Evening star., 1942-06-21
Keech Drafting
Measure 10 End
Unsafe Housing
More Speed Sought
In Condemnation of
Unsonitory Buildings
By JAMES E. CHINN.

Corporation Counsel Richmond B.
Keech announced yesterday he is
proceeding with dispatch" in draft
ing proposed legislation which will
be designed to clean up bad spots in
Washington's housing situation.
Three major objectiveS will be
sought:
Procedure to expedite condem-
nation of unsafe and unsanltary
buildings.
2-AuthoriZation to enjoin the use
of buildings declared unsafe and
unsanitary until conditions have
been corrected.
3-A stiff fine or Jail sentence for
repeated violators of safety and
sanitary regulations.
Regulation Second Step.
Preparation of the proposed legis-
lation is the second step taken In
recent months by District and hous-
ing officials to crack down on owners
of old buildings that have failed to
modernize them and keep them in a
sanitary and structurally safe con-
dition. The first step was promul-
gated by the Commissioners Of a
new code of regulations to govern
the operation of crowded rooming
and boarding houses which is sched-
uled to go into effect tomorrow.
"a series of stories in The Star
which concluded yesterday showed
the purpose of the new boarding
and rooming house regulationsD
Legislation to tighten the housing
code already has been considered by
a subcommittee of the House Dis
trict Committee headed by Repre-
sentative DAlesandro, Democrat,
of Maryland. Because District Off
cials objected to certain of its fea-
lures, action has been delayed pend
ing revision by Mr.. Keech.
The new regulations dealing with
boarding and rooming houses relate
primarily to sanitary and other
health conditions. The proposed
legislation will apply to all inhabit-
ed buildings from both the point of
sanitation and structural safety.
Many Houses Called Unfit.
There are said to be many houses
In Washington, particularly in the
so-called "slum" sections. that are
unfit for human habitation. Some
have unsanitary outside toilets and
no bath facilities. Others are re-
ported to be Structurally unsafe
Repeated efforts of District officials
to correct these conditions have
failed. it was pointed out. since the
owners were merely fined a small
sum for the violations and willingly
paid them because the fines were
far less than the cost of repairs and
improvements.
Now, however, it is planned to
stiffen the fine and make a Jail
sentence mandatory for continued
violations Further, the legal pro-
cedure for dealing with property
owners renting or leasing unsafe
and unsanitary buildings is slated
for alteration.
In addition, it is planned to es-
tablish central Office under direc-
ton OF the Commissioners, to re-
ceive all complaints and be re-
sponsible for seeing that they are
investigated. One inspector would
bring in recommendation where
unsanitary or unsafe conditions are
found. If technical investigation
was regarded as necessary specially
trained investigator would make the
supplemental inquiry.
One of the complaints of the
Washington Housing Association,
which was instrumental in promot-
ing the proposed modernized hous-
ing code, has been the lack of CO.
ordination between the seven
District agencies concerned with
sanitary and safety conditions-the
building inspectors Office, the health
department, the fire department, the
plumbing inspectors office, electrical
department, zoning commission and
rent control office. To remedy this
situation, it proposed placing the re-
sponsibility for all inspections in the
health department
Proposed Setup Explained.
Mr.. Keech disclosed Capitalization
VI l1lOpCSOlOll "OulO NOlloOAbuOC
compromise in the bill. He said the
central inspection agency would be
stated with public health engineers
charged with the responsibility of
clearing all complaints. Under this
setup, he explained, the central
agency would still be able to call in
the services of specialist inspectors
working under such agencies as the
plumbing inspector and the fire and
electrical departments.
II think the setup that will be
provided in the new legislation will
go far toward correcting the unsafe
and insanitary conditions in the old
buildings" Mr.. Keech said
Mr. Keech also said Representa-
tive DAlesandro's subcommitte had
promised to begin hearings on the
proposed new legislation as soon as
it is introduced in the House. The
aim will be to get it approved by