Evening star., 1914-09-21
Declares Only Those Seeking
Personal Profit Oppose
SIum Elimination.
WRETCHED CONDITIONS
ENDED BY THE MEASURE
Praises Mrs. Wilson, Whose Dying
Request Hastened the Needed
Legislation.

SENATOR Jones of Washington. who
has been active i'll support of leeisla-
tion to eliminate the. inhabited alleys
and siums of the National Capital. to-
day entered strong defense in sup
port of the so-called alley bill"
which has just been passed by the
Senate and House and which now
awaits the signature of the President.
his statement was as follows:
The opponents of alley legisIation
seem to be trying to discredit the leg
isIatl"n passed by Congress while its
friends do not appear to know lust
what has been done. To those familiar
with the alley conditions in the city
or Washington noa action in relation
10 the city's needs has been more i'm
peratlNeiy needed than their elimina-
cion
the actual conditions that exist witbin
the shadow of the nations CanitoI
ana realized the dangers to health and
Svoo morals that go out from them to
~ parts OF the city, the demand for
their eradication would be universaI
eNcept from those who profit from
vunoltiohs that are a disgrace to civil
he r'n ana thristianity- There would
nor would the rights of humanity be
s"grlheed for the rights of property.
some OF the good women and men
or the city have taken great interest
IN this problem. They have familiar
l.ed themselves with the conditions
i"eS prepared a very elaborate bill
not only to eliminate the alleys, but
10 solve any problems that might grow
o'it oil such elimination. This bill was
submitted to Congress by the District
commissioners with their approval
II embraced many questions involving
ftinclpieS of constitutional govern
:lent. we'll az questions of public
policy. aside from alley elimination
;.Cout which there is much honest diff
ference OF opinion. and which would
arouse much discussion. Its considera-
ton would have divided the friends of
alley elimination and given those in
terested in their continuance mask
OF respeeta bilit; from which to fight.
This is demonstrated by the course OF
events.
No Open Opposition.
Hearings were had on the bill re-
ferred to basis. There was no
open opposition. No appeared
against it. They did not ask to be
heard. They evidently felt there was
no danger SO long as such compli-
Gated measure was being pressed. We,
could not get any committee meeting
Other bills already had been introduced
and were pending.
June II, 1913. 1 introduced 4 bill re-
enacsing existing law making it un-
lawful to erect and maintain a dwell
ing house on these alleys after its pas
sage. and also making it unlawful to
use or occupy any house on or along
I. 1915. This last provision was the
important one. 1t aimed directly at
the evil. and would destroy it, The
bill was carefully prepared. and SO
framed as to be clearly within the
power of Congress to enact.
Senator Smith of Maryland also had
Introduced bill April 2s. 1913. re-
enacting the present law. but making
Il more specific in it's definition of al
leys. and in preventing the repair of
buildings. 1t applied. however, only
10 buildings erected after its passage
except as to repairs 1t seemed impos-
sible. however. to get the question
taken up seriously by the committee.
This was the situation when word was
brought that the noble woman in the
White House. in the presence of death,
was thinking of The conditions that
lad appealed SO strongly to her tender
ue;,rt. and that she had expressed the
hope tina; something might be done to
Tetieve them
Compromise Bill Agreed Upon.
Senators Pomerene. Hollis and my
ELF 20, together. We took Senator
Smiths bill and the frs, section of my
bilI. charging the date July l. 1915, to
July l. I9ls and put them together.
he committee was polled, the bill re-
;orted and passed through the Senate
This is the bill that has passed without
change. has gone to the President and
am sure. will he signed.
There is no doubt what this bill will
dv. After July l. 1919, alleys as they
now exist will cease III the city of
Washington. The alley problem itself is
nda M al
desirable step has been taken. There
- plenty of time to work out the other
problems. such as housing and other
kindred questions. Now instead OF the
opposition, We will haro Tue help of
those interested in maintaining exist
.ng conditions because IL will be TO their
interest TO help. 1hey need not hope
10 have this act modified 1t may be
supplemented, but this law will stand
and the alley must go.
When the situation is understood
there is not much basis except greed
for opposition to what has been done.
No substantial injury will be suffered
by any one. since July -. 1892. 1t has
been unlawful to erect building on
or along these alleys for as a
dwelling. No one has contended that
this has caused any injury TO any own
er of vacant property.
Any dwelling house lawfully on these
alleys row has been there more than
twenty Years. The testimony showed
that the real annual profits from this
property have been from 10 to IA per
cent and SO the owners have been paid
for IT more than twice over during this
time.
No property is confiscated. All these
owners have to do is to change the use
of their property or the conditions of
use II they make the alleys conform
to the conditions of the law they can
use their property for home or business
as they do today. They may be put TO
some expense, their excessive profits
may be reduced. but their property will
sun be useful and profitable.
Property Benefits.
some contend that the elimination
Of these alleys viii benefit other prom
erty and that the owners OF these alley
properties should be paid for these
benefits 10y the owners Of the property
benefited Why" If a man is using