Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-22
Bill, Favored by Workers for
Civic Betterment, Before
District Heads.
ALREADY HAS APPROVAL
OF MANY ORGANIZATIONS
Probably Will Be Sent to Congress
Next Session After Being Passed
on by the President.


inhabited alleys in the District of Column
bia within a period of ten years, a com.
prehensive bill. drawn up by represent
atives of a committee of civic workers
of which Mrs. Woodrow Wilson is j
member. is being considered by the Com
missioners. and probably will be favor
ably brought by them to the attention
of the President
The measure already has been ap-
proved BY the District health depart
ment, police department, building In
spector's Office and the board for the
condemnation of insanitary buildings,
and the Commissioners, though they have
only just begun consideration of 1t, are
much Impressed with its practicability.
1t is understood.
, President Wilson is interested in the
slum question, and has asked the Conn
missioners to report the bill to him In
enacted into law. The chief executive,
1t is learned. intends to examine the
measure carefully, and II 1t meets with
his views, to urge upon Congress that
it be adopted.
May Sell Lots at Auction.
Should 1t become a law it will result
in the District Of Columbia entering the
real estate business, as the Commissioners
are authorized. under the terms Of the
measure, to condemn squares. run minor
streets through them and subdivide the
ground remaining into lots to be sold at
auction to the highe st bidders.
Another important feature is that no
limit is placed upon the benefit assess
ment area Condemnation juries may dis
tribute benefits over the entire District, i.
they like. under the plan proposed.
It is provided also that, ilnmed.a .ately
following passage of the act. the Com
miss. .oners shall arrange for the dis
continuance every year Of One-tenth or
the buildings in alleys now used as
DIV ellings.
AS there areNsaid to be between 16O0o
and 17.UU0 persons living in alleys In the
District of CoiuJnb.a. the carrying out
OF this protieion will mean that more
than une thousand persons annually will
be required 70 move into more sanitary
homes.
Inc proposed law is designed to sound
the death knen Of the interior park plan
for the treatment Of alleys. Willow Tree
4 icy. between I'D. ~. b and Z streets
southwest. recently acquired. is to be
made into an interior park 6y direction
Of Congress-, but the present board o.
Commissioners does not consider this
plan of treatment good one.
Present Law Practically Dead.
While there is now law providing for
the conversion OF alleys into minor
streets it practically Is dead letter be-
cause of its provision that the total cost
of condemnation shall be assessed as BEN
efiss against the immed- -ateiy surrounding
property. Juries have been unable to
cOnDne the expense to. such itmltoo areas,
There is now available reimbursapie
appropriation of about $1QOO0O iOr aliey
work which may be drawn
upon II the Improvement scheme under
conte mp alton is authorized by Congress-
In connection with the provision de-
signed TO give the COMMISSIONS. S author
ity TO sell at auction what ian0 Is not used
for streets, II is stipulated that the Us
trict heads may prom1.gate regulations
hOvern1ng the character OF bu.iuInSs u
be .ocated on the lots disposed OF IN this
manner.
lne amount that may be assessed IoT
benefits, 1t is provided in the D..i, snail
be not less than one-lniru Oh the amount
that remains after the proceeds from the
SAFE OF io,s have been deducted from the
entire cost OF the condemnation.
1t is provided also lnal the OiStr-ct
government may receive either cash 10.
the lols sold Or part cash anu note, .iie
latter properly secured. Inc bill requires
that no MINOR street SHAH have a wioIn
oi less than fifty feet.
Bill Prepared by Cittzens.
Representing the result of investiga-
tons by the citizens alley committee.
the bill in quest on was prepared by
the executive committee Of that body. oil
which the chairman IS the Rev. DR..
John Van Schaick, jr., former president
Of the Monday Evening Club. The other
members of the executive committee are
Water S. Ufford. secretary; Mrs. Ernest
p. Bicknell, Col. John Van r. Hoff, DR..
George NJ. Kober. Arthur j. Parsons and
W liam G. Henderson.
William H. Baldwin Is chairman Of the
general committee. which is made up OF
fifty members. This body is the out
growth of Investigations of alley condi-
tons made by the Monday Evening Cub.
the Associated Charities, the woman's
welfare department of the National Civic
Federation ard other organizations Of
civic workers, including the Board oil
Trade and Chamber OF Commerce. Mrs
Archibald S. Hopkins has been promi-
nent worker in the cause, which was dis
cussed at q conference at the White
House last summer to which members of
the committee were invited by President
and Mrs. Wilson.
1t is considered likely that the bill
proposed will be sent to Congress early
during the next session. AS a number OF
con, re ssmen have been escorteI by men,
bers of the committee on visits throus h
Washington's slums, 1t is believed that
cons derable sentiment has been developed
at the Capitol in favor of the enact Len.
of a broad measure outlining a policy for