Evening star., 1952-07-09
Tenement Room
Inspection Plan
Arouses Protest
At-WilI Entry by
District Inspectors
Held Unconstitutional
By John w. Stepp

A proposed new regulation that
would empower District inspectors
to enter tenement house rooms at
will today was arousing furry
Of protest.
The Building Owners and Man
ayers Association has branded it
as a sweeping control that violates
the fourth amendment to the Con-
stitution.
A special committee of the as
sociation was to meet today to
chart its opposition course when
the regulation comes up for hear
ing in the District Building on
July 81.
The proposed rule was drafted
by Assistant Corporation Counsel
Robert F. Kneipp. It's purpose,
Mr.. Kneipp said, is give the city
more power to prevent tenement
housing from deteriorating into
slum-like conditions.
Is People Per Room.
He cited instances where as
many as Is people are living in
one room, as many as 80 using
the same toilet facilities.
He added that the District
should be able to ascertain whether
living conditions are overcrowded,
whether the premises are in good
physical shape and whether there
is adequate light, heat and ven-
tilation facilities.
The city, Mr.. Kneipp empha-
sized, cannot learn of these things
unless it's inspectors may investi-
gate each tenement and its rooms
first hand. Proposed in the regu-
lation is the guarantee that agents
of five city departments can make
such inspections. These are the
licensing, inspection, health, police
and fire departments.
The checks would be made prior
to issuance of tenement house,
license and at any time after is
Suance.
Puts License at Stake.
The regulation, moreover, would
force the manager of a tenement
to gain the cooperation of his
tennats in such municipal inspec-
tionS. BY refusing to facilitate in
Spections, the manager would run
the risk of getting no license, hav-
ing an already issued license re-
voked or facing a maximum $500
fine or 80 days in jail.
Mr.. Kneipp defended the pro-
poSal-which has been in the Dis
trict Building mill for nearly four
years-by deciding that, without
these requirements. the District
would be in the position Of issuing
licenses sight unseen"
But Charles j. Bauer, executive
secretary of the building owners
group. declared the District has
other means at its command.
In the first place, Mr.. Bauerl
said, city authorities should rely
on getting the consent of tene-
ment dwellers to conduct inspec-
tionS.
Owner Could Complain.
After all, he said, if a tenant
objects to the condition of his
rooms, he would have an interest
in inviting city officials to inspect
the place.
Or, if manager or owner OBJ
jected to a tenants overcrowding
or miSusing his room, a COM
plant could be sworn out toI
proper authorities, Mr.. Bauer de-
clared.
The official was particularly in
censed over the provision that
would require tenement managers
to force their tenants cooper
alton.
This is a right we have never
presumed as managers" he said.
I'VE don't want to be in the posi-
tion unlocking the door to a ten
ants bedroom"
Mr.. Bauer said he is further
fearful that the tenement house
regulation, if approved, would be
an opening wedge to similar regu-
lation of apartment houses, room
-. l.