Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-03
week from daylight until dark along Virginia

week from daylight until dark along virginia
land avenue from 9th TO 49, streets. The report
describes the many annoyanCeS those living near
the tracks suffer. Property values along tae resi-
dence portion OF these avenues, i Is stated are de-
pressed below what they were thirty years ago.
While two squares either north or south, values
have more than quadrupled in that time. The
constant obstruction OF these avenues NJ the trans
verse streets by shifting engines and trains prac
tically cuts in two the business interests Oh the
city so that merchants and business men have
almost ceased to look TO the river as means OF
transportation for their merchandise because OF
the Inconvenience and delay experienced in trans
ferr1ng Ii after leaving the wharf After referring
to recent decisions in court the report holds That
the distractions are clearly unlawful, and il is the
duty OF the District Commissioners 10 have them
removed. The Commissioners are criticised for
making no determined effort to enforce the law In
structton, however slight, is allowed to cucumber
the streets in the northwest section for any length
struetions in front Of DR.. j. Ford Ihomp-
sons new house on 18th street were re-
moved are cited in proof OF this last
law is not universal in its application to the va
rious sections vi the city, and that the people OF
South Washington do not have the same protec-
ton that is guaranteed in some other quarters
The sight OF the freight depot in square 1856 was
it is claimed, selected without authority OF law
and with notice OF objections likely TO be made
TO it.
REMEDIES PROPOSED.
The report ended as follows: SIN conclusion.
your committee would recommend that this mat
ter OF steam railroads in South Washington be
laid before the President and Congress, with petit
lions urging such legislative action Will abate
the nuisance In our midst, In so Tar as this is pos
Slble while Maryland and Virginia avenues are
used as a transit route for engines and ears. And
in this connection, it appears to your committee
that all the freight business OF the Baltimore and
Potomac company should be confined 10 one local
lty, and not spread ont over two miles Oh streets.
such freight depot and yards could we'll be es
tablished on the low grounds, south of the Capitol,
without detriment to properly rights i'm that To-
cality. In the section between South Capitol
street and New Jersey avenue and south OF Canal
street, there are many vacant squares and Few
residences, and this locality seems admirably
adapted to freight yard ana freight delivery pur
poses. III such change should be made, com
plants from residents along the line OF Mary land
and Virginia avenues would be infrequent, ana
the docketS OF our courts would not be incunbered
with damage suits against the Baltimore and PO-
t0mac company"
FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION.
After the reading of the reports, which occupied
nearly the whole evening" they were referred to
the executive committee for immediate action. A
motion by Mr. j. B. Hall, that special committee
OF five be appointed as suggested in the report OF
the committee on streets, 10 consider the subject
OF the ''DiviSion," was carried.
PROPOSED MODIFICATION OF THE DISTRICT Gov
ERNMENT.
Dr. Donaldson then offered preamble and reso-
buttons setting forth that ''the principle of
home rule in purely local affairs is recognized by
all enlightened governments as the only just and
proper rule, and especially so in republic like
District leprves the taxpayers and citizens OF all
voice in the control or management OF their own
local affairs, and as 'under the operation OF the
present plan for several years past great dlScrlfni
nation and injustice to large sections OF the Dis
trict has been the result, we favor such change
OF the District government will secure at least
one representative from each OF the principal sec
lions or divisions of the District i'm the governing
board; and that each OF said representatives or
Commissioners. excepting the Engineer Commits
SiOner, should be property holder in and q resi-
dent Of the section or division from which he is or
may be appointed, to the end that the taxpayers
may have voice in the management OF their
purely local affairs, such schools, street i'm
provements and the like and '.that Tor the pur-
pose OF the more fully developing the details OF
the above resolutions, committee OF three be APP
pointed zone OF which shall be the chairman OF
this meetmgl to meet similar committees from
other sections of this District"
DR.. Donaldson explaining the resolutions, said
that most of the gentlemen present We're aware
that movement was being made in the direction
proposed in the resolutions. This movement, he
believed, was generally favored He believed it
was popular everywhere, and in the eastern Sec
ton especially.
MR. HALLS DIRECTIONS.
Mr.. Hall said he thought the object Of this meet
ing was to secure the adornment and improve
ment of South Washington. He advised them to
keep clear OF politics. He moved that this resolu-
tion pe referred TO committee OF hve for consider
alton.
Dr. Donaldson said that the object of this COM
mittee was TO secure just legislation. These reso
lutionS proposed no radical change In the govern
ment of the District. The only change proposed
was perhaps few more Commissioners probably
five or seven, to be appointed from different sec
lions of the city. They now had taxation, but no
representation. 1t would be a kind Of representa-
| ton to have Commissioner appointed IRON this
section, to whom they could go and ask, not for
favOrS, but for justice.
DR.. Meadors moved the adoption Of the resolu-
ttOns
Mr. Fenwick Young was of the opinion that they
were going outside or the purposes for which the
committee of one hundred was called together.
n Mr.. Church believed that this proposed some
Wing tangible that they could propose to the
President and to Congress-.
Mr.. Hall did not think it well to antagonize the
present Commissioners, when they proposed TO go
to them and ask for improvements.
Dr. Donaldson said their object, of course, was
the improvement OF South Washington. He did
not see that any reflection cast on The present
Commissioners. These resolutions did not commit
| them at all TO any plan OF government, but only
provided for consultation with committees from
other sections.
Mr.. Loring thought it would be better to wait
until the executive committee had laid the matter
In the reports adopted that night before the Com
Mr.. Halls motion to refer the resolutions to
committee OF five for consideration was lost.
Rev. Mr.. Meador said the resolutions did not
contemplate upsetting the present form OF govern
men, but simply proposed to enlarge the number
1t was fact that neither the present Commits
sioners nor their predecessors had given attention
to the matters they complained OF here.
The resolutions were read again at Mr.. Halls re-
quest, and, they were being read, Chairman
Church remarked: ''Instead OF all being taken
different sections"
The resolutions were adopted, and the commit
tee adjourned.
Jones Oh Chandler
THE FORMERS OPINION OF REPUBLICANS WHO DE-
SERTED BLAINE.
In his recent letter to the Boston Herald, eX-
Secretary Chandler said: ..After the presidential
election the chairman OF the national committee
was indiscreet enough in published interview tn
impute TO President Arthur and the members OF
his cabinet want of fidelity and zeal in the can
vasS. The charge was baSeeSS, and was so de-
clared by me at the time. All possible and appro-
pirate assistance was rendered. 1t could not have
been expected that we should supersede the chair
man or do his work, although IL would have been
better If some one had done So"
A reporter OF the Pittsburg Commercial Gazette