Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-20
EAST wAsHINGTON's WANTS.
The Citizens Association Has n Candi-
date for q Commissionershfp.

THE RAILROAD QUESTION AND STREET IMPROVE
MkNT MATTERS DISCUSSED AT A MEETING LAST
NIaHr-rHE ASSOCIATION LISTENS TO A SPEECH
cRIrrcIsINo THE COMMISSIONERS, AND PLEDGEs
ITSELF TO Mr.. JOHN Z. HERRELL
DIR. McKim presided at the meeting Of the
East Washington Citizens association last
night. 1t was a somewhat lively meeting. The
association is getting itself ready TO make
STIR during the winter on the railroad question
and other matters of interest TO East Washing
ton.
Mr. Weller made report from q committee
that was charged with the duty Of waiting on
the commissioners TO urge them to include
IN the schedule for improvement for next year
u street, from 18th to 18th streets southeast,
and 18th street, from G to Z, so that the tracks
OF the projected Anacostia and Potomac River
railroad can be laid and the people obtain
needed street-railroad facilities Mr.. Weller
complained that the Commissioners. after re-
ceiFing him courteously and asking him to put
his request in writing. had ignored his written
communication. They had, he said. estimated
Tor G street, from 18th TO 18th. instead of to
18th. This was the only street that this asso-
citation had asked for. He was sorry to say
that the Commissioners had not accented their
views. Mr.. Weller spoke also Of the omission
OF the Improvement of Pennsylvania avenue
east from the work done this year He would
not say the money was diverted as that
term seemed to be objected to, but
he believed it was diverted. Mr. Duncan
Col Hams assistant had urged the desirability
OF paving Pennsylvania avenue as the main APP
proach to the new bridge, instead of merely
grading and gravelling it, The Commission
ers, however, had ignored their request for
hearing and estimated not $50 600 but $40 600
Of g..
This action of the Commissioners, he said
would compel them to go before Congress
The past building season showed that the east
ern section of the city had made greater strides
than any other section, but in the schedule.
made by the Commissioners. the eastern section
had not received what il was entitled to, even
on the Commissioners scale.
The committee that go before Congress. he
said, should see to it that the moneys appro-
prlated for the eastern section are not expend-
ed elsewhere.
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
One OF the members Of the association asked
how much of the amount appropriated for this
year for the eastern section remained unex-
pended. He complained that certain streets
were appropriated for year after year and the
work was not done,
MIR. Weller said the Commissioners claimed
that when the sum Of money appropriated was
not sufhclent to improve all the streets named
In the schedule they have the right TO omit an
entire street. As to that matter there was a
dlherence OF opinion. Mr.. Weller argued that
the money should be distributed pro rata over
al the streets named. II the construction the
Commissioners adopted prevailed the eastern
section was going to fare badly, he said. so long
as they had Commissioners who would discrim-
mate. Nr. Weller said that this year they
would endeavor to have either specific appro-
prlatlon for each street or else a provision in
serted mr. IN apds
ture on all the streets named.
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
In reply to question regarding the railroad
situation Mr.. E. b. Stocking said the skies were
looking brighter. There seemed to be an in
clination on the part of the Commissioners to
eoncede that the Eastern branch route was the
most feasible. 1t was his opinion that if the
people of East Washington stood firm now on
the platform that the railroads should not
cross this city anywhere they would win. They
should not go into the fight with an opinion
that they could not win. They must not say, as
one OF the Commissioners said. that it was use
less to fight the railroads. He was satisfied
that the Baltimore and Ohio railroad would
have to go around either by the Eastern branch
route or through Georgetown. He would not
be surprised If the people of the northwest
would be forced to fight on this railroad ques-
ton.
Mr.. Weller said that Capt. symons had told
him that the Eastern branch route was the
only feasible route, and that the railroad COM
pany Should not be permitted to tunnel under
capitol hill. Capt. Symons had put himself
and the District government on record in an
official report Commissioner Webb had de-
clared to him that he was heartily in favor
OF the Eastern branch route. Commissioner
Wheatley said he did not see why the railroad
should not go around that way. and that he was
In favor of the best route. Primarily the citi-
zens owed their gratitude to Capt. Symons.
If the Commissioners had adopted these views a
year ago this whole railroad question would have
been solved Mr.. Weller said that such dispo-
sltion of the railroad question would awaken
enterprise in the eastern section.
The committee of one hundred. at its last
meeting, had instructed its railroad executive
committee to prepare bill incorporating these
views to be introduced in Congress. 1t might
not be passed this session, but it would pave
the way, and they hoped for early success
SOMETHING ABOUT THE COMMISSIONERS.
Mr.. Stocking said he had noticed in the
papers announcements of the names of large
number of candidates for the position of Dis
trict Commissioner. He knew it to be fact
that never since this form of government was
established had there been a Commissioner ap-
pointed from the eastern section. They had
never had a Commissioner appointed from the
section of the city east of 7th street west.
Fifteenth" interrupted Dr. McKim.
aoeONnAAAS. SOhtuulilR, cdlu ne hIeW tldt
upon the accession of a new administration in
fuences were brought to bear that brought
about the appointment of men west of 18th
street. He knew that most of the improve
ments were given to that section. They had
had report that night from a committee
showing how the wishes of the citizens we're
entirely disregarded. If he went to the Com
missioners to ask reasonable Improvement
every conceivable excuse was made for not
granting his request. He would undertake to
say that If similar request was prepared by a
property-owner in the northwest il would be
granted. He would undertake to say that the
present civilian Commissioners-he knew little
OF the Engineer Commissioner-were lust as
much controlled by favoritism and friendship
as any board of Commissioners they ever had
Mr.. Stocking suggested that they could go to
court and find out whether the Commissioners
construction of the clauses of the appropria-
ton act relating to street improvements was
correct He would wager that if they inyesti-
gate this form of government they would find
just as much irregularity as ever existed under
any feather-duster government He made no
charge; he did not think it necessary The
Commissioners themselves had made the great
est effort to defy the intention of law before
it became law. He referred to the law pro-
hibiting overhead wires. For fifteen or twenty
days before the law went into effect he said.
the Commissioners had exerted themselves To
the utmost to have all the wires put up posi-
BILE. They had gone so far as to rule that the
law did not apply to Georgetown because it
was not in the city of Washington He thought
AI.s.-. a. u.