Evening star., 1954-04-25
Tenement Law
vio|ators Face
Breakdown
City Aides Say
Wait and See
Phose Is Over

complain they can't get the city
authorities to tell them just
what to do to comply with the
law.
Nevertheless. the "wait and
see" phase is now over, city Of
f1cials said, and the breakdown
is here.
The tenement house regula-
tionS contain a penalty of not
more than $500 fine or 9e days
in jail if persons are found
guilty of violating them, They
also contain the rigid penalty
that each and every day one
operates without the required
District license is a separate Of
fense.
c T. Nottingham, superin-
tendent of licenses and permits
said Assistant Corporation Coun-
sci Clark F., King, in charge of
the Office at the Municipal
Court, is ready to move.
Those lacking tenement-house
operating permits will be subpoe-
riaed for a hearing before the as
sistant corporation counsel. If
there are mitigating circum-
stances, the owners may be given
additional time to comply, pro-
vided the place is not dangerous
to public health or to life and
limb.
About IS informal hearings a
day are planned at the outset
and court action will be up to the
corporation counsel.
Legal Test Pending.
Meanwhile. a test of the legal
ity of the regulations is pending
in the U. S. District Court for
the District of Columbia An
injunction suit was filed Friday
on behalf of two owners of a
tenement building at 824 Eighth
street NV. It said from 1946
to August 4, 1858, the owners
were granted licenses to operate
out a permit was denied recently
The suit contended the new
regulations would require the
owners to rebuild the premises
to enlarge rooms now ample and
occupied by satisfied tenants.
The District Chapter, Property
Owners Association of America,
maintained that as many as 50,-
900 persons may be left homeless
if the regulations are enforced
rigidly and tenement houses have
to close.
c. E. Simmons, chairman of
the District Chapters board of
directors. said the code is tanta-
mount to a virtual form of con-
demnation of property"
He said that while some tene-
ment house operators have spent
as high as $4,000 on repairs,
they still have not been able to
satisfy the District officials.
Mr.. Simmons made it clear
his group is just as much in
terested as anybody in securing
sanitary conditions, but said
the problem must be worked out
reasonably.
"PrOfiteers in Misery" Z.
William H. Cary. jr., director
of public health engineering
District Government, one of the
stoutest advocates of the tene-
ment house regulations, declared
they fill civic need.
He said some of the operators
of the tenements are "profiteers
in human misery" and that
some houses present a terrif1cly
bad situation" He said the
day when one can put six fami-
lies in a one-family house ane
profit on the misery of the
people crowded in should have
been long since passed.
Mr.. Cary pointed out that tn.
new District tenement house
regulations contain standard.
below those recommended by the
American Public Health Associ.
alton. He said to do the jok
here well, 85 inspectors art
needed. He has only % now.
Assistant Corporation Counse
Robert F. Kneipp. who has hat
much to do with the subject
said prosecution will be com
paratively simple. The court will
only have to be shown that M
license has been secured tt
operate the tenement and th'
operator is thus violating tht
law, he said.
ROoming Houses Affected.
Col. Giles L. Evans, jr.. AS
sistant Engineer Commissioner
commented:
"The Commissioners feel that
there has been a long enough
waiting period and that the only
recourse is to move in and en-
force the regulations as drawr
and have so instructed the in.
spection and licensing agencies
Over 400 cases are now ready
for issuance of informations anc
warrants against applicants nov
violating the law will be forth
coming"
Joseph L. Meek. president
District Chapter, Property Own
ers Association of America anc
a vice president of the national
group, declared in effect the
regulations apply to roomine
houses, as we'll as tenement
houses. He said a hotel or lodg-
;ror bo,,co oon!hovo fIxyr ~. throe