Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-07
New Bill for BorIand Law to
Be Expedited as Emer-
gency Measure.
ACTION ON FLOOR is, SET
TO BE TAKEN ON JAN. "a
Stalker Explains Agreement and
Need for Speed in View Of
Latest Court Decision.

The new bill providing for special
assessment against abutting property
owners for the paving of roadways and
the laying Of curbs and cutters which
was drafted by the corporation coun-
sells Office az o substitute for the cid
Borland law Of 1914, nulIined By a
series Of court decisions, was reported
favorably by the House District Com.
mittee today and Is expected to be
acted on in the House on Monday.
January IS.
Even before this measure had been
considered by subcommittee, the cor.
poration counsel and District Commits
sionsrs had secured from House Leader
Tilson promise that this and the
proposed revision of the franc law
would be given an opportunity for pas
sage In the House promptly after me-
ing reported by the House District Com
mittee.
Expedited as Emergency.
Although the subcommittee on streets
ana trafnc headed by Representative
Stalker, Republican, of New York, in
executive session yesterday. agreed to
defer action, they later .nfornallv
agreed to report the bill favorabiy at
the frst meeting of the House District
Committee today and the committee
voted to report the measure. It was
made plain that this Is being expedited
as emergency legislation at the In
siStance OF the District officials wlc.
consider the present Borland law voided-'
1t Is expected that the bill toYfevise
the trafac law by abolishing the Tranic
EfAFoGFf vzFfnf NhN a ~@A (~.. u
morrow viii also be taken up for action
In the House on January "a. Repre-
sentative Gibson, Republican Of YER
mont, chairman Of the special suhcog,a.
mittee which made q comprehensive
study Of the municipal administration
Of the District Of Columbia has served
notice that ne VIII vigorously oppose
Chairman stalker Of the subcoun-
niittee which handled both the street
assessment and traffic bills said today
that ne had had o conference late yes
terday with House Leader Talson after
the decision by the Court or Aunnaaa sa.
the Dodge case setting MsSde Aasesg..
nents under the Borland oct. feaara-
Ing the urgent need for expeditions pas
SAGE q substitute street Assezsnent
Explsined Asraamens.
Representative Stalker explained 20
the full COMMITTEES today the informal
agreement by his subcommittee to re-
port the substitute for the Borland law.
Representative Hull Of Wisconsin.
questioned him at length regarding
whether the rights of property owners
have been protected In this bill for
damages allowed them as result Of
having o through heavy trafic high-
way run past their property with dam
ages in excess Of benefits that might
be assessed against such property. Rep
resentative Hull insisted that such rights
OF property owners for damages result
Ing from building OF a street for heavy
truck use In q residential section should
be protected in the same way that the
coming law operates to secure properties
against undesirable buildings which
might depreciate the values.
Corporation Counsel Bride stated
that the Court of Appeals rulings were
in effect that the Borland act cannot
be enforced except in q manifestly I'M
lair way. He declared that the consti-
tutional objection to the Borland law
y That 1t Is arbitrary and unfair, .
hard and fast rule, which does not give
the Commissioners any power Of dis
examination in assessing dement's.
Representative Stalker viii write the
report favorably. recommending the
corporation counselIs street assessment
measure to the House for passage.
With vigorous plea before them
from District citizens to abandon the
principle OF assessing AUDITING property
owners for street paving under the Bor-
land law, members of the Senate Dis
trlct Committee have taken under adj
Visement the proposed new bill.
Inc latest blow was dealt the Bor-
land law few hours before the Senate
nearing began when the Court Of APP
peaIs held 1t inequitable In its appli-
cation 70 rectangular lots. It had pre-
ytously been set aside In relation 10
triangular and irregular shaped lots
William NICK. Clayton Of the BRIGHT
wood Citizens Association appealed 10
Inc Senators not to revitaIize this law
which the courts have rtddled. He said
the Borland act, which has been op-
posed by citizens in all parts of ths
city, Will die o natural death II Con-
sress will let the matter rest.
Repeal Is Advocated.
1.-THE best way to cure this law is
70 repeal 1t, Evan H. Tucker, presi-
lent OF the Northeast Washington Citi-
ems association, told the COMMITTEES.
a NUMBER OF other representatives OF
lelgnDorhood associations joined in the
protest against placing new Ieaislative
life into the BorIand law.
The position of the Federation of
citizens Associations, as presented by
lr. George Havenner, president, and
fnomaS 2. Lodge, chairman of the Law
nd Legislation Committee, was disap-
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