Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-10-14

WASHINGTON MONUMENT AssocIArIoN-Ad.
JoErHsd M,stiHg.-An adjourned meeting of the
Board Of Directors of the Washington Monu-
ment Association, was held at the Mayors Office,
City Hail. last night, the object Of which was to
receive report from a committee, consisting Of
Messrs- Ennis, Moore ana Fitzpatrick, Of the
present board, which had been appointed at a
previous meeting to consider upon communi-
cation from certain members Of the previous
board OF directors, rs to their claims managers
OF the association.
Present-Messrs. Blake, Fitzpatrick, Jones.
Kirk, Ennis, Reese, Champion and Moore
On motion Of Mr.. Reese, Dr. Blake was called
to the chair, and the business Of the meeting was
stated
Mr.. Ennis, chairman of the committee. made
report In answer to the communication which
had been placed before them, in which they set
forth state Of facts to show that the claims ofthe
old board are not better founded than their own
and argue TO refute the Implication in the PAL er
submitted In the old board that they have usurped
their present positions, In the following manner
This board may justly take exception to
much OF that paper as Implies that we have
usurped positions which were not vacant at the
time of our selection managers-an assump-
tion resting merely upon technical grounds,
which might be successfully retOrted upon the
gentlemen themselves, who, however faithfully
In other respects they have administered the trust
originally contided to them, have in no case con-
formed TO that particular provision Of the consti-
tuition, upon which they base their present claim,
enJoin1ng an election of officers, in every thir I'd
meeting q
February At no such meeting since 1885 has an
election ever taken place in the year 1899 there
was no election. Again, in 1S4I there was no
election, but 10 was held on the oath of March
ensuing. In 1914 there was no election but N
was held fourteen months afterward ION the 10th
OF April, 1851 and the journal states that the
officers then elected were to serve from the ped
Of February, 1915. In 1Si7, another req Iar tri-
ennial period, il again happened that there was
no election. In 1919 an election was held which
ought TO have taken place In 1850 In 1850 and
81. triPOnial ole
were held, nor is there any record even Of the
holding Of the annual meetings appointed for
these years. And in 1855 the surprise cleo
tiOn' took place by which the Let. American
Board obtained control of the affairs of the So
ciety. IL will thus be perceived that the only
ground upon which the 'old board can claim
legitimacy is by reason of the election of 1895
However well founded the claim OF the - old
bOard' mig ht have been in 1855 il did not follow
that II was equally substantial in 1855 During
the intervening tune, circumstances had very
materially modified that claim. After publicly
and elOquently protesting against the usurpation
of the BOARD then irTegulaTly chosen thsy had
apparently abandoned their trust leaving the
irTegularly- chosen board in possession Of the
books and property OF The society," and at the en-
suing regular period for election in 1856, they
had not appeared to have made any effort to claim
their authority; and also, on the 2ed February,
loSo, at the time when the usurping board had
actually abdicated, the gentlemen Of the sold
board" had, by their absence from the meeting,
seemed to evince like ind iHerence to the con-
Germs Of the society, and had taken no pains to
ness to resume their former positions mana.
gers of its affairs.
The report then goes on describe the condition
OF the Monument and of the affairs Of the Society
during the time the American Board of Di.
rectors had possession Of it-saying that during
that time the work on the Monument had been
almost entirely suspended, and no efforts had
been made by them in its behalf. Under their
desolating management but four feet had been
added to its height, and this noble work which
had attracted much active sympathy from all
3han I'D To Ifrhf
decay and ruin. The expensive engine and the
apparatus for raising stone to the top Of the Mon
unent was now deeply encTusted with rust; and
the building In which IL was placed was open on
all sides 10 the influence OF rain and the dense
fOgs incident TO the locality.
But, says the report, with the discharge of the
duty Of vindcating those who shared In the re-
sPonsibility OF the acts Of this board their disa-
gfeement with the old board must cease This
board had accepted of the trust under the belief
that such a course was justified by the constitu-
ton, and demanded by imperious necessity in
view Of he condition to which the affairs Of the
society had fallen under the management Of the
board who had Just abandoned its usurped au-
thority- This board had accepted the trust at
an inauspicious moment, when they could ex-
Pect to accomplish but little more than initiate
measures for the better security Of the property
This they had accomplished to the extent Of their
limited means, and some progress had been made
towards making necessary REPAIRS and had
placed faithful watchman in charge
The report winds up by rendering to the old
hoard the right which they claim to resume the
On motion, the report was unanimously adopt.
MIR. Ennis then moved the following resolu-
tOn, which was unanimously adopted
RsS0lrsd, That a committee Of thee he and
they are hereby authorized and requested 10 ten
der and surrender to the sold board" the papers
books, property, &c, now in the possession Of
this Board, and upon their acceptance of the
same that this board shall consider itself dis
solved.
The Chair appoihted as the committee under
MdVOT j nr
Jones and w. W. Moore Esq
And, on motion, the Board adjourned
TIE WATER BILL, reported by Alderman
Brown, from the committee on drainage on LAST
Monday night, provides, in its first section that
upon application by the owners of more than one
half OF the real estate fronting on any street or
SYenGe, mot less however, than one square in
lengtE,) the Mayor shall cause water mains To
be securely laid in the centre Of such street or
avenue, thirty inches below the established 0rade
with stop valves, outlet branches, etc, wherever
required. Owners or occupants Of houses ON
such streets or avenues may then. afrer obtaining
permission from the Mayor or Commissioner Of
Public Buildings, make the necessary excaya
tions, and be supplied with Potomac water free
OF any charge except such a. is provided in the
fourth SsCtiOn Of the act.
The second sectio1 provides that the contract
Tor LAYING the pipes shall lie awarded TO th. low
est bidder on or about the d rst of priI 1859
The third provides that the supply mains shall
De eight inches, and the lateral mains four inc hes
ia diameter
The fourth, that as soon as the pipes are Laid
their expense shall be assessed on real estate
along the street through which the pipes pass at
q rate Of atty cents per front foot
The sixth provides punishment for iniuring
water pipes, hydrants, etc
The seventh declares the time when the act
shall 20 into effect.
RELIGIOUS MEETINGS The protracted meet
ings in the various Methodist Churches continue
with undated interest Indeed in some of them
the interest appears to increase In some of the
churches the meetings have been in progress
over month, and the result has besn a consid-
cradle Increase OF membership Tursday niyht
the unfavOi able weather had the effect TO prevent
the attendance Of large cong relsatious, but the
meetings were yery Interesting Last eyenin,,
the meeting at Wesley Chapel was well attended
and the services at the altar, where several peni-
tents had presented Themselves Were yerv inter