National Republican., 1883-07-20
CAPITOL HILLS CLAIMS.
Interview Between a Committee Of Taxpayers
and the District Commissioners.
Some Facts and Figures Presented
Which Were Not Before Known.
Interchange Of Views as to the Needs Of the Eastern
Section of the City.
Gen. West Makes Speech nnd Commits
sioncr Ednonds Some Susgcstions'

The conference of the committee Of cit
izens of East Washington with the com
missioncrs yesterday was u lengthy sos
sion, but was of decided interest. The
delegation was composed of the follow
ing gentlemen: Hon. John Farnsworth
w. G. Dodge, Duncan 5. Walter, George +.
Harbin, X. NJ. Greon, q. NJ Oyster, n. A.
Fuller, ID. T.. Jones, r. L. DcLaud s. II.
Walker DIR. T.. A. Adams, IL. N. Copp, Geo
J.. Dawson. b. Burnstinc, and NJ. NJ. Rohrer.
They were OH hand at the Columbia build
ings promptly at one o'clock, aud were re-
ceived in the commissioners room by Com
missioners Edmonds, West and Lydecker.
Mr.. w. c. Dodge acted rs chairman of the |
committee, and after u few preliminary re-
marks proceeded to read tho statement of
facts and figures which w;S published in
THE REPUBLICAN, yesterday. Mr. Dodge |
placed map of the city before him, and
during the reading of the statement made frc-
quent reference to the localities mentioned
on tho map. AS he read some statements
made by Senator Ingalls, dlring II debate in
the senate to the effect that.tho commissioners
had done injustice to East Washington he re-
marked that it was nccdl ess Tor the commit
tee to add anything to that speech.
Commissioner West ask ,d il he made that
charge against the presen board.
Mr.. Dodge replied that he did not, and that
these facts were PRESCRIBED TO the present
board because it WIS com pnratively new.
81 shall be prepared to show" said Mr.
West, in reply to what you state there that
the present commissioners have done exactly
what you have asked for"
Mr. Dodge then procc edcd with the reading
of his statement, and exhibited an "eXhibit
chart" of improved str sets and avenues, pub
lished by the board of public works III 1872,
representing Maryland avenue from the cap
itol to the boundary n, paved with stone.
Commissioner West Interrupted the reading
of that part of the statement relating to the
appropriation of S140,U00 for n bridge above
Georgetown, to say Eat none Of that money
came out Of district fnnds.
Mr.. Edmonds inquired If improvements had
not been pushed in the northwest originally
because the people were going there, and the
improvements were made necessary.
Mr.. Dodge did not fhink this was the case
but that the northwest had been favored be-
cause of the speculation in real estate in nat
section.
Gen. West. Suppose it could be demon
strated that Capitol hill had been more
favored in the present appropriation than any
other section in fact, that it had received
largely more than its share; what would you
say?
Mr.. Dodge said he should be perfectly
astonished if such was the case. Continuing
the reading he came to the water question,
and said that IL portion Of the funds appro-
priated to increase the water supply on Cap
itol hill had been expended in providing a
pump for the private use of Capt. A. Grant of
Capitol hill. The pump, he said, was still
in the alley back of Capt. Grants property.
When Mr.. Dodge referred to what he said
was discrimination in the matter of laying
water mans, Mr.. Edmonds said that in the
northwest section, where certain mains were
laid, of which Mr.. Dodge complained, the
people had received the same reply to these
10. 10, tl,.,, ,.,rtl, lt.t
they had come forward and protfered ''e
money. In reference to the complaint about
permit work, Maj Lydecker said that When
apple alton was made for such work, and th c
applc ant complied with the usual condition s.
and paying one-third the cost of the improve
ment, the application was generally granted, ,
unless there was some strong reason why 1t
should not be.
Mr. Edmonds thought there should be nc
serious complaint on this score, as the sm 81
fund for that work was available TO all app
Cants, so far as it went
Mr.. Dodge thought it was n serious MATTE
if the fund was to be used for the beneht OF
speculators.
Mr.. Edmonds said he knew nothing abou
spectators; the fund was used IN making
necessary improvements where building wa
going on, and the people of East Washington
were Just as much entitled to it, provided
they came forward and complied wi tn tn
conditions, as those of any other section.
Mai. LydecSer asked if they didn't thinl
that strong element in making up the dis
tribution of work should be the valuation o
the property?
Mr.. Dodge thought that the area Of terri
tory should rather be considered
When Mr.. Dodge had finished Conn aissione
Edmonds said that Gen. West had given tn
subject more thought and care than he ha
and would make some statements ia reply I
the committee.
; Gen. West said that there could be no ques.
UripNnnrpS
plained had existed, and that the presen
commissioners sympathized with them. fe
he thought he and his colleagues were enti
tied to some sympathy. They had bee
berated for two and one-quarter hourS Tor tn
misdemeanors of their predece ,sOrs. The
had no more to do with the admihisl lration {
their predecessors than they had with Adal
before the fall what" said he, "are W
10 do? You have presented to us no ne'
facts; we knew all that you have said to-day
The point for us to consider is how far it lay
in our power to redress the grievances {
which you complain l want to sho'
you that the present board OF CON
missioners have taken the first stcI
toward giving you relief. Hou went to cor
glcss. end yet congress did not vary the prt
giamme of the commissions rs in any respect
Gen, West then road from the last repo
of the commissioners wherein they made re-
concentrations as to improvements on Capit
hll(kContinuing his remarks, he said: "On
question of assessments whether of groun
or improvements or both, Capitol hill has g
more than its rights. On the question
water, the commissioners have done VIII
they could to aid you, and the work of il
creasing and extending the supply is nov
under the charge of Maj. Lydccker. Th
work is progressing as rapidly as is consiste
with good engineering results. In the inca
time we have done what we could for you, al
want to ask if you have not now more wat
than you formerly hAd?
Many Of the committee answered in d
affirmative.
Gen. West resumed Now as to the ms
ter Of improvements. What did this boa
OF commissioners do before the lat congres
Let's see if we did you justice. have he
a table showing the former valuations
property on Capitol hill by assessment d
tricts. The new assessment VIII probably
duce this amount over 10 per cent.
In the 10th district
und............,..,'....... b2,3si76l
'"''''e''''''1 '''''''''''1 -------- s5,a77Y
In the 1lth district
Ground, nu,....,......,.,,......,. l,3b2OOJ
Improvements ...........,.", l,133,loO
In the 18th district
Ground ..,.,','..'''''''s'' oleA5o
lmnfONemglAtS