The Washington times., 1904-01-27
WILL EMF ORCE
BUILDING Law
Board Has Authority TO
Condemn Structures.
RIGHT OF APPEAL GIVEN
May Cause Buildings to Be Put in
Sanitary Condition, Demolished,
or Removed

How win the District Commissioners
enforce the new irsanitary building
law. which has been favorably reported
by the House District Committee?' was
asked OF Commissioner Macfarland this
morning
The method OF enforcing the law is
prescribed in tn, bin replied the Com
missioner "The bin bears the caption
TO create a board for the condemnation
OF insanitary buildings in the District Of
Columbia This board viii consist OF
Capt chester Harding. assistant to the
Engineer Commissioner and the officer
who has charge Of buildings: DR.. VIII
liam C. Woodward the Health officer
and Snowden Ashford. the Building In
spector.
Authority to Condemn.
THE committee wiz have jurisdiction
and authority TO examine into the sani-
tary condition Of all buildings in the
District; 20 condemn those buildings
which are iu such insanitary condition
rs 10 endanger the health or lives of
the occupants thereof. or of persons liv-
ing in the vicinity The committee will
then cause all such buildings to be put
in a sanitary condition. or 10 be va
Gated. demolished. and removed. as may
be required by the peculiar circUm-
stances surrounding each individual
case.
The committee will have authority
to euiple. contractors 20 carry out its
orders. provided the owner Of the prop
erty refuses To do so. In this case the
cost of the work. less the amount which
may be realized from the sale of the
old material viii be assessed against
the land upon which The building is To-
Gated. and collected in the same man
ner as ordinary taxes.
Owners May Appeal.
.-The bin carefully reserves the con-
stitutional rights of property owners by
providing for them authority TO take
amy order of condemnation made by the
board before the Supreme Court Of the
District which is to promptly hear it.
and to take such action as will protect
the interests both OF the property owner
and the public. including, If necessary,
a jury OF award to consider the ques-
ton Of compensation.
The provision which the Commission
ers believe the most important. how
ever. is section 10. which says that ANY
notice required by this act to be served
shall be deemed 10 have been served If
delivered to the person to be notified, or
If left at the usual residence or place
Of business Of the person 20 be notified.
with d person Of suitable age and dis
erection then resident therein. or. II no
such residence or place Of business can
be found I'm the District OF Columbia
by reasonable search. If left with any
person Of suitable age or discretion en-
ployed therein at the Office OF any agent
of the person 10 be notified. which agent
has any authority or duty with refer
ence 10 the land or tenement to which
said notice relates: or II no such Of
flee can be found in said District By
reasonable search if forwarded by reg
istered mail to the last known address
OF the>QersOn 10 be notified, and not re-
turned by the postoffice authorities. or If
no address be known or can by reason
able diligence be ascertained a notice
be published on three consecutive DAYS
in daily newspaper in the District of
Columbia.
Any person violating. or aiding or
abetting in the violation of this act
shall. upon conviction. be punished by
fine of not more than 800. or by impris-
onment for not more than ninety days.