Evening star., 1923-04-03
D. c. TO OPPOSE SUIT
Of ALLEY TENANTS
Commissioners to Fight In
junction, Though Uneasy
Over EviCtionS.
MAY GO TO HIGHER COURT
Face Inadequate Housing if 10000
Are Thrown Out of
Homes.
MAY GO TO HIGHER COURT

Although the Commissioners view
proximately 10000 alley dwellers,
June /. they will have to defend the
law by opposing the suit for an in
junction filed in the District Supreme
Court yesterday by the owners OF
dwellings in Jackson Hall alley.
Corporation Counsel Stephens said
today that he would reply to the bill
straining order is issued the case
probably will be taken to the United
States Supreme Court.
He pointed out. however, that the
Commissioners probably would be
restrained from enforcing the law,
while the case was awaiting appeal
IT, on the other hand. the plaintiffs
should be unsuccessful in obtaining
an injunction in the District Supreme
Court, the law in all probability
would go into effect June !, the date
The law directs the Commissioners
to prosecute in Police Court persons
who continue to use alley houses as
dwellings after June !. If the in
junction fails. Mr.. stephens SAID,
test case might be taken to the high
er courts by a person arrested for
violating the law.
Few Houses Available.
Should the injunction proceedings
fail the Commissioners will face a
most trying situation in dlspossess-
ing the alley dwellers of their homes
at Il time when obviously there are
few small houses available for these
people to rent or purchase.
With less than two months re-
naming before the law closing alley
dwellings, goes into effect. the COM
mittee of citizens appointed TO study
the problem met at the Willard Hotel
yesterday afternoon to map out the
scope OF its work.
This committee is headed by Mrs.
Clara Sears Taylor, member of the
Rent Commission. and was appointed
at mass meeting of interested men
and women in the boardroom OF the
District building two weeks ago.
Two subcommittee have been des-
ignated. one to inquire into the legal
aspect of the situation and the other
TO determine what it would cost to
build a house that could be rented
within the means of an alley dweller.
Mrs Taylor said that Henry E
Davis and Conrad H. Syme had agreed
to serve on the legal compittee.
Thomas j. Donovan. president of the
Central Citizens Associatiop, took an
active part in the meeting yesterday
and indicated that his organization
also has been considering court ac-
tion to stay the operation of the law
Injunction proceedings TO prevent
the District Commissioners and
Francis H. Stephens, corporation
counsel, from putting into effect the
act of Congress forbidding the oc-
20 oF ollpV
critics June 1. next. were filed late
yesterday afternoon in the District Su-
preme Court by Charlotte E. William
P. and Margaret E. Lockwood, Jane
s. and Sarah V. Lockwood and Char.
lotte Grunnell
The plaintiffs are the owners OF
premises 2lS to 236 Jackson Hall alley
and ask the court to enjoin the Distric'
authorities from taking any steps tc
oust their tenants or from bringing
criminal proceedings against the plain
tiffs for continuing to permit the use Of
their properties for dwellings after
June 1.
Through Attorneys Ralph A Cusick
Thomas F. Cullen and Thomas G. Finu
cane, the plaintiffs say their propert!
will be greatly deprecated II 1t cannot
be used as dwellings and may be rem
dered valueless. They attack the valid
ity of the enactment In contraven
tion to the fifth amendment to the Con
stituton and claim that they will bt
deprived Of 1t without due process o
law and without just compensation.
In Good Condition
THE houses are now and have beer
for a long time used and occupied fol
dwelling purposes" the court is told
land they are in good sanitary con
dftion, and in no way are they or 1.
their use and occupation for dwelling
purposes injurious to life, to public
health. morals. safety and welfare II
the District of Columbia.
The houses were constructed by
and with the permission Of the Com.
missioners of the District of Colum.
bia, and in accordance with the build
ing laws and regulations of sale
District of Columbia, solely for use
and occupation as dwelling houses
and said plaintiffs invested theil
funds and money in said properties
because 1t was right, just and law.
full to use and occupy said houses fol
dwelling purposes; that the value Of
said property is based solely upor
their use and occupation for dwelline
purposes; that If 1t were necessary tc
use and occupy the said propertie.
for any other purposes the value OF
the said property would be greatly
deprecated, II not rendered entirel,
valueless."
The owners asserted that properties
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