The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-04-30
commissioners Want Au-
thority to Condemn I'm
sanitary Buildings.
FORWARD BILL TO CONGRESS
PROVISION for the Appointment of
Board of Condemnation, Who Shall
Have the Right to Inspect SANITARY
Conditions of All Buildings.

Inc District Commissioners Yesterday
transmitted to the Committees of Congress
on The District of Columbia. with a re-
fuest Tor Its Introduction and passage,
piii to create a board for the condemna-
uon OF insanitary buildings in the Dis
rict. The bill has been drawn with great
care by the municipal authorities and IS
intended TO clothe the Commissioners with
power which they do not at present pos
sess TO condemn buildings in an unhealthy
condition and to cause their thorough re-
PAIR or removal. The bill. in its main
features. provides:
That there be created in and for the
District of Columbia a board to be known
as the board for the condemnation of in
sanitary buildings in the District of Co.
iumDla TO consist of the assistant to the
Engineer Commissioner in charge of
buildings, the Health officer. and the In
spector of buildings, of said District: and
10 nave Jurisdiction and authority to ex-
anime into the sanitary condition of all
buildings in said District; to condemn those
buildings which are in such insanitary
condition as to endanger the health or
lives OF the occupants thereof or of per-
sons living in the vicinity. and to cause
all buildings to be put into sanitary con-
dition or to be vacated demolished, AMI
removed, as may be required by the pro-
visions of this act Said board the mem
bers thereof. and all persons acting under
its authority and by its direction. may,
between the hours of O'Clock a. m. and
O'Clock p. m, enter into and upon any
and all lands and buildings in said Dis
trict for the purpose of inspecting the
same. and for the purpose OF causing any
such buildings to be vacated, demolished,
and removed. as may be required by the
provisions of this act
Regulations to Govern.
Section Of the bill provides the regu-
lations which shall govern the board in
:ts proceedings; and section provides
h..w Investigations shall be made into the
condition of buildings suspected or re-
ported to be insanitary. Upon these
points the bill reads:
That said board for the condemnation
of insapitary buildings be and is hereby !
authorized to investigate through personal |
inquiry and inspection by the members |
thereof and through inquiry and inspec-
tion by officers agents, and employees ap- |
pointed-or detailed for that purpose into !
the sanitary condition of any building or
part OF a building in said District, except |
such as are under the exclusive jurisdic- |
ton of the United States. If any building |
or part of a building be found, as the re- |
suit of such investigation, to be in such 4
insanitary condition as to endanger the \
health or the lives OF the occupants there
Of or Of persons living in the vicinity, said I
board shall cause notice TO be served on
4, ~x.I -
ing requiring him to show cause within
not less than twenty days, exclusive of
Sundays and legal holidays, from the date
of the service of said notice why such
building or part of building should not be
condemned.
To Condemn Buildings.
And If within the time specified in
said notice no cause be shown sufficient
in the opinion of majority of said board
to prevent the condemnation of such
building or part OF building, said board
shall issue an order condemning such
building or part of building, and shall
cause copy of such order to be served
on each owner or part owner thereof, and
q copy or copies to be affixed to the
building or part o; building condemned.
Sec T. That from and after thirty
days, exclusive Of Sundays and legal holt
days, after a copy or copies of any order
of condemnation has been affixed to any
condemned building or part of building,
no person shall occupy such building or
part of building"
Penalties Imposed.
Subsequent sections prescribe penalties
for failing to comply with the notices
for in the act, specify what per-
sons are exempt from the operation Of
the act and set forth under what specific
conditions condemned buildings are to be
torn down and removed. Defacing or re-
moving notices posted on property call
for special penalty. and persons abotting
or aiding In violations of the law are TO
be treated as principal offenders.
Amounts received for old material when
The District removes buildings. after de-
Quoting the cost, is to be returned TO the q
owner or owners. Buildings repaired by ]
lhe. District are TO be assessed for the
cost Of such repairs under the regula-
ions governing special assessments.
Az acts and parts of acts inconsistent
uItb the provisions of the bill are TO be