Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-18
FIRST DISTRICT DAY
Local Bills Considered in
House of Representatives.
TO ABATE NUISANCES
MEASURE DESIGNED TO REACH
NONRESIDENT OWNERS
Commissioners Empowered to Correct
Insanitary Conditions in Cases
Of Necessity.
TO ABATE NUISANCES

The first District day of the present ses-
sion of Congress brought action this after
noon In the House Of Representatives on
number of bills in which the District COM
mittee the Commissioners and the resi-
dents of the capital city are interested. One
of the most important Of the bills enacted
into law In the lower branch today is that
providing for the abatement of nuisances'
designed to reach nonresident owners OF
property on which nuisances exist and en-
powering the Commissioners to correct IN
sanitary conditions when the owners or
property refuse to do so. Other bills con.
sidered and passed included one to amend
the law regulating the height OF buildings
one to authorize the resubdivision OF GER
tain lots and blocks, one in relation to busi-
ness streets, one In relation to the estap-
lishment of building lines and one to au.
thorize the extension of certain gas maihS
To Abate Nuisances-
The bill to proyide for the abatement OF
nuisances was the first called up by Chair
man Babcock of the House District COM
mittee This bill was submitted with favor-
able reports by the committee and the Com
missioners 1t provides that whenever tho
owner of any real property in the District
of Columbia shall fail or refuse, after inc
service of reasonable notice, to correct any
condition which exists on or mas arisen
from such property In violation OF law or
of any regulation made py authority VI
law with the correction of which condiuon
the owner Is by law or regulation charRe-
able or to show cause, sunicient IN tne
Judgment of the Commissioners why ne
should not be required to correct such con-
dition, then the Commissioners of the DIS
trict of Columbia are authorized to CAUSE
such condition to be corrected, assess the
cost of correcting such condition and all
expenses incident thereto dncluding the
cost of publication, II any as a tax against
the property on which the condition existed
or from which 1t arose, as the case may
be, and carry such tax on the regular tax
rolls of said District, and collect 1t In the
same manner as general taxes in the Dis.
trict are collected; provided that the cor
reetion of any condition by the Cofnmie-
sioners under authority Of this law shall
criminal prosecution and punishment for
having caused or allowed the unlawful
condition to arise or for having failed or
refused to correct the same.
The bill as amended provides that II shall
be sufficient service to leave notice with
any person of suitable age and discretion
residing on the property.
In response to request for an explana.
ton of the measure, Mr.. Babcock stated
that the existing law on the subject of
nuisances was not definite enough. The
proposed law provides method for reach
ing nonresident owners and provides for
recovering the cost incurred when the
Commissioners are forced to undertake the
corrective measures.
The Smoke Nuisance.
Representative Gillett of Massachusetts,
interrupted. While on the subject Of nuis-
ances, he desired to know what was the
present status of things in regard to tho
enforcement of the law prohibiting the
emission of dense black or gray smoke from
the city chimneys.
In reply Mr.. Babcock stated that prior
to the coal strike last year the Commits.
sioners had vigorously carried out the law.
During the strike the exigencies OF the sit.
uation compelled the local authorities to
countenance violations that were not alto.
gether too f1agrant. Now that the emer-
gency was over, he continued, the District
committee would look into the matter 10
see If the existing law is sufficient or II
1t needs amendment IN any particular.
The bill was then taken up and passed.
To Allow Rehabilitation.
Mr.. Babcock next called up House bin
1854, introduced by Mr.. Williams Of Mis-
sissippi, and providing that where any pro.
posed street of the permanent system Of
highways affects any lot or block Of q
subdivision recorded in the ONCE OF the
surveyor Of the District Of Columbia, the
may, in their discretion, allow the resub-
division of such lot or block in a manner
conforming to the original subdivision until
such time az condemnation proceedings are
begun for the opening Of the proposed
street affecting the land to be subdivided.
The bill was passed without discussion
The Height Of Buildings.
House bill 7O23, to amend the act regu.
lating the height Of buildings. introduced
by Mr.. Babcock at the instance Of the Conn
missioners was taken up and passed with
out debate. The measure amends the law
relating to high buildings. approved March
/, 1899. by inserting in section l the words
"or an a hospital or dormitory." % that the
section will read as follows:
THAT from and after the date OF the ap-
proval of this act no combustible or non.
fireproof building intended to be used or 90.
cupied az a residence, or as an apartment
house or hotel; or az e hospital or dormi-
erected to height Of more than five sto.
ries raised to a height exceeding sixty
feet above the sidewalk, the measurement
to be made as hereinafter prescribed
Designating Business Streets.
House bill 8292, in relation to business
streets. was called up and briefly explained
by Mr.. Babcock. who stated that 1t was
designed to moro clearly define the au-
thority of the Commissioners in designat.
ing streets sas business thoroughfares The
present law. the Commissioners stated to
the committee, is indefinite and not wholly
satisfactory under varying conditions.
After a third reading the bill was passed
1t provides:
THAT the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia are authorized and directed
to denominate portions of streets in the
District of Columbia az business streets
and to authorize the use, on such portions
of streets, for business purposes by abut-
ting property owners. under such general
regulations as said Commissioners may
prescribe of SO much of the sidewalk and
parking as may not be needed, In the judE-
ment Of said Commissioners. by the gem
eraI public under the following conditions,
namely: First, where In portion of
street not already denominated business
street "a majority of frontage not less
than three blocks in length Is occupied
and used for business purposes: and, sec-
ond, where a portion Of a street has al.
ready been denominated a business street
and there exists adjoining such portion
block or more whose frontage is occupied
and used for business purposes"
Establishing Building Lines.
House bill es11. in relation to the es-
of building lines. was cons