Evening star., 1942-06-16
New Housing Rules
For D. T.. Will Be Sent
To Capitol Thursday
Agreement Reached
By Officials on Need for
Changing Regulations

District officials and representa-
tives of local housing agencies will
return to the Capitol Thursday to
report to a House District subcom-
mittee virtual agreement on meth
DDS to make Washington homes
safer and more healtnful.
The compromise was reached yes
terday at conference at the Dis
trict Building and contemplateS a
centralized housing inspection office
as well as two and probably three
amendments to the basic act of 1892
which governs sanitation in housing
Basic difference between the two
groups was a proposed bill Spon-
sored by the housing representatives
authorizing the Commissioners to
set up a housing code for Wash
ington. District officials contended
at hearing on the measure last
week that it was superf1uous and
that they already have adequate
authority to take the necessary
steps. The conference was sug-
gested by Commissioner Mason in
the hope OF working out a COM
promise.
Teeth to Be Put in Law.
At yesterdays session, the housing
representatives agreed to accept the
contention of Corporation Counsel
Richmond Keech and Assistant
Engineer Commissioner Beverly C.
Snow that the law of 1892 was
broad enough and that the language
of their bill might operate to re-
strict some steps deemed necessary.
District officials, however, agreed to
seek amendments to the basic law
that would:
l. Make possible Jail sentences as
well as fines for violations.
2. Expedite condemnation pro-
cedure for housing health menaces.
3. Enable official to close and keep
closed inSanitary dwellings until the
bad conditions have been remedied
Mr.. Keech said he was not certain
what authority exists for closing
and keeping closed inSanitary houses
and he planes to investigate to see
whether an amendment will be re-
quired.
In addition the conferees agreed
to a thorough revision of District
housing regulations, Keeping some,
curtailing others, supplementing and
expanding others and perhaps ad-
ding a few new ones.
This program of an amended
basic law and revised regulations,
it was indicated, will form the basis
of operations for an expanded staff
of housing inspectors for which ap-
preparations will be sought. These
men will be able to make the neces-
sary inspections and take violators
into court. This new procedure is
aimed at a situation where housing
1t inspected now by numerous in
SpecUors for plumbing, electricity,
sanitation and the like.
Central Inspection Staff.
The housing inspection service
would operate out of a central hous-
ing Office and would not be part
of a general inspections staff.
There was unanimous accord
that there is now an lnSumclenI
number of inspectors to do the
necessary work and there were in
dications that getting qualified men
is becoming increasingly difficult.
Housing representatives took the
position, early in the conference,
however, that formation of a good
basic housing code was prerequi-
site to selling" Congress on the
need for more inspectors.
Those taking part in addition to
Col. Snow, who presided, and Mr..
Keech were John Ihlder, executive
director of the Alley Dwelling Au-
thority; Mrs. Helen Duey Hoffman,
executive director of the Washing
ton Housing Association; j. Ber-
nard Wyckoff. president of the as
ISOLATION: Horace Peaslee, of the
Washington Building Congress, DR..
L. F. Schmeckebier of the Brook
ings Institution, District Director of
Inspections Robert Davis, Assistant
Corporation Counsel Vernon West
and Health Officer George c. Ruh-
land.