Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-30

ests of the District and adds unnecessarily
to the cost of abatement. After the eX-
pense Of remedying the nuisance has been
paid by the District 1t cannot become, I'M
der this ordinance, lien on the property
until after suit at law for its recovery,
and in the meantime the property may
have passed into the hands of parties in no
way responsible for the payment Of the
judgment Moreover, the costs of many
such suits, especially where the owner was
a nonresident and had to be served with
notice of such suit by publication, would
be out of all proportion to the cost of
abating the nuisances The regulation
mentioned above has, therefore, been found
to be insufficient to meet present needs.
Remedies for Specific Nuisances.
Remedies for the abatement of certain
specific nuisances on or arising from
property of non-residents have been duly
provided by special acts of Congress. Land
belonging to a nonresident owner may, II
necessary, If a sewer be available, be con-
nected with such sewer, and the cost of
the connection assessed against the prop
erty under the provisions of An act to
provide for the drainage of lots in the
District of Columbia approved May 10,
1896. Weeds on the property Of non-resi-
dents may be cut and the cost thereof
assessed against the property under the
provisions of An act to cause the removal
of weeds from lands IN the city of Wash
ington, and for other purposes, approved
March i, 1892 Snow and ice, or dirt, sand
or gravel may, under similar conditions, be
removed from paved sidewalks and alleys
and the cost of removal assessed against
the property, under the provisions of An
act for the removal of snow and ice from
sidewalks, cross walks and cutters in the
District Of Columbia, and for other pur-
poses.' approved March 2, 1897. A danger
Gus or unsafe building, or part of a build
ing may be repaired, or, If necessary re-
moved, and the cost OF the work may be
assessed against the lot of ground where
nrC CT no
provisions Of An act to authorize the Com
missioners of the District of Columbia to
remove dangerous or unsafe buildings and
parts thereof, and for. other purposes ap-
proved March /, 1883.
No Remedy Available.
ION the other hand an accumulation Of
foul and stagnant water on land for which
no sewer Is available cannot be removed
unless the owner is within reach of criminal
process, nor if sewer is available, can 1t be
removed by filing, even though 1t might be
much more economical for the owner of the
property to have such action taken. In fact,
it may be said that for all nuisances. except
those specified above, there now exists in
the District of Colombia no certain means
for securing abatement. 49," -'---a
I'm order to provide proper remedy the
enactment of this legislation has been rec
commended by the Commissioners. Due pro-
vision Is made for the service of notice. The
responsible party is, moreover, subsequent
to that service to be allowed reasonable
time within which he himself can abate the
nuisance or show cause to the Commission
ers why he should not be required to abate
1t. And finally. if the abatement be effected
by the Commissioners, the amount of the
assessment is merely equal to the cost of
abatement, and the interest payable there
on does not differ from that payable on reg
ular taxes in the District of Columbia
This bill was prepared by the Commits
sioners Of the District of Columbia and in
troduced a their request"