Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-04
Draft Of New Legislation Sub
mitted to Congress.
FEATURES OF THE BILL
PROVIDES FOR A BOARD OF CON-
DERIVATION.
Three Branches of the Work of Abat-
ing Nuisances to Be Treated
Separately.

able the Commissioners effectively to deal
with the insanitary buildings in alleys and
elsewhere in the District of Columbia has
been prepared by Commissioner Macfar-
land, after consultation with the health OFF,
GER. the corporation counsel and other off,
Gals. and was today submitted by him to
the Commissioners, with a motion that 1t
be presented to Congress for its action. The
legislation is based upon the bill which the
Commissioners presented In the last Con-
gress. after consultation with their subordi-'
mates, and with the representatives Of the
citizens committee on the housing Of the
poor, but contains additional features taken
from the New York law and from the sub
stitute measure prepared by the subcom-
mittee of the Senate committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia at the last session. The
Commissioners believe that 1t is better to
treat the three questions of the abatement
of nuisances. the condemnation of insani-
tary buildings and the regulation of tene-
ment construction as separate measures. A
third bill will therefore be drafted, cover
ing the requirements for tenement con-
Struction.
The bill submitted to the Commissioners
today provides for a board for the con-
domination of inSanitary buildings, consist
ing of the assistant to the Engineer Com
missioner in charge of buildings. the health
officer and the inspector of buildings, to act
with the power to vacate or condemn and
demolish, subject to the appeal of owners
to the court. and with provision for the
award of damages, If any are due. or the
assessment of the cost on the real estate,
II that Is necessary.
The first thirteen sections of the proposed
bill embody the provisions of the bill intro
duced by the late Senator Mcmillan in the
Fifty-seventh Congress. nd here reproduce
Ell. Sections 1 and relate to the appoint
ment and personnel of the board.
Duties of the Board.
The further provisions follow:
Section s. The board for the condemna-
ton of insanitary buildings is authorized to
investigate. through personal inquiry and
inspection by the members thereof. and
through inquiry and inspection by officers
agents and employees appointed or detailed
for that purpose, into the sanitary condition
of any building or part OF building IN
said District. except such as are under the
exclusive Jurisdiction of the United states
If any building, or part of building. be
found. as the result of such investigation. to
be In such insanitary condition as TO en-
danger the health or the lives of the occu-
pants thereof or of persons living in the
vicinity, the board shall cause notice TO
be served on each owner and part owner OF
such building requiring him to show cause
within not less than twenty days, exclusive
of Sundays and legal holidays, from the
date Of the service of notice why such
building or part of building should not be
condemned. And If within the time speclned
in the notice no cause be shown sunclent IN
the opinion Of a majority OF the board to
prevent the condemnation OF the building
the board shall issue an order concerning
the structure.
Section f. That from and after thirty
days. exclusive OF Sundays and legal ho1.
DAYS after a copy or copies of any ORDER OF
condemnation has been affixed to any con-
demned building or part OF building no per-
son shall occupy such building or part VI
building.
Sec 5. That no person having author
ity to prevent shall permit any building or
part of b, Hiding condemned to be occupied
except as specially authorized by tne poaiu
for the inflammation Of insanitary buiid-
ings in the District of Columbia, under au-
thority of section six of this act, AFTER
thirty days, exclusive Of Sundays and iegai
holidays, from and after the GATE or the
service Of a copy of the order of condemna-
ton on the owner of such building: or II
there be several part owners of such build
Ing from the latest date OF service on any
part owner; or, If copy or copies OF such
order of condemnation has been afnxed 10
the condemned building or part of building
at date subsequent to the date of service
of the notice on any owner or the latest
date of service on any part owner. AFTER
thirty days from the date on which SAID
copy or copies of such order OF conoemha-
ton was so affixed.
Provision for Repairs.
Sec. 8. That If the owner or owners of
any building part of building condemned
under the provisions Of this act shall make
such changes or repairs as Will remedy IN
manner satisfactory to said board the con-
ditions which led to the condemnation OF
such building or part of building, said
board shall cancel its order OF condemna-
ton and the building may be again occu-
pied; and IL such owner or owners can not
make such changes or repairs WltMn the
period within which they may lawfully per-
nit such building or part OF building to be
occupied under section five of this act. but
proceed with such changes or repairs with
reasonable diligence during that period,
said board may, by special order, extend
from time to time the period within which
the occupants of said building or part OF
building may remain therein ana WITHIN
which the owner or owners thereof may
permit them so to DO.
sac Z That the owner or owners of any
building or buildings condemned under the
provisions of this act which cannot be SO
changed or repaired as to remedy the con-
dition which led to the condemnation there
Of shall demolsh and remove such building
or part Of building within a time to be
specified by said board in the order of con-
domination: And II any owner or part
remove said building or part OF building
within the time so specified he shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and liable
to the penalti6S pTOFlueQ ny ScCtiOu nlrteou
of this act and such building or part OF
building shall be demolished and removed
under the direction Of the board for the
condemnation Of insanitary buildings In the
District of Columbia. and the cost Of such
demolition and removal, less the amount, IL
any, received from the sale of the old ma
terial, but including the cost of making
good such damage to adjoining premises as
may have resulted from such demolition
and the cost Of publication. il any, herein
provided for, shall be assessed by the Com
missioners of the District Of Columbia as
a tax against the premises on which such
building part of building was situated,
such tax to be collected in the same man
ner as general taxes are collected, and
when collected shall be deposited in the
treasury to the credit OF the United States
and the District Of Columbia In equal parts.
Notice to Owners.
Sec. g. That whenever the title to any
building or part Of a building the con-
demnation OF which Is contemplated is in
litigation. the board for the condemnation
of insanitary buildings shall notify all par
ties to the suit and shall report the cir
cumstances to the corporation counsel of