Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-01

The IntOlerAble ImpOstlionS q Oar
Telegraph HBOsses.
Editor &dr:-Next after securing the apprc-
pr1afion requisite 70 abate the pestilence breed
ers OF our rlverfront. the restriction to lawful
ana reasonable limits OF the various monopol,es
mat nave been encouraged or suffered to grow
up mere seems among the most imperative
lies OF some OF them are necessities to our pre-.
sent stage OF development and their prohibition
WouiQ force damaging REIMBURSEMENT to IN
uied methods. there is not one valid reason
why they should be accorded special privileges
or De permitted to e4alJ themselves above the
reach or the law to whose provisions the bal
ance OF US are made to conform: but there are
many unansWerabe ones. too patent to require
enumeration, why, IL any Discrimination is
mace, II should be precisely in an opposite d.
rectlon. The citation OF one case OF their en-
croacfments and abuse OF our forSearance Will
illustrate now this greedy vandaI spirit, has
been given free rein In every direction wher-
ever monopoly interests could be best subserved
both letter and spirit Of the written law and
riding rough-shod over all our preferences and
our vested rights as well. In my ne,ghborhood
zen years ago. grew noble specimen OF the
sycamore; quite forty feet high, symmetrical,
anordiDg grateful shade for handreds, and con-
tr1outiEg its share to the citys health. II beau
tined all its vicinity and had more tnan SEN
timental value. But relying apparently on
the indifference OR supineness OF the auJhorl-
ties. and meeting the protests Of all others with
WORDS or confemptuouS defiance. the employees
y, L
marred and mutilated this product OF full half
century's growth, that twenty years would
not have sufficed for its restoration. Twice
since the assault has been repeated because
the rowing branches threatened to interfere
with the wires or were In the way of others to
be put up; and the tree stands today virtually
branches on one side. q shapeless ugly wreck
and a monument to the aggressive daring Of
the monopoly and to the pitlable helplessness
OF our citizens What happened to the >yca-
more has happened to every other tree in the
nd Go rUh ut mill
continue to happen till our monopoly bosses
shall have been taught that others have rights
that they cannot safely ignore. It was neigh
b0rhood talk that the amputated limbs and
wreckage were left where they fell on the last
men and teams employees by the District au-
thOrities. The muitlation OF the trees is only
one Of an almost inflniCe number OF District,
municipal and individual interests that have
been sacrificed that these arrogant concerns
might obtain additional facilities to conduct
but even were 1t otherwise the mutilation taken
In connection with the fact that we are an
nualy taxed for planting, growing and preserv-
Ing trees In our streets, Is nothing less than an
outrage; and every new Indulgence permitted
In this line Of pTecedenus is another entrencn-
ment that we shall have ultimately to storm
and capture before we can force surrender.
lt seems to have come to this: We may ant
our streets with trees and we may enjoy them
II not in the way OF telegraph poles or wires
or II they are not In some other respect an In
convenience to the telegraph companies II so,
they must give way regardless OF every consid-
Grafton Of health, comfort, sentiment, or OF
guaranteed rights, and our tame submission to
the uSurpat1OnS and tntOlerable tmpostions Of
our lnsolent masters have come to be regarded
as tacit admissions on our part that we have no
rights that they are bound to respect.
CITIZEN.