Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-18


CHARGES OF A BsRsAIS-A COMMITTEE TO LOOK
kFTEK THE IMPROVEMENT OF TIE HARBoB-wATRR
sUPPLY AND SEWERAGE.
There was something OF a sensation created al
the meeting q the citizens representative commit
tee last evening IL was caused by a remark Of
Mr.. Je se B. Wilson, He made the statement that
the plan u purchase the square west OF the pres
ent Post-ofhce Department building and erect a
building % D. Used by the general and city post
Offices was the result OF q bargain. The report OF
the subcommittee on public buildings was under
consideration. which recommended the approval
by the committee OF senate bill lO4O providing for
the purchase OF the square above referred to for
the purposes Indicated.
MT. Wilson, IN speaking on the report, objected
TO naming any particular site. He was OF the
opinion that II would be better TO urge upon Con-
gress me necessity Tor providing suitable build
OF the site TO 6e DETERMINED BY mat body.
Mr.. Jno. T. Michel said that, instead OF silence
on that particular point he was In favor OF saying
good deal. and he thought that it would be an
excellent idea to amend tue report by inserting a
provisO recommending Congress
TO BUY ALL THE SQUARES
between Pennsylvania avenue and the mall
and from 9Th TO 18th streets, where the proposed
city post-oice building could be erected as well as
all other public buildings that might be needed
now or In the uture.
The naming Of any particular site was also
ELECTED nom Mr. A. B. Muliett, chairman Of
the committee, the observation that this policy OF
mastery inactivity" had been pursued for The
was the city post-Office was now occupying its
present ouzzards rOost. He said that the coop
securing the end sought by the bill. The Post
Isaster-GeDerAl, as his predecessors for years past
had been anxious TO secure enlarged quarters
The Senate was In hearty accord, and with this
union OF sentiment IL was believed that such bill
would be passed by the House during the present
int -DfN
the citzens would be secured by the passage OF
such a bill
Mr.. John T. Mitchell said that he would rather
see the city without post-office building for the
next five years than that they should lose any op-
poFtunity Of having the property on the south OF
that location the public buildings should be built
and every one that Is built ELSEWHERE lessons the
probability OF this great Improvement being I'M
dertaken-
WEST WASHINGTON SATISFIED.
Mr.. Noble D. Larner was OF the opinion that 1t
might be that the citizens OF West Washington
were Indifferent on this subject for they had a
fne stone building for pOst-office purposes. The
citizens OF Washington. however, had pos office
building that every time they entered IL they were
afraid II would fan down. He ridiculed the propO-
sitOn 10 buy up the half OF the city for the pur-
pose OF placing the pOSt-office In HookerS vision.
Mr.. Mitchell stated that his OBJECT, and he
thought the object OF all good citizens was not TO
Ioeate t1e PosI-Oilee IN any Special locaty Dut 10
remove from the city blot, dark spot, which
was a disgrace. II by any means such a locality
could Dc cleansed he thought all citizens Should
unite In bringing II about
Mr. WILSON REITERATEs.
Mr.. Wilson declared that there was job in this
thing-a combination. The owners OF the square
named In the bill had made a bargain with the
owners OF the square where the Bank OF WASH
lngton was located by which the latter owners
had agreed 70 cease any further opposition TO the
location Of the pOst-Ofiice on the square named.
AZ was well known. these parties were the main
contestants on this question, and had been for
years. The war had now ceased. and this Dill Was
the RESULT. For this reason he was opposed 10 the
commuters recommending the site proposed, and
lie Was opposed TO naming any site.
Mr.. larUer said that Mr.. Wilson had made a
serious charge. He, however, knew one owner OF
property In the Bank OF Washington square who
told him some time ago that the properIy-owners
had abin1O1ed the idea OF getting the post-Onice
located there As an earnest OF this changes had
been made recently on tn square and the Bank OF
Washington was now about 10 make extensive
Improvements in their own property. He did not
believe that the bank authorities were parIy 10
such bargain, as had been charged.
