Evening star., 1922-02-04
SNOW BILL BACKED
BY HOUSE LEADERS
Representative MondelI Raps
Washingtonians for Lack
of Civic Pride.

Pledge that the House leadership Is
behind the legislation compelling re-
moval of snow promptly from in front
of residences, business property and
vacant lots was given on the floor OF
the House yesterday by House Leader
Mondcll While the item for street
cleaning in the District appropriation
bill was under discussion Representa-
tive Mondell emphasized that In the
past Snow-removal laws have been
declared unconstitutional and ex-
pressed the hope that one will now
be put through that will be upheld by
the courts.
He gave two illustrations from his
own experience and observation,
showing that in many cases here IN
Washington civic pride Is lacking
which should prompt the removal OF
snow and ice. He SAID
Evidence Of Civic Pride.
Coming down from my .iusne this
morning walking to the Capitol. the
street the sidewalks of which were
the best cleaned of snow and ice
was street bordered by plain. two
story buildings. occupied. think.
wholly by colored people. For the
entire length Of the street the side
walks We're cleaned their full length
and width and were in a dry and eX-
cellent condition. The dwel!ers along
that street had sufficient civic pride
and sufficient realization of their re-
Sponsibility to clean their Sidewalks
"On- the same journey l passed
palatial residence that cost at least
100000 and not particle OF snow
had been removed from the sidewalk
abutting and adjacent to that palatial
property. l passed the homes Of the
fairly comfortable and we'll to do. in
front of some of which there had
been no effort to clean the snow dur
ing the five days since it fell l found
stores in this city transacting large
business with the sidewalks covered
with snow and ice. dangerous for Gus
toners and pedestrians ii at pass
along. commend to these white
folks. to these rich folks, these folks
engaged in business. the example OF
the colored dweliers along the street
to which l first referred.
Laws Held UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Since have been i'll Congress we
have enacted. 1 do not know how
many, laws compelling the removal of
snow and ice from TIE sidewalk by
adjacent property owners. The courts
have held them unconstitutional. l
have a high regard for the judgments
and decisions of the courts. and yet
l find it very difficult to understand
how it is that it is unconstitutional
and occupants to keep the sidewalks
in front of the premises owned or oc-
cupIed by them in a condition to rem
der tLem reasonably safe for the
passing public.
II cannot quite understand why
people are allowed to build residences
at great cost and hold vacant lots
which the growth of population rend-
ers valuable and still be relieved of
all responsibility in the matter Of
keeping their premises clean of snow
and ice.
II hope the District committee will
be able to frome a law that will stand.
a law so carefully framed that it will
get by these tender-hearted judges.
these judges tender of the alleged
rights of property holders and tenants
"a law under which the people of
this Capital city will be required to
keep their sidewalks clean and free
from snow and ice and in condition
in which they are safe for those who
find 1t necessary to use them.
Holds People at Fault.
while we are discussing this mat
ter. it might be well to recall that
the newspapers of this. city. when
they have not been blaming the Con-
gress for an alleged failure to pro-
vide funds for the cleaning. Of ice and
snow from the streets, have been
blaming the Commissioners because
they did not use the funds they have
for the purpose. Up to this time,
however. l have not seen any refer
ence in any newspaper of the city to
the fragrant, almost criminal, failure
on the part of many of the very re-
spectacle people of this city to clean
their sidewalks of snow and ice
The federal government is expect
ed to co much for Washington, and
does do much for Washington, and
expects to do much for Washington;
it is high time, however, that the peo-
pie of Washington realized their duty