Evening star., 1900-05-01
A PERMANENT COMMISSION
PROPOSED TO CONSIDER. coNDEMNA.
TION OF STREETS.
Five Persons to Be Appointed by the
Supreme Court of the
o..
District.

Representative Jenkins of Wisconsin, a
| member of the committee on the District Of
| Columbia. today introduced in the House a
| bill to create a permanent commission for
! condemnation proceedings in the District of
/ Columbia. The bill is said to be designed to
meet the conditions arising out of the re-
| cent decisions Of the courts In street exten-
\ sion cases.
| The bill provides that the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia is authorized
| to appoint five persons residents of the Dis
| trict, one of whom shall be member OF
| the bar, as a permanent commission. for
\ the opening or extension by condemnation
| proceedings of streets, alleys, rights of way
! for sewers and for the acquisition OF any
| real estate required for the use of the Dis
| trict of Columbia or for the United States,
such condemnation proceedings to be con-
! Quoted as nearly as. possible according TO
| chapter II of the Revised Statutes OF the
| United States relating to the District OF
Columbia for the opening of highways, ek-
cepting that part calling for the marshal s
! jury. ;,sa -. - e -...->-.c..
In Case of Appeal.
| 1t Is provided that should the Cornrnis-
| sioners the United States. attorney or any
owner of the land so condemned be dissat-
isfied with the award of the commission
! any of the parties may appeal from the
decision of the commission to the court OF
Appeals of the District of Columbia, who
may confirm, verify or set aside or refer
the same to the commission. with 1nstruc-
tons, and their decision shall be final and
binding upon all parties. An appeal must
Upon such appeal It shall be the duty of
the court to consider the testimony OF rec
ord in the case as. to the va}ue OF the prop
erty condemned and as to the benefits as
sessed upon any property ip pursuance of
this act, The of the commissioners
shall be for four yfarsr and vacancies shall
be hiieh by the a9prsI5re Court OF the Dis
In the event Tia t any & commissioner shall
be disqualified by <eas0n Of any interest in
the properties to be condemned. or shall
desire to be absent.1ro4n the sessions of the
Of the Dis Distrief @ an ine seb ofe oours
vacancy by appofnfIfeiit. and the president
OF the com mn,:ssidsf sroany member thereof
snail certify to thh time the substitute may
perform duty on-the iammission.
Must BE a Dfstsa4krssted sCemmission
Ihe commissioners before entering upon
their duties. shals.tiki oath that they are
ehIfeiy dislnterssted,t tfn the purchase or
SAFE OF any propeffy Authorized to be con-
demned by the sFoceadfngs and that they
will well and truly discharge their duties.
They shall makeoas jeRt and. equitable aIE
prasement OF the-narket value Of the sew
efai interests of each ewner of the real es-
tate and improvements thereon necessary to
pc taken for the public use; and they shall
assess such benefits as they may deem just
and equitable upon the property within
suoh limits as the commissioners may, III
ttfeaf Judgment consider affected by any
improvements authQrized to be made, which
aistrict or territory Shall be determined be-
fore proceeding to take testimony; and no.
' eace snail snait pc given to the owner or owners
OF asents or any property IN the prescribed
usTict on which assessments for benefits
may be made, SO that they may introduce
testimony and be heard by counsel touch
OF the Improvements and the commission
.ers shall issue subpoenas for such wit
nesses as may be desired by the parties in
terested or by the attorney for the Dis
trict; and the commissioners shall have
power to issue compulsory process to Sc
cure the attendance of any witness.
NO assessment Of benefits shall be made