National Republican., 1878-05-02
the OLDEST INHABITANTS.
The Monthly Gathering Of vener-
able Cttizens.
Adoption Of Patriotic Rssoiusion-Got-
ting Ready for tho Fourth Of July.

The Oldest Inhsbitant' Association met In tho
Circuit Courtroom at the City Hall at four o'clock
yesterday afternoon, with DR.. John B. Blake In the
chair and Colonel II. n. Easily as secretary. re-
port was received from the committee on attend
and laid on the table for future consideration.
The report states that the limited attendance OF
members at the regular meetings appears to indi-
cate that the absentees Indifferent to It's welfare
and feel no interest In Its proceedings. But II 10
only in appearance. We have ascertained, in
conversation with those members who have not at
tended the meetings regularly aud with othcrs who
are seldom or present, that there interest In
the association Is unsbated aud, with very few
ceptions, AZ signihcd their wish to retain their
The report disapproved OF the resolution to
strike the names Of non attending members from
the rolls, as the committee believed that from the
nature Of the association full attendance Of mem
bers anu q prumpt payment OF dues was not abso-
lutely necessary to Its existence.
An amendment 10 the constitution was proposed
making II the duty OF members 10 attend funerals
Of deceased members when II Was convenient.
Henry Poiknhorn. but said that he was improving
and hoped soon to be out.
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
Mr.. Petit bone offered the following:
Ec'oiwd That We rcgsrd with great satisfaction tho
GoSsfe.s. oaSornV ~ he sS Sse Of sS fSr ssrsSSiR
ssag s ~ e ,S o. the
and having sSsry confidence r. The wisdom si M; spd 3
passed b. t6a, body Without any annecesary delay,
aud that we shall soon have the qualification OF SEQ
h Of al %ho enerss ts sry y
the Father Of his Country" and appreciate the price
Govsrnment
Mr., Pettbone said he was present when the cor
nerstone was laid. and II was pleasure to him TO
think that now, after many years, the monument
| was in fair way Of completion.
DR.. Blake mentioned the fact that he was sccre.
tary Of the Monument Association, and It might
fnF m N
| seemed 10 be nisapprehension in regard to the
| monument. Congress did not have the power Of
that power in the Monument Association There
were some people, he said who would raze the
monument TO the ground, but such an act would
be distastel he believed, not only to the citizens
OF the District but also tn all patriotic citizens
| throughout the country He recounted the opera
tions Of the engineers who examined the monn'
mcnt and the mistake made In regard tothe bench
| mark.
The Monument Society. he said. were perfectly
| satisfied that the foundation OF the monument was
Just ss sound that OF any building In the city. lie
considered that the test Of the soil made by the eu
gineers was unfair, although the engineers had not
| intended any unfsirness. There was nothing in
the world except the want Of money, to prevent Ia
Colonel Easily said tina, when IT was first alleged
with all other citizens OF Washington was greatly
astonshed Using the engineers' own figures he
had found II utterly impossible that the monumcnl
could have settled more than an inch and half
He thought peculiarly appropriate TINT the Oldes
Inhabitants Association should take the proposed
action. The resolution was then adopted.
| FOURTH OF JULY.
Mr.. Gallon offered Y resolution inviting Mr.
| Goullsborough Bruff, 70 deliver an Grafton, and
DR. John ". Clarke TO read the DECLARATION OF In
dependence, OH the approaching anniversary o
| the birth Of our country.
After some discussion, as II was not know
whether the gentleman named would accept OF
not a substitute offered by NJ jenkins Thoma
was adopted, authorizing the President to appoin
committee Of five 10 whom all arrangements 70
the Fourth Of July celebration should be referred
The Association then adjourned.