The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-11
WILSON STUDIES
MODEL CITY PLANS
interested in Proposal 10 Make
National Capital Pattern
for Others.
BILL HAS BEEN DRAWN
Slums May Be Eliminated and
Alley Dwellings Re
duccd.

Washington. November l0.-i'la.,s
for eliminating Wasniugtofl's slu,us
and making the national capital the
model municipality OF the world. WED
with The Mexican and currency legisl;-
ton problems I'm claiming Il share or
President Wilson's attention.
With Oliver +. Newman. president II
tho Board Of Commissioners Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, tho President this
afternoon discussed tile citizens alloy
committee bill which the commission
crs have approved. and the recent visit
TO Washington Of Henry Bruere, Of the
bureau Of Municipal Research Of New
York. who urged lite District heads to
conduct q survey for the purpose or
establishing what reforms, if any arc
needed TO make Washington the best
governed city IN America, is not in the
universe.
1t was not the nrst time these mat
tcrs have been considered at the White
House Representatives. Of the alley
committee discussed the proposed leg
slation AZ a conference With the Prcsi-
dent and Mrs. Wilson last spring. The
commissioners were asked to report
the bill to the President with any rec
concentrations they desired TO make
i is understood that Commissioners
Newman TO day requested the chcif ak
ecutivc 70 transmit tho bin TO Congress
should the provisions Of the measure
meet with his approval
May Ask for fnitinI APPROXIMATION.
That the rcqucst viii be granted *
considered probable. IN this event the
commissioners. when they appear be-
fore the subcommittee of the House on
District Appropriations TO explain the
estimates. may ask TO have inserted in
the budget an initial appropriation for
getting the biz Improvement scheme
under way next year.
/. Assessor Richards, IL is understood
has been asked TO submit an estimate
a. TO the probable cost Of the under
taking. HIS task Is not al easy one
rs the bill il drawn so that District
taxpayers VIII bc required TO bear the
entire burden Of tho cost
Tho proposed legislation. in fact con
templates tic District government on
tcrins the rcal estate business. II itu-
thpriz-s the commas s!on"rs 10 condcInn
squares, run minor streets through
them and subdiNid. tho ground remain
nag into lots to be sold at auction to
the highest bidders
Providing FOR ,ne elimination II all
the city's sluius Within a period Of ten
cars. tho measure also stipulatcs that
pne-tenth ot Acr buildings In alleys
row used for dwellings snail be de-
noiishcd each gear. As there ar. said
to be between 900 and : 900 persons
living ~ alleys in the District OF Co
luinbla, the carrying out Of this pro-
vision VIII mean TINT more than 600
persons annually for the next ten years
VIII be required TO move into more
sanitary homes
y" Limitation on Benefit Area.
another important feature IS the pro
vision that jurics conducting the con-
Gcmnation or alleys may distribute
benefits over the entire District II ,he,.
Ike. absolutely no limit being placed
upon the area ia which benefits may
be assessed
The amount levied as benefits. i, il
provided in the bill, shall be not lcss
than cne-third uf the amount that rc
- lots have been deducted from The
entire cost OF the condemnation
The .xccutiy. committee of tho cit
iz"hs' committee which prepared the
hill is headed ~ pr. John Van
Schaick. IL, former president Of tho
Monday Evening CLUB the other mem
bcrs being Walter :. Unord, Mrs Err
nest J. Bicknell. Colonel John Van T.
iion, Or. George VI. Kober, Arthur T.
Parsons and William g. Henderson
William II. Baldwin. chairman Of the
genera! committee. i ilember OK -otficio
of III" executive body.
Another Conference Scheduled.
Commissioned Newman today tDld
the President that tho commissioner 5
have not concluded their study OF tho
MODEL government plan as presented 10
Mr.. Rruere, aud that the New York
expert IS coming to Washington for
another conference with tho District
heads IL regard 10 the matter. IT IL
considered probable that John Iouiroy
Mitchell. Mayor elect OF New York
who with Mr.. Bruete. IL Interested
In the proposal TO maze Washington
. model city, will accompany Mr.
/ Bruere 10 the next conference.