Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-19
REMOVING THE SNOW
PROPERTY OWNERS NOTIFIED TO
CLEAR THE SIDEWALKS.
Police Instructed to Procure Warrants
for Those Who Fail to
Comply.

the District Commissioners and Major
Richard Sylvester the superintendent of
police, officers OF the police department
have been busy since yesterday notifying
owners and agents of property to clear the
snow and Ice from sidewalks. In cases
where notification was not effective and
a Sufficient time had been given for the de-
sired removal, warrants are being applied
for. The weather conditions existing since
the storm are such as to have prevented
the thorough cleaning of the sidewalks by
property owners because the rain and hail
which preceded the snowstorm of Monday
night formed basis of Ice upon the pave
ment. which could not be cleaned away
owing to the zero weather which has since
prevailed.
At the office of the Commissioners it is
stated the District officials are considerably
hampered in their effort to clear the side
walks of snow and ice, not only by lack Of
appropriation, but also by the failure or
Congress to enact the necessary laws. AS
the matter stands at present the Commits
sioners are forbidden from doing any work
in the way of cleaning sidewalks, the Treas
ury Department having held that the ap-
preparation for cleaning snow and ice from
the crosswalks or cutters does not apply to
sidewalks on private property, or even to
public streets. The Commissioners did at
tempt to clear off the snow from in front
Of vacant lots, or property held by non-res-
property, but this was also declared by the
Court of Appeals to be Illegal in the abb
sence Of any law authorizing such action.
Snow and Ice Law.
In order to remedy this defect the Com
missioners framed a snow and ice law
which the Senate has passed, but which Is
held up in the House District committee.
although the Commissioners some weeks
ago addressed to that committee an ap-
peal for the passage Of the bill. This pro-
posed legislation authorizes the Commits
sioners to clean the snow and ice from
private sidewalks, upon the failure OF the
owner agent to perform the work, ana
charge the same against the property. In
the meantime, there Is neither law nor ap-
pr opriation whereby the Commissioners can
remove the snow and ice now complained
OF
One instance was recalled at the office Of
the Commissioners this morning where the
snow was not removed from the sidewalk
in front OF the vacant house at the corner
Of 18th and K streets northwest. The
owner Is a nonresident, and the agent or
the property when approached by the police
with warning that he must keep the side
walk cleared of snow and ice replied that
he had been unable to collect the money
previously expended in removing snow from
the sidewalk and did not feel justified in
advancing more money for that purpose.
Application was then made to the assist
ant corporation counsel. Mr.. Pugh, at the
Police Court, for warrant against the
agent, but the request was refused on the
ground that the agent was not the RESPONSE
BILE party.
Letter to Mr.. Babcock.
The following is a copy of the letter writ
ten some days ago by the Commissioners
to the House committee on the District OF
Columbia. The attention of Congress Will
be again called to the matter. Addressing
Chairman Babcock. the Commissioners said:
1.-The Commissioners have the honor to
invite your attention to the fact that on
the 10th Of March, 1902. the Senate passed
bill entitled "A bill to provide for the re-
moval of snow and ice from the sidewalks
of the District Of Columbia and for other
purpose This bill is now before the House
committee on the District Of Columbia and
has apparently been overlooked in the con-
sideratton Of other and more important
matters.
1.-The measure was designed to secure the
prompt removal Of snow and ice from side
walks by providing the money and machin-
cry whereby such removal could be accom-
plished Section sets forth that IN the
event Of the failure Of any owner or own
ers Of any vacant or unimproved lot to
cause the removal of such snow or Ice. or
to sprinkle the same with sand, sawdust or
other substance, it shall be the duty of the
Commissioners to cause the snow or ice In
front of such lot to be removed. or to cause
Their authorizes the Commissioners to as
sess against each lot the sum OF 81 for the
work thus performed; and where any such
lot has frontage in excess of twenty-five
feet, an additional sum Of 81 for each adj
ditional frontage of twenty-five feet. or
fractional part thereof, ID to be assessed.
Assessments Authorized.
There is at present law which au-
thorizes an assessment for this purpose. but
II does not proyide an appropriation for the
work, and the Treasury Department Off
Gals have decided that the regular appro-
priation for cleaning snow and ice from the
streets cannot be used for also removing
snow and ice from the sidewalks. The pro-
posed law carries with it an appropria ton
Of S. 600. repeats the existing statute and
remedies other defects
THE Commissioners have recently receiv-
ed many complaints because snow and ice
have been allowed to remain upon pave
ments in front of vacant or unimproved
lots. thereby endangering life and limb. It
is for this reason that they bring to your
attention the measure which passed the
Senate last March and which now awaits