Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-29
LOCAL LEGISLATION
HEARING ON INSANITARY
BUILDINGS TOMORROW.

AT the regular weekly meeting of the
House District committee TO-DAY a decided
forward step In the direction of wiping out
tho slums of this city was taken by unani-
nous agreement. The committee decided
to grant special hearing for tomorrow
morning at 9:30 o'clock TO those persons NJ
terested in the Morrel bill authorizing the
condemnation of insanitary buildings Ad-
vCeates of this legislation claim that one
hearing before the District committee is
all that they need at this time to secure
a favorable report of the measure by
unanimous vote. There appears 10 be some
ground for this belief, and it is expected
that tomorrow's hearing will be promptly
followed by the action of the committee
1T has been realized around the Capitol as
well as elsewhere. for some time that ex-
lstlng regulations are not adequate to deal
VIII, TINS question OF insanitary structures
conditions in the so-called siums being par-
ticularly bad in this regard and If is pe-
ltFed that once reported the Morrell bill
or some such similar measure will go
through the House practically without op-
position. Bishop Satterlee and many other
prominent residents of Washington who
are interested in the desired legislation
have announced their intention of attend-
Ing tomorrow's hea ring
The committee also decided To hold
special executive session next Tuesday to
consider the amendment to the code with
reference to regular form of street OPEN
ing procedure embodied IN bill introduced
In the House the other day, by Representa-
tive Olcott of New York one of the com
mittee members. The details of this pro-
posed amendment have been already pub
llShed In The Star
Action on number of other matters of
local interest was had by the committee
Adverse reports We're returned on House
bills G961 and 1862 for the relief of the
heirs Of Harold Curtiss Grant and Melvin
B. Smith, who were drowned in a Washing
ton sewer while employed IN It's construc-
tfno by the District some years ago The
first bill provides for the payment of S1O-
600 to Adelaide E. Gran; and Alice Adelaide
Grant. the wife and child OF the late II. c.
Grant and the other bill approprsates So 900
TO be paid to the Smith estate
Although no statement was made In con-
nection with the adverse report il is under
stood that the committee believe that the
heirs of Grant and Smith may secure am
PIE redress in court proceedings.
Favorable Action.
Favorable action was had Oh the follow
ing bills:
H. r. 1914, providing that in all cases
where the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia contract for work or material
involving not more than $500 It shall not
be necessary to execute a formal written
contract with bond; but no work capable
Of execution under single contract, nor
any purchase of material where the total
expenditure involved is greater than 500
shall be subdivided or lessened for the pur-
pose of reducing the sum TO less than that
amount.
H. R. 15961, to acquire title to certain
lots in the District of Columbia and for
that purpose authorizing the Secretary of
the Interior to convey all right and title
of the United States in lot s. block / of
Meridian Hill, and lots 30 and II, in the
subdivision of the South Grounds of CO.
lumbian University to the parties having
an otherwise perfect title to this prop
erty.
H. R. 14513. authorizing the District Com
missioners to pass regulations prescribing
penalties for giving false alarms of fre
within the District. the penalties to in
clude, in the discretion of the Commission
ers, fines or imprisonment, or both. pro
vided that they shall not exceed a fine of
s1o0 or Imprisonment for more than six
months. and. further, that the prosecu-
tions shall be conducted by the corporation
counsel or any one of his assistants in the
name OF the District Commissioners.
II. r. 16S6S. for the prevention of scarlet
fever. diphtheria, measles. whooplng
cough chickenpoX. epidemic cerebro menin-
gifts and typhoid in the District This
measure is designed to compel every per-
son In charge of a patient suffering from
one Of these diseases to Immediately notify
the health officer, and authorizing the Com
missioners to make such regulations
they deem necessary for the prevention OF
the spread of these diseases.
Senate 1926, amending q section of the
District code relating to insane criminals
AS amended the section provides that
whenever any person tried upon an .ndict-
ment for an offense is acquitted the
sole grounds that he was insane at the
time OF it's commission. that fact shall bo
set forth by the jury in their verdict: and
the court may impanel q jury and de-
termine the insanity of accused person.
after which the Secretary of the Interior
may order the confinement of the person
In an insane asylum.
Senate 416s. to correct a typographical
error in the act vestins control of street
parking in the District Commissioners.
Change of Grade.
Chairman Babcock Of the House District
committee introduced a Lin today to pro-
vide for the payment of damages on ac-
count of changes in grade due to the elm
ination of grade crossings on the lire of
the / ..iladelphia, Baltimore and Washing
ton Railroad Company The measure pro
vides that damages to adjacent property
resulting from changes in grade of streets,
avenues or alleys under the act in question
shall be borne by the District. and shall be
appraised by d commission OF three ap-
pointed by the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict upon application by the Commits sion
ers The measure specifies the manner in
which the appraisement snail be made and
covers other necessary details of the sub
ject