The Washington critic., 1888-01-04
WASHINGTON CRITIC
MUNICIpAL NrATTERs.
Reports Submitted TO the Citizens Rep
resentative Commsttee

Cnhlrman heBlnaiu fendnll called
the meeting Of the Citizens Repre-
sentative Committee to order last
night, with barely quorum present.
Mr.. Lawrence Gardner acted as sec
retary. Before any business was
transacted Mr.. Fendall retired from
the chair, and Mr.. w. 9. Dodge took
his place, who, in turn, was relieved
by Mr.. N. ID. Larner.
Mr., w. II. Singleton, chairman Of
the Committee on Water Supply and
Sewerage, reported that the committee
recommended that the water mains
and sewers be laid before the streets
are improved. They think that the
fixed charges of the sinking fund
should be paid from the general taxes.
'"The question of whether the ex-
pense Of the water system should be
borne by the general taxes" he said,
"was brought TO our attention by an
article in THE CRiTIc, written by Mr..
w. H.. Clagett, in which this was
advocated, Later on Association No.
3 sent in a resolution looking to this
end. They recommended the abolish
duction of water into every house."
The committee thinks that the sys-
tenn of mains should be extended as
rapidly as possible. After q main is
laid the tax collected thereon should
be kept solely for the laying of mains.
The public pumps now out of order
are recommended to be put in good
condition. The Potomac water dis
ftsih fpp do 10
say, should be properly filtered. 1t
is claimed by the committee that dur
ing q long period of the year, when
the city Is the most crowded, the
water is not fit for use. The report
went over for discussion at the next
meeting.
STREETS AND AVENUES.
Mr.. Noble ID. Larner submitted the
report of the Subcommittee on Streets,
Avenues and Alleys, advocating a
change in the method of making APP
propriations for street improvements.
The desired change is that such APP
propriations be made specifically for
each street and avenue to be improved
instead Of appropriating lump sum
for the improvement of q list of
streets. The report was adopted. Mr..
Larner said that the appropriation
asked by the Commissioners to inn
prove large schedule of streets is al
ways cut down by Congress, and it is
then left in the power Of the Commits
sioners to expend the money on what
ever section they desire.
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
Mr.. w. j. Frizzell of the Suhcom-
mittee on Roads and Bridges asked
that this committees report, which
was recommitted at the last meeting
be reconsidered. He said that in the
absence of the official list of improve.
ments they adopted the list as printed
in The CRITIC, and he now moved to
amend the report and put in the
book of estimates" Mr.. Larner said
the report contained inaccuracies and
statements which the committee could
not afford to let 90 out. One Of these,
he said, was to the effect that the
roads are no better now than they
We're nearly hundred years ago.
lwHARyEs AND THE .HARpoR.
Mr.. Thomas w. Smith submitted
the report of the Committee on
Wharves and Harbor Improvement,
Itadyocated the deepening and widen
ing Of the channel in the Eastern
Branch from the Navy-Yard bridge to
the Arsenal, and also the purchase OF
squares 231, 232 and 233, south of the
Monument Grounds and adjoining the
harbor Improvement.
THE PosToFFICE EXTENSION.
Mr.. Mullett of the Committee on
Public Buildings for the District of
Columbia handed in a report recon-
mending the extension of the Post
Office Department to the square be-
tween u and +, and Eighth and Ninth
streets, and locating the City Post
office there.
STEAM RAILWAY ROUTES.
Mr.. c. B. Church, chairman of the
subcommittee on Steam Railroads
and of the Special Executive Com
mittee instructed to lay before Con-
gress the views of the association on
the question of steam railroads,
moved that the last clause of the in
structions to the committee be
stricken out. This clause prohibits the
committee from agreeing on any
route that has been considered and
rejected by the association. He
claimed that this clause simply re-
tarded the committee in their work.
Mrs.. ii, Walker objected. He
charged that a member of this COM
mittee had done exactly what he had
been instructed not to do, and, in
stead of representing the ASSOCIATION
and the people, he had represented
the railroad. As Il citizen and prop
erty-holder III the northeast, he oh
jected.
Mr.. M. I. Weller also objected.
MIR. MULLETTs RINGING SPEECH.
Mr.. Mullett made a ringing speech
and was applauded. He said it was
the most remarkable request he had
ever heard. 1t would be more re-
spectful to the association for these
gentlemen to ask to be relieved if they
could not c,Hfy out the instructions of
The association.
Mr. Farrell said it seemed that some
scheme was to be carried out that the
majority of the committee did not
want. He moved to lay the motion
on the table.
MIR, CHURCH EXPLAINS.
''l want to be heard on the scheme
business" said Mr.. Church, rising,
H. then said that he went to the
gentleman who offered the resolution
referred to Is. G. Clarke, and asked
him what his motive was in doing so,
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