Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-02-19


Last evening q meeting of the !" Reform Re-
publicans- was held at Union League Hall. The
chair was taken by Mr.. VIM. Dixon, and Mr.. B.
Mccoy acted as Secretary.
Mr.. A. Watson cacred .aae following.
Whereas 1t has been repeatedly declared by edi-
toriss in the EvEsISs STAB, Mo,n.ns cnrons:ts
il an q the t n the
msin pnetess Of the AGITATION to remove the capital
and whereas, 1eyor Bowen has repeatedly declared
canal snd has written messages against, and vetoed
bills and used his influence to defeat bills in the
Tesoires, That MayoG Bowen, by Directly onnosne
the Improvements Of the canal, is thereby principal,
tai By which real estate in the city has been depre
cated at least SG000o0, and the erection of build
81 co., COO, thus rendering brick, stone lumber, and
other material unsaleable, and preventing the EN-
injury Of the city and its Iaboring population which
has resulted in great suffering during the last year
beers Of the Boards Of Aldermen and Common Coun-
Gil to advocate and vote for bill clean out and
commence Immediately, and be finished the earli-
est practicable moment in order to prevent any fu-
account, nd also furnish work to large numbers
Of laborers who universally prefer work to assist
Mr.. Philbrook thought that it would not be
advisable to adopt the preamble, which states
the condition Of the canal to be the principal
cause of the capital-mOving agitation. He ia
vored improvements, but i'm adopting the reso
iutions ne thought they would make themselves
Mr.. Watson called attention to the fact that
the resolution did not assert that the canal was
the cause, but that such had been stated by the
papers named. The signs OF the times were
that Mayor Bowen was politically dead, and
nothing was left but to bury him i'm the most
fitting place, and that was in the canal He was
not the only one to be buried, but there were
his associates to be buried also, and the canal
was large enough for the lot. ILaughter.]
Chaplain j. W. Green said ii was too early to
talk about the canal. as Mr.. Bowen controlled
the affairs of the city, and he was the king as
wards cleaning the canal so long as he had the
power. He thought they should work for a re-
| form first, as such reform Was necessary. He
spoke of previous meetings having been broken
up, and the participants being denounced as
disorganizers. He denied that he was a dsor-
ganizer, and If any man charged him with
being such he would say he lies he Kesl HE
LIES! He was not one Of those who sold their
principle, for for twenty months he had not
earned dollar, as he had lett of preaching and
had worked for principle. He was glad to hear
| that there were some who could not be bought
by "bread and butter"
Mr.. Philbrook said they had met here to or
cipal officers and to consider this resolution i'm
relation to the filthy, dirty canal was wasting
valuable time. This subject was a legislative
would not ike it to 60 out that these resoutions
were the first adopted. They are not worth
consideration at this time.
Mr.. Crossman said that he was not in favor
OF the resolution in their present shape, and he
was in favor Of the bill introduced by Mr.. En-
cry in the Aldermen. The neglect to clean the
canal was one of the offences OF Mayor Bowen,
who, he understood, advocates a much more
costly plan, and, as some charge, an impracti-
cable one. He could not say that the condition
of the canal was the principal cause for agita-
ting the removal Of the capital:
Mr.. Watson suggested that the recommends
tons OF clubs had their effect, and that it was
because the action Of some Of the clubs that
Mayor Bowen had lost his influence.
Mr.. w. II. Brown, jr., said that they could
not meet unless the hounds of the Corporation
were after them, and he alluded to Lieutenant
Hurley having done his duty in arresting dis
turber Of the peace at a meeting. and having
been tried on charges preferred by Henry Him
Der, rebel prisoner, and fined by the Board of
Police. The cleaning Of the canal was an after
clap He wanted to see the District made an
Eden, and he believed that they could do SO
when they have Mayor with influence. There
were those present who were fighting on princi-
pie and he would sooner that they should have
defeat on principle than win on policy. He
was Corporation officer, but they could have
it,, and he was not afraid to show his head.
neither was Palmer BrscOe.
Mr.. Crane suggested a verbal amendment
which as accepted.
Mr.. Philbrook again urged that the resolution
was useless, and moved to lay the whole subject
Mr.. Watson conten<ied that the resolution was
an important one, and that the time could not
better spent than in considering this subject
MIR. Crossman moved as a substitute a resolu-
ton endorsing the bill before the Aldermen
providing for the improvement OF the canal;
lost, and the resolutions were adopted.
MIR. ID. NJ. Kelsey was called on and addressed
the meeting, having prepared a lengthy address
He first referred to the conduct of the :" bread
and butter brigade In attempting to break
down free speech, which was repetition OF the
conduct of the same parties last June, when the
rlotous proceedings assumed gigantic proper
tons and would have resulted in terrible loss of
life and property had it not been for the timely
action Of Major a. Z. Richards. He described
the second meeting, when '.Bully" Brooks de-
ted the police. Brooks was the acknowledged
leader OF the rioters, as was Preston Brooks the
exponent of the slayeholders-bothh having been
complimented for their ''heroic deeds'-the
latter at Charleston, and the former at the City
Hall.
Bowen, who he said is known to be a candidate
for reelection. He referred to Mayor Bowen
having been the first President of the National
Equal Suffrage Association, and occupying that
position until through fear of losing one of his
offcial heads he resigned. He charged that on
the colored school question the Mayor was guilty
OF hckleness and duplicity, in his first message
trustees and separate schools, in his second one
board, and Is now fav0ring mixed schools He
Is not now a member of the Colored School
was floating debt of one ami half
million, the assessed valuation of prop
erty fifty million, and taxes SI2j
on the $50. Now, the total valuation is one
hundred million and taxes at Si.4O, and vet he
was confident the expenditures will far exceed
the income during the whole of MIR. Bowen's
administration. When such a state of things
exist as at present, 1t was time 10 attempt a
reform In conclusion, he said, that during the
riots last year, he called on Mayor Bowen t. ask
his aid, and he replied that he would 60 out TO
the scene OF the riot after he took his tea.
Mr.. Crane offered resolution that they regard
the recent appointment OF II. A. Hall, as JUS
tice of the Peace, in view of the fact that il fol-
lowed Immediately his reporting the white wash
ing report Of the committee to examine certain
charges against the Mayor, and of his holding a
clerkship In the Interior Department, and being
member of the Council as an outrage on every
principle Of justice and fairness; also asking the
President to withdraw the nomination on the
ground that it is not right for one man to hold
tnIee omces. The resolutions were adopted.
MI. Crane said that he had received n note
from gentleman who had been accused of
waiting TO see how the movement TOOK with the
people, and would read it that tbose nresent
would understand that the charges were nniust
and untrue. He read the note referred to from
Alderman Emery, regretting his inability to be
present, and expressing full sympathy with the
Mr.. ". H. Browne offered a resolution an
proving the course Of Lieutenant Hurley In
making making an arrest at q meeting in the First
Mr.. Crane suggested that the charge on which
LIEUTENANT Hurley was fined was that of using
P.olahe language. He had seen the action OF
men arrested by him and hurried ONT of the hall
and endorsed him "A 90 a.. 80 81 49,