Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-01
WANT LAW AMENDED
OBJECTIONS TO PROVISION Gov
ERNING MINOR STREETS.

An effort will be made by the Commits
sioners when the next Congress assemblies
to secure legislation which will modify the
present law governing the conversion of al
leys and courts into minor streets. That
this conversion is absolutely necessary in
nearly every case for the general good of
the community, particularly from a moral
and sanitary point of view, is conceded by
almost every one, but it is contended that
the method of assessment for the CONVEX
sions is hardship in nearly every instance.
and in a number of cases will mean confis-
cation, and 1t is to remedy this condition
that the Commissioners will prepare legis-
lation.
According 70 the present law, which is
not making a favorable impression upon
the local judiciary, it requires the total as
sessment for converting the alley into a
minor street to be assessed against the
property owners abutting on the alley and
those owning property facing the streets
that surround the square through which the
street is cut. The engineers of the District
who have the work in charge, after the
conversion has been ordered by the Com
missioners, say that each conversion will
cost from $4,000 to $4,000, and when this
sum Is assessed against the small handful
of so-called benefited property owners
there is an undisputed hardship.
The work of converting alleys into minor
streets has been intrusted by the Commits
soners into the hands of special com
mittee composed Of Maj. Richard sylvester,
superintendent of police; George 5. wilson,
secretary of the District board of charities,
and William P. Richards, surveyor of the
District. These gentlemen were instructed
to make personal investigation or the
alleys throughout the city and recommend
the conversion of the same into minor
streets as they saw fit. This committee
has been at work almost year, ana IN
that time has recommended the change IN
ILL, I>,,t hoy,n
getting but one-O street alley-through
the various channels of procedure.
Opposition Develops.
It was the first one recommended and
slipped through without much opposition,
but since then every effort to condemn
the necessary property for the work has
been fought and taken to court, where the
case has been always set aside. The mem
bers of the judiciary before whom such
cases have been carried have always IN
structed the juries with particular en-
phasis not to place a benefit against the
properties in question unless the benent IN
the full sense Of the word exists
The Commissioners are well aware or GER
tain hardships in connection with this Work
and the necessity for It's modlhcatlon- COM
missioner West is strongly opposed to the
law as it stands, and says he is in favor
of supplementary law which will require
the United States government to pay half
of the cost and the District in general 10
pay the other half, thus relieving the
affected property owners from such ire.
mendous obligations and the possibility or
contiScatlon.
Engineer Commissioner Morrow who, like
his colleague, is satisfied regarding the
hardship brought about by the law, does
not believe the United States government
should bear any of the costs incident to
this Improvement work. but that the own
ers of properties actually benefited should
No IN a
benefit and that the difference between that
aggregated amount and the cost of the
conversion be borne by the District in
general.