commence the securing
or removal of the same; and he they
| shall employ sufficient labor to remove or
secure the said building expeditiously
as can be done: provided, however, that in
a case where the public safety requires i'm
mediate action. the inspector of buildings
may enter upon the premises with such
workman and assistants as may be neces-
sary. and cause the said unsafe structure
to be shored up, taken down, otherwise
secured. without delay and proper fence
| or boarding to be put up for the protection
! Of passers-by.
Further Provisfons.
The bill further provides that when the
| public safety does not. in the Judgment of
! the inspector of buildings demand imme-
diate action, if the interested party or par
| ties shall refuse neglect to comply with
| the requirements of the notice given within
! the time specified, then a careful survey
shall be made by three disinterested persons,
| one to be appointed by the Commissioners,
| one by the owner or other interested per-
] son and the third to be chosen by the two
and the report of said survey shall be re-
duced to writing, and a copy served on the
owner or other Interested person.
And If the owner or other Interested
party refuse or neglect to appoint his mem
| Der of the beard of survey within the time
| specified in the notice to him then the sur
| vey shall be made by the inspector of
| buildings, and the person chosen by the
| Commissioners, and in case of disagree
| rIent they shall choose a third person, and
| the determination of a majority of three
| so chosen shall be final.
| 1t is still further provided that whenever
| the report of any such survey shall declare
the structure unsafe, and the responsible
party shall for three days neglect or refuse
| to cause it to be taken down or otherwise
made safe the inspector of buildings shall
make it safe or remove it, and the inspector
shall report the cost and expense of the
work to the Commissioners, who shall as
sess the amount thereof upon the lot of
ground whereon the structure stands or
stood, and unless the assessment is paid
within ninety days after notice it shall bear
interest at 10 per cent per annum until
| paid, and shall be collected as general
taxes are collected here; but said assess
| shall he without prejudice to the
| right which the owner may have to recover
| from any lessee or other person liable for
| repairs
| Specific Section.
The fourth section of the bill is as fol-
| lows:
| That the existence on any uninclosed lot
| or parcel of land in the city of Washing
| ton, or its more densely populated suburbs
of any open or uncovered well, Cistern dam
| gerous hole or excavation, is hereby de-
| clared a nuisance dangerous to life and
| limb, and any person owning a lot or parcel
| of land in said city or said suburbs on
| which such a nuisance exists, who shall
neglect or refuse to abate the same to the
| satisfaction of the health officer after
, days notice from him so to do, shall, on
| conviction in the Police Court. be punished
| by fine not exceeding so for each and
every day he she fails TO comply with
such notice.
| And in case the owner of any uninclosed
| lot parcel of land in the city of Washing
| ton or its more densely populated suburbs
| on which there exists an open well. cistern,
dangerous hole or excavation be a non-res-
| ident of the District of Columbia, then.
after public notice by the health officer
given at least twice a week for one week,
| inn one newspaper published in tn.
city of Washington by advertise
| ment describing the property, spec
flying the nuisance to be abated
then if such nuisance shall not be abated,
within one week after the expiration of
sCch notice :he Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia may cause the lot par
eel of Ia Id on v fich the nuisance exists to
be secured by ferces otherwise inclosed,
and the cost anc expense thereof shall be
assessed by said Commissioners as a tax
against the proIert which such nui-
sance exists and the said tax SO assessed
shall bear interest at the rate of 10 per
cent per annur until raid. and shall be
carried on the regular tax rolls of said Dis
t1ict and be collected in the manner pro-
vided for the collection of other taxes"