Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-18
Is Said to Be Confiscatory
and Not According to Mrs.
Wilson's Ideas. =
AMENDATORY LEGISLATION
is DEEMED NECESSARY
Charge Is Made That It Menaces
Millions Of Dollars Worth OF
Adjacent Property.

| The sanate today. on motion Of Sena-
1tor Pomerene, passed without debate
or dissent the House ALLEY bilP' for
1.-The elimination of alley slums in this
District, accepting it az substitute
for the bill previously passed by the
Senate the two being Identical in
terms.
! This is the bill which was passed by
| the House last Monday as a substitute
| for the so-called Commissioners Dill,
which is perhaps more widely known
as Mrs. Wilson's bill" 1t was for the
passage Of this legislation that the
| wife of President Wilson expressed a
wish lust before she died in this city
! a few weeks ago. The Senate promptly
passed q bill. but not that submitted
| by the Commissioners, and this meas
ure now goes to the White House for
approval.
The history of the passage OF this
measure is complex and difficult OF
understanding. So confused is the rec
ord of Legislative proceedings. indeed,
House and Senate know precisely the
situation which exists today, or even
the exact nature Of the bill which mas
now gone to the President for his
e.
the House the original bin, officially
styled the Commissioners bill, pro-
vided for the destruction of alley
houses and the construction by the
District of substitute homes for the
poor, in a manner viewed by some as
unconstitutional
Said to Be Confscatory.
According to others. the bill which
has just been sent to the President for
approval confiscates alley property to
the value Of s2,00o,000 without compen-
sation and menaces property on ada
cent streets to the value of fifteen times
as much. and does not provide for the
rehousing Of the people who now oc-
cupy the alley dwellings.
The bill passed finally today allows
period of four years for compliance in
the, matter Of the destruction of the
alley houses affected. 1t is believed
that before that time elapses amenda-
curing both defects the uncompensat-
edNtsking of private property and the
failure to provide for the substitu-
tionsof other homes for those destroyed.
In case such amendatory Legislation is
not, enacted, 1t was stated today by
persons concerned in the practical
workings OF the new law, the courts
will be asked to set 1t aside as con-
Text of the Bill.
The bill, as finally passed and sent to
the President, is as follows:
That from and after the passage of
this act it shall be unlawful in the
District of Columbia to erect, place
or construct any dwelling on any lot
or parcel Of ground fronting on an
Al fc ft,n
thirty feet wide throughout its entire
length and which does not run straight
to and open on two of the streets
bordering the square, and is not sup
piled with sewer, water mains and gas
or electric light; and in this act the
term alley shall include any and all
courts, passages and thoroughfares,
whether public or private. and any
ground intended for or used as a
highway other than the public streets
or avenues; and any dwelling house
now fronting an alley less than thirty
feet wide and not extending straight
to the streets and provided with sewer,
water main and light, as aforesaid,
which has deprecated or been dam
aged more than one-half it's original
value, shall not be repaired or re-
constructed as a dwelling or for use
as such, and no permit shall be issued
for the alteration, repair or recon-
struction of such a building. when the
plans indicate any provision for dwell
ing purposes.
provided, That rooms for grooms or
stablemen to be employed in the build
ing to be erected, repaired or recon-
structed may be allowed over stables,
when the means of exit and safegua. DIS
against fire are sufficient In the Opin-
ion of the inspector Of buildings. sub
tect to the approval OF the Commis-
@f fhn of ri nf Hn1r htcs
and no building now or hereafter
erected fronting on an alley or on any
parcel of ground fronting on an alley
less than thirty feet wide and not other
wise in accordance with this act snail
be altered or converted to the uses of
a dwelling. Any such alley house DE-
preclated or damaged more than one
half of its original value shall be con-
removal OF dangerous or unsafe build
ings and parts thereof, and for Otner
purposes. No dwelling house hereafter
erected or placed along any alley and
any case be located less than twent!
1eet oack clear of the center line Of
such alley, SO as to give at least a
thirty-foot roadway and five feet on
walk or footway. and any stable o.
other building hereafter placed, To-
Gated, altered or erected on or along
such an alley upon which a dwelling
l faces OF IEOALS SAdll NC 6tS UdCh CASdI
Of the walk or footway the same as
| the dwelling or dwellings. but the
| fact that dwellings are located In
| such alleys shall not affect the loca-
tion of stables or other buildings
otherwise.
| THE use or occupation Of any build
| ing or other structure erected or
placed on or along any such alley as
dwelling or residence or place Of abode
by any person or persons is hereby de-
clared Injurious to life, to public health.
morals. safety and welfare Of said Dis.
any such building or other structure
on, from and after the first day Of July,
4 1918, shall be unlawful.
Section 2. That any person or per-
sons, whether as principal. agent or
employe, violating any of the pro-
visions of this act or any amendment
thereof for the violation of which no
other penalty is prescribed, shall, ON
conviction thereof in the Police Court,
be punished by fine Of not less than
Violation. and a like fine for each day
tinued or may continue, to be recoV-
cred as other fines and penalties are