Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-19
EASa vvAsE.INGrON,s GRIEVANCES.
A Public Meeting Of Citizens.

| AN ASSOCIATION FORMED TO LOOK OUT FOR THE IN
TsREsTs OF THAT sECrION-MR DoDGEs PROTEST
AGAINST MILITARY GOVERNMENT.
liz respon:e TO Invitations sant out among prop
erty holders Ia f ist Washln ytol, about seventy
gentlemen living IN that section OF the city met
last Sht at McCauey'5 hall, and took steps to
form permanent organic ltion for the purpose OF
obi lining just share OF city imprcyem, nts in
that portion of the city. Mr. W. c. Dodge, who
presided. In opening the meeting, stated tEaJ he
hld had interview with Commissioner Eitnonds
last Friday. and detained from him appoint
ment fer an interview tt be he'd at 1 O'Clock TO-
day The statement adopted at the meeting last
copy OF IT. placed In the hands OF every property
holder In East Washington. This statement would
b: presented 10 tn Commissioners.
AN ORGANIZATION FORMED.
The s. cretary, Mr.. G. NJ. Clarke, read the report
or the executive committee, which was adopted.
Tie report recommended that the name of the
association he ''The East Washington Improve
R.ent Association. and nominating the following
Silas c. CLARKE, s. c. Mcdowell, John i. Herrell,
H. f. Paine: recording secretary. C. n. Clarke:
corresponding secretary. b. Stock ng treasurer,
farnsworlh, Z Paine ". S Lincoln Gee. NJ. oyster,
John +. Eerell, Dun an S. Walker. r. W. Tyler.
silas Clarke. j. c. Kennedy, I. N. Burrltt. S. G..
Mcdowell, Samuel II. Walker, d. w. Middleton,
A. n. Marks, 81. L. d. Merchant. Horatio Brown
ing, Appleton P.Clarke Thomas W. Smith, K LIB.
CLARK and Vim. j. PcnIan.
suggestion having been made that property
holders only De admitted to membership, after
!. some discussion the executive committee WAS
authorized to draw constitution and bylaws for
the ASSOCIATION. Arrangements were made also
the Mess
f. Dawson, X. l.. g. Clarke, ii. n COpp and DR.. E.
A. adams were appolntej TO go with the commit.
Tee 70 meet the Commissioners tOdiy, In place OF
gentlemen not able to be present.
woEKHeUsE LABOR.
Mr.. Dawson suggested that wOrkhouse labor
could be employed In grading the eastern section
OF the city beyond Lincoln park, and upon his
committee for consideration. Mr.. Dodge approved
tIe suggestion and thought the hundred or more
men In Jail, maintained at the expense Of tax
payers, should lie put to like work.
A PROTEST AGAINST MILITARY GOVERNMENT.
Mr.. Dodge, before the meeting adjourned, spoke
with some warmth about the subjects which the
association has been formed to consider. He said
that heretofore the Commissioners have evaded
their responsibilities and left it to Lieut. Greene to
decide whether improvements should be made ~
think, he said, 1--WE have submitted TO this mill
try government long enough. Let us understand
whether the citizens who are paying the taxes
have not some rights which they are bound to re-
spee5: ana we cannot get relief thers propose
eonnuns s nEIer he q 1hanet MI ;,,I D1g a:
rlu III could be accomplished Mr. Edmonds, he
Thought, was not disposed to leave these matters
TO subordinate officers. In illustration OF what he
called military rule MIR. Dodge said he was pres
ent one time when Mr.. Samuel Norment and
nuInb7r of other gentlemen of equal prominence
called uron Commissioner Dent, in relation to
some Improvements. Mr.. Dent said he would call
down Lieut.. Greene. Lieut. Greene came in,
leaned his arm on the marble mantle and. after
hearing what Was wanted, said, simply, 'gentle-
men, it can't be DONE That ended the matter.
The meeting was adjourned subject to the call
OF the executive committee.
Statement of Grievances.
The STAR last Thursday publ shell synopsis
of the report of the committee OF citizens, which
has been published In pamphlet form, and was to-
d2y submitted to tle District Commissioners.
Ire statement which is addressed to the Com
Ing the Discrimination Against the Eastern Por-
tlon OF the District in Relation to Street Improve
III fns I M sftenont expresses the desire
VIII The Commissioners in securing a more Just
ana equlta6le cist:IGuton OF tae District funds.
street Improvements as to work
t snmsr an ven x o. }ns,lce to all
or pubic wcrh', hardly any OF the large sums
exnendt d by them in improvements having been
WORKS had but fairly commenced operations east
OF the Capitol when they were abolished by Con-
gFeSS, ana the money expended upon beginning
improvements which were never completed was
rather damage than benefit. In seine instances
the avenues and streets Were cut down from ten
to thirty feet. so that lots cannot be sold to-day
Ior enough to bring them to grade. The prede-
cessors OF the present Commissioners had carried
out
SoNIINtOCS POLICY OF DISCRIMINATION
against East Washington. Reference is made to
the debate in the Senate in February last on the
District appropriation bill, and quotations are
made FROM remarks By Senators Plumb. Sherman
ingalls,, Rollins and COckrell, to show that those
gentlemen had taken notice OF the Discrimination
against the eastern part OF the CITY, Figures are
given to show that since 1877, including the last
appropriation OH, sa45i,6la74 have been appro-
water. 1t is impossible, the report says,
70 show precisely what proportion
Of ., this his sun sum r1 has been expsndeI
from the schedule Of streets to be improved In
1882, showing that OF the $3.50 S15 appropriated
!or the work. the eastern section received but
S7,125 in addition to the "A 500 expended on North
Capt. OIL street. which Was OF no Benetit to those
residing east OF the Capitol; The estimate for
S314, 732 -. or which 81 221.2 or little more
lhan 0ae-n ninth, was TO be expended east OF the
Capitol.
THE H-sTREET IMPROVEMENT
The appropriation OF s5O,56 25 for Improvement
or street north, ought not to be charged to East
Washington. as 1t is really for the benefit of the
northwest; or, as Senator Plumb said 1t is to con-
meet the northwestern portion of the city with The
country In the direction OF the race-cOurSp and he
might have added FOR Lie special benefit also of
the Washington Brick Machine Co. While that
street VIII, with the present appropriation, have
received nearly sl9o.OG0 there are whole squares
all built up within q short distance from the CapI.
loi, when have not received cent since the IN
ausuftt. on or The commissioner form OF govern
ment In 1873
other statements are made showing how the
favored sections have been improved ut the ex-
penSe OF the eastern section. In noting the an.
prOpriat on or $40 600 for new bridge above
Georgetown, the rerOrt quotes from TIE STAR OF
June 3Oth last, suggesting that Pennsylvania ave-
hue shf aid be opened eastward and n bridge built
across the Eastern branch. Figures are also given
10 show dtsprOportion I'm favor or the west In the
expenditures for sewers, for improving the
water service, Tor lamp posts and for fire
plugs. Quotations are given also from the
Official report OF the assessor for the present
year, showing that property owners In East WASH
ington have had TO pay nearly four times as much
IN proportion to the value OF their property AS
those In the western section, and reference is
made to the fact that the eastern part OF tile CITY
mas never had representative on the board of
commissioners
N