Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-27
THE OPENING OF ALLEYS
Suggested Amendments to the Bill to Regu-
late the Same.
Provision as to Extending. Widening
or STRENGTHENING Thorough
fares-Pay of Jurors.

In the matter of Senate bill 12S, ITO
amend section . of an act approved July %.
lS92, entitled An act to provide for the
opening of alleys IN the District of Column
bia' " the District Commissioners will, 1t Is
understood. recommend that the proposed
measure be amended in certain particulars,
and. as amended, be enacted. The Com
missioners will also recommend certain
changes in the act of 1892.
The object of Senate bill 12S Is to provide
for the payment of the Jurors summoned. UNI
der the provisions of the act. to condemn the
land for the alleys and assess benefits. at
the rate of s. per diem for each Juror when
actually employed. irstead of SEQ for all of
the Jurors for their entire service. as now
provided by law. The Commissioners, it is
stated. believe such a change in the exist
ing law should be made.
In connection with the same subject the
Commissioners state that In carrying into
effect the provisions Of the act of 1892, for the
opening of alleys it has been found that the
object of the law could be better attained
II 1t We're amended, and IT is said that they
will suggest the following amendment:
Insert after the word Strengthened in
line IL. section 1. Of the act. u. 8. Stats. at
Large. vol. p. chap. go, the words or
when said Commissioners deem that such
opening. extending. widening or straight
ening of an alley is necessary in order to
provide proper drainage facilities for the
square in which said alley is sought to be
opened. extended, widened or Strengthened,
or when said Commissioners shall certify
that such extending widening or straight
ening of an alley is necessary in order to
properly accommodate vehicle traffic in
such square.
Addition to Section 1.
1t is also understood the Commissioners
will recommend the following amendment
to the act of 1892:
Add at the end of said section the fol-
lowing: And provided further. that the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
be. and they are hereby, authorized when
ever in their judgment the same may be
necessary or expedient. to close any alley
or part of alley, the width of which is less
than ten feet. That if the fee title to the
land contained in the alley part of alley
so to be closed is In the United States, the
said Commissioners are hereby authorized
to dispose of said land by sale to the own
ers of the lots or parts of lots contiguous
thereto. at price to be agreed upon be-
tween the said Commissioners and said
owners. which price shall not be less than
the current market price of the ground in
the contiguous lots. That if the fee title to
the land in the alley or part of alley so to
be closed is not in the United States the
title to said land shall revert to the person
or persons who dedicated the same for al
ley purposes, or his or their heirs or as
signs"
Omission and Substitution.
The Commissioners will also, it is stated,
recommend that all of section of the
act of 1892, after the word ''apportioned,"
be stricken out and that the following be
added after said word: 1T shall be the
duty Of said Commissioners, or some one
designated by them, to levy an assessment
upon each lot or part of lot of land in
accordance with such apportionment. the
same to be collected as other special as
sessments upon real estate are collected,
and said assessment shall bear interest at
the rate of ten per centum per annum I'M
til paid"
These changes in the existing law, if
made the Commissioners believe, will en-
able them to open, widen and extend alleys
whenever they deem it necessary in order
to properly drain d square, or to accommo
date traffic in alleys. 1t will also allow
them, in their opinion, to close narrow al
leys which are of no practical use, either
to the District to abutting property,
and add the area of said alleys to the tax
books. The last amendment suggested by
them will, they also believe, more definitely
indicate the officer who is to make the levy
and assessments provided in the act.
The amendment of the Senate bill. 12S,
is also incorporated in the above suggest
ed amendments to the original act. They
will, it is said, earnestly recommend that
the present law be amended as above ind-
Gated, and that Senate bill 12S be amended
as above suggested by them.