Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-12
MEASURES OF REFORM
Proposed Legislative Rem
edies for Local Evils.
TWO IMPORTANT BILLS
FAVORABLY CONSIDERED BY
SENATE DISTRICT COMMITTEE.
One to Secure Wholesome Dairy Prod
ucts, the Other to Abolish In
sanitary Buildings.
TWO IMPORTANT BILLS

The Senate committee on the District OF
Columbia met today and ordered favorable
reports on two bills of great local impor-
tance.
One of the bills is to secure sanitary dairy
products for the District, the other provid-
ing for the abatement of nuisances in the
District, which carries the proposed legis-
lation for getting rid of insanitary build
ings.
The proposed amendment to the law re-
lating to taxation in the District was dis
cussed, Assessor Darneille being before the
committee. The bill will be taken up for
further consideration by the committee next
Friday.
Members Of the committee present at the
meeting today were Senators Gallnser,
Hansbrough, Stewart, Scott, Gamble, Mar
tin, Simmons Mallory, Dubois and German.
Sanitary Dairy Products.
A new bill to secure sanitary dairy prod
ucts was approved by the committee IN the
form of a substitute for the original Diff.
The substitute provides for the appoint
ment by the Commissioners Of superln-
tendent of dairies, who shall be familiar
with the dairy business and have knowl-
edge of chemistry.
.Srhe bin also provides for the appoint
ment of an analytical chemist, who snail
assist the superintendent. There are also
to be appointed six inspectors Oh DAIRY
farms and other places where mix is pro-
duced for sale in the District OF Columbia
Duties Of Inspectors.
These inspectors must be familiar with
the dairy business and be veterinary sur
geons There are also to be appointed
eight inspectors to serve in the District TO
examine the milk brought into the District
for sale. They are also required to exam
inc each dairy and the vehicles and appli-
ances used in the distribution and hanollns
of milk.
The substitute bill also provides that all
the inspectors shall have access TO all pldceS
recurring their inspection and TO milk anu
cream to be sold in the District, wherever II
may be found, and that any persons refusing
to allow their premises, cattle, dairles' mlih'
vehicles or anything else recurring an IN
spection to be freely inspected shan not pe
allowed to bring milk into the District OF
Columbia or sell it when brought into SAID
District
The salary of the superintendent Is placed
at 81. 900 per annum, of the analytical chem
ist at 81 400 of the six veterinary surgeon
inspectors at $1,000 each, of the eight city
inspectors at 81 900 each, of the clerk at
81 900 each, and of the laborer at SSoo, max
ing in the aggregate $24,OUo
Destruction of Insanitary Buildings.
The substitute bill to provide for the
abatement of nuisances, and proVldlng iof
the destruction of insanitary buildings
was also acted favorably upon by the COM
mittee.
The substitute provides that 1t shall be
the duty of the inspector of buildings OF the
District of Columbia to examine INTO the
sanitary condition of all buildings In the
District, and for hat purpose he shall nave
authority to enter them whenever he shall
believe that examination is necessary. IL
1F fIn Cny,ov C
provide such assistance for the inspector as
NAV be necessary. The inspector shall re-
port the result of his investigation from
time to time to the United States district
attorney for the District, when 1t shall be-
come the latter's duty to cause notices to
be served upon the persons complained
of for violating the provisions OF this act
or the regulations of the Commissioners
relating to it, and II the alleged evils are
not remedied within ten days after such
notice the district attorney is to proceed
against such persons in the police court
as in other cases of miSdemeanOrs. 1t IS
also made the duty of the district attorney,
where the owners of property occupied as
habitations allow their buildings to remain
in an unlawful condition, to file a petition
in equity against such persons In the Su-
preme Court of the District of Columbia,
in addition to the criminal proceedings pro-
vided for in the bill
The bill specifies the manner of proceed
Ing in the Supreme Court of the District
and provides that every building In the
District used as a dwelling house or lodg
ing house shall at all times have drainage,
windows, ventilation and other sanitary
fixtures as the Commissioners may by reg
ulation require. The Commissioners are
directed to prohibit by regulation the occu-
patton of any building or room in the Dis
trict which is not in a sanitary condition
and suitable for habitation.
Crowding Dwelling Houses.
No room in any dwelling house shall be
80 overcrowded that there shall be afforded
less than 400 cubic feet of air for each
adult and 200 cubic feet of air for each
child under twelve years of age occupying
such ROOM and no dwelling house shall be
so overcrowded that there shall be afforded
in the bed rooms and living rooms less than
600 cubic feet of air for each individual
occupying the house.
The Commissioners are to prescribe by
regulatio such notices as shall be given Ey
the inspector of buildings to the owner
occupants of buildings unfit for habitation
under the provisions or the regulations of
the Commissioners made in pursuance
thereof, as may be proper and reasonable.
The manner of serving such notices Is de-
tailed.
Violat tions of this law or regulations of
the Commissioners made under it's author
ity are to be punished by a fine of not more
than 500 or by imprisonment of not more
than ninety days.
Assessor Darneille Heard.
The committee spent considerable time in
discussing Senate bill 2S79, relating to tax
alton in the District. Assessor Darneille
was before the committee and was asked
many questions in relation to the bill
The committee decided to strike out of
this bill section 2, which provides that here
after art galleries in the District which, in
the judgment of the Commissioners, are of
sufficient value. size and merit to be of
general interest to the public. and which
are open to the public free of charge for
at least two hours day two days of each
week, shall be exempt from personal taxa
ton.
The committee also discussed the pro-
vision under which the Commissioners are
authorized to remit penalty and interest
and general and special taxes In the Dis
trict when, in their judgment, the request
for such remission shall be for causes
deemed equitable and just. The subcom-
mttee having the bill in charge favored the
striking out of this section, and 1t is
thought probable that the committee will
take that action later.
This bill will again be discussed by the
committee at its next meeting, no action
being taken upon it today.