Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-18
Herbert J. Browne and William
J. Kehoe Speak Against
Measure.
ARGUMENTS ALSO MADE
FAVORING LEGISLATION
Rev. John Van Schaick, Jr., Heads
Delegation Before House Dis
trict Committee. :

A setback for the bill to eliminate al
leys, made up by the committee oe
fifty" OF which Mrs. Woodrow Wilson,
Commissioner Siddons and forty-elghs
other sociological workers are members,
was given before the House District
committee today by Herbert ]. Browne.
representing the Tax Reform Association,
and also to some extent by William j.
Kehoe, whose name appears on the list
Of members Of the committee OF fifty"
Following talks in favor of the latest
alley elimination bill by jackson II.
Ralston and William H. Baldwin, Nj.
kehoe asked to be heard. Rev. John Van
Schaick. jr., who had charge OF tho
time" for tho committee of fifty, gave d
slight indication that he wished Mr..
Kehoe did not have to be heard.
The District committee, however, heard
both Messrs. Kenoeo and Browne, who
both stated fatty that there are in
Vulnerable errors in the committee OF
fifty" bill.
THE bill is too general in its terms
declared Mr.. Browne land 1t would allow
the value of property in the alleys to
be enhanced to such an extent that rents
would soar and the condemnation juries
would grant much higher damages than
the properties condemned are really
"OrlH. tne SECOND pace, Ine Dill eN-
tends over ten years. It would be vastly
better to arrange a method by which
1t could be headed off in case 1t Is found
not to work well. or 1t would be better
to have a specific program for specific
alleys. Previous experiences have shown
tnat condemnauons are bitter attacks on
the Treasury"
Section of the alley elimination bill,
added Mr.. Browne. can scarcely be fig
ured out. 1t is a very complicated piece
Of writing, and in the opinion Of one
member of the committee could not be
worked to a conclusion with anything
less than calculus"
Should Have Cheaper Rents.
There are already twice as many peo-
pie outside OF alleys who need remedial
legislation as there are in the alleys"
continued Mr.. Browne. Il believe that
the scheme outlined in the bill l am OPP
posing would result in putting up the
rents in the kinds of homes you want to
help. Provision must be made for cheap
er rents. and the mere Strengthening out
of alleys Is not going to do that. have
heard it said there is much congestion
in our alleys. Now, the fact Is that the
| only congestion is found within the wallis
Of the houses, where seven people some
times have to live in one room. That Is
due to an economic condition which has
raised Washingtons rents to point
higher than in any other city.
STRENGTHENING of alleys will not elm
mate that congestion. but a change ia
economic conditions which would bring
about cheaper rents would lessen That
congestion" Mr.. Browne submitted the
draft of a bill which the Tax Reform
Association urges as substitute Tor the
committee Of fifty bill.
Appearing in favor of the committee
of fifty measure. jackson II: Ralstot
said that the object of the bill is TO
| make streets out Of alleys. ana Ihat !.
| would be necessary to provide homes for
| the 1900 people now living In the alleys.
| In reply to a question from Representa-
tive Wallin, Rev. Van Schaick SAID
that seventy-nine alleys would now lend
themselves to conversion into minor
| streets ~,
Representative Crosser asked Mr.. RaI-
\ ston If il would be an extraordinary use
Of the police power of Congress 10 pro-
hibit alleys from being used for dwelling
II think it would be-" replied Mr.. Raj
ston.
EXPLAINS Excess Condemnation"
William H Baldwin, speaking from ex-
periences gained as member OF the
Presidents homes commission, spoke OF
a technical and legal feature OF the pro-
posed alley elimination bill, known as
| "excess condemnation" or the power to
take more land than is necessary Tor the
actual roadway and sidewalks OF the pro-
posed minor streets.
The object of this power would be to al
low the authorities to straighten out par
cells and property after wider street
had been cut through a block. He cited
authorities from Massachusetts, and Penn
sylvania. Representative Thompson said
he doubted the power Of Congress to take
land for private purposes, as the excess
land would all be used for building pur-
poses.
Members of the committee OF fifty are:
William H. Baldwin. Mrs. E. 7. Blch-
nell. Mrs William L. Brown. d. J. Gaia
han. Walter c. Ctephane, Canon Wllnam
T.. De Vries John Dolph, E. H. Droop,
Miss Emma Duke, Miss Belle ellis. VIII
liam 7. Eynon Mrs. Charles A. Goldsmith
Thonas Grant. Roy Haynes. William e.
Henderson, Philip 8. Henry. Col John
Van r. Hof. Mrs. Archibald Hopkins
DR.. Ralph Jenkins. Hennen Jennlnss. Or.
Thomas Jesse Jones. WiIiiam ). henoe'
Dr.. George M Kaher. J. Nota McGiH.
n r. r. mcfarland. Rev. Wilbur U. NAL
lalieu, Edgar s. Martin, A. J. Parsons.
Rev. U. G. 3. Pierce, Albert NJ: Read
William p, Richards, Mgr. Russell. Com
missioner Siddons. Rabbi Simon. Gen.
George M Sternberg. Rev. G. r. Stetson,
Mai Sylvester, Walter s. Ufford, Rev.
1o,,r Van Schaick, IT,; Miss Cara Van
Trump. Henry White. E. Q. Whitford,
George g. Wilson, Mrs. Woodrow wilson,
Henry L, West. Rev. Charles Wood, MIS-.
AIbert Martin, DR.. w. e. woodward.
AMERICANS CROWD NAPLES.