In reply Mr.. Wilson asserted That he had not
CHARGED the Bank OF Washington with being party
10 this bargain DE did not believe that the bank
was IN the trade. lie did know that an owner OF
some q the street property told him thIt the
posi- -ofice would be located ON that square.
Il asked him why" continued Mr.. Wilson, and
his reply was. because the other people have
been bought on"
MR.. J. oRNoND WILSON
thought there must be a mistake about there being
n corrupt bargain The bill was introduced In the
est character. IL provided for the appraisement
Of the land In the usual way known 10 the law and
ne could not see how there could be any trade or
Mr.. Mullett, in moving the previous question,
SAID that the charge made OF a corrupt bargain
was hardly worth considering, especially as 1t
seemed TO De nothing more than what "a gen leman
on street had told a member OF this Committee
III there was any corruption 1t could be tnvesIi-
gated. Tor II was there and not In this committee
That II existed, II IL had any existence at an.
Mr. Wilson arose 10 reply, but the chair ruled
that the previous question had been called for.
Upon TINS Mr.. Wilson asked a Using vote. When
the motion was declared carried Mr.. Wilson raised
the point or no quorum present, which was sus-
tained- Thereupon the committee adjourned
The REPORT on HAKBoRS AND wHARyEs.
In the early part OF the meeting the recommen-
dations or the committee on harbors and wharyes
were considered, and with some slight changes
were 'dopted They are as follows: "1st That
Congress be petitiOnet at once TO grant an appro-
Prlation suriclent TO make survey OF the East-
ern Branch fron the Bennings bridge TO deep
water at United states arsenal 10 run harbor lines
between these 20 nts contemplating a channel at
least 400 feet wide and p feet deep 50 as to per-
Init large-class vessels reaching The hayward
That measures be adopted at once for the
completion Of the Washington channel between
t1e Long bridge and the United States arsenal
j. Tnat for the better protection OF the Wash
ington harbor an intercepting sewer be Laid along
Water street from the Long Drldse 10 the j ilne,
Creek canal, at point near the arsenal grounds
Also, the purchase by the Government OF the
small STRIP or land on the west side OF I4th street,
the west the Monument grounds being paTI OF
squares 23l, D., and 2:r5 In view OF the present
unsafe condition Of the Washington harbor i'm
prOFeinent and OF the Uncertainty OF an early
passage OF the rver and haroor bill your commit
Tee recommend that special bill De Immediately
introduced Ia congress asking for an apptopria-
non SUFFICIENT for the purposes above enumerated
abd 70 complete as FAR possible the entire river
Irlnt Improvement
The chair was authorized 70 appoint committee
u na'e tAsse recommendations carried out.
WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE.
The CONCLUSIONS submitted In the report Of the
subcommittee on water supply and sewerage was
next taken up and debated for some tine There
was difference OF opinion as TO the recomrnenda
ton that measures be taken for the prevention OF
waste.
Mr.. NILS Dean thought that the District author
tiles already had too much authority He said
that Inc O1lci4.S entered private hOu ses ithouL
rlsnt II order 10 detect waste OF wafer He WAS
opposed 20 invasiOns Of private rights and II TINS
Is WHAT y contemplated he was opposed 10 the
Col Dyer was OF the opinion that Il might mean
the intrOduc Ion OF water meters or at least omen
ooor Tor TIER Introduction. This city is 50 Sit
uAlco thtt the supply OF water Is ample without
anything Of the sort
Up THE WRONG TREE.
"fou remind me OF the Old story OF the dog. oh.
served MI singleton, the Chairman OF the COM
mittee, who parked up the wrong tree,
DO yoc mem 20 compare me To a dog?- IN
qclred Col Dyer. with some heat
'Serlalnly not responded Mr. Singleton with
Stunning pEOhPthes-. Il was only making use OF
,rt 81 re-, .t you had mistaken the OBJ
he then went on 10 say that the Recommendation
simply nad In view the stOppaye OF waste ard 70
ierfed more especially 10 the waste In me Cavern
ment Departments. o''e'H-