Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-26

THE REASONS WHY PLAINLY STATED.
The republicans of East Washington turned
out In force last night to express their opposi-
ton to the confirmation of the denomination
OF Commissioner Webb, filing to an almost IN
comfortable degree the hall Of the East WASH
ington Invincible club on Pennsylvania avenue
southeast. While the meeting was an enthu-
siastic one, still there was no superfuity of
noise; everything was done with purpose.
Everybody present seemed to realize fully that
thatw not the place, nor was it then the time,
for anything but serious action on matter
which deeply concerned every good citizen.
The object of the msss-meeting was the formu-
lation, discussion and publication of resolutions
eondemnatory Of the '.ring-rule" of the Dis
trlct and protesting against its continuation by
the confirmation by the Senate of William B.
Webb as Commissioner of the District OF
Columbia.
ORGANIZATION.
The meeting was called to order by Mr.. 8.
Bieber, and Immediately thereafter Mr.. W. C..
y Dodge elected chairman and Mr.. ]. W.
Flood secretary. The object of the assembly
was then briefly stated and a committee on res
olutlOns-Messrs. W. G.. Dodge, s. Bieber, j.
W. Flood and George r. Wilson-was appointed.
While the committee was at work on its duties
the assembly talked over the present admins
tration of affairs at the District building and
it was evident that neither Mr. Webb nor Mr..
Wheatley had any warm friends or ardent ad-
mirers in the hall.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
At the conclusion of a short recess the COM
mittee reported the following resolutions:
ReSOsoed By the citizens of East Washing
ton, in mass meeting assembled, that we are
opposed to the confirmation of Mr.. W.B. Webb
as Commissioner of the District, because of his
utter lnefhciency as an officer.
2 We further oppose his confirmation because
Of the fact that under his administration the
District government is run in the interest of
rings and syndicates instead of in the inter-
ests of the mass of the citizens.
3. Because of his neglect of the best interests
of our public schools and the reckless expendi-
ture of the public funds in the purchase of
sites for school and other public buildings.
4. Because of his servility to the liquor in
terests in the issue of licenses to parties not
entitled to them and to whom they had pre-
yiously been denied by him.
5. Because We think the incoming President
should have the same opportunity to select the
District Commissioners that his predecessor
has had.
supplementary resolution read: 'sResolred.
That the Washington Press and The EVENING
STAR entitled to the thanks and should re-
ceive the support of every republican in the
District for their vigorous efforts to defeat ring
rule"
PROLONGED APPLAUSE.
The reading of the resolutions was received
with prolonged applause. and when that had
died away Capt. Donald McCathran took the
floor and vigorously denounced the action of the
powers that be, so far as East Washington was
concerned To have any hope of becoming a
District Commissioner man had to reside in
the western portion of the city. and his chances
for securing Office were increased several per
cent II he could only claim Georgetown as his
residence. 1t was. he said, perhaps not I'M
natural fOf appointees from the northwest por-
ton o. the city to neglect the southeast in
order that the northwest might be made beau
tiful but the practice was. nevertheless indie
feasible. The present board of Commissioners
was
WORSE THAN ANY OF ITS PREDECESSORS.
Its members were stiffened by pride and
pulled up with cOnceit. They seemed to glory
in treating with contempt the humble petitions
of many delegations that East Washington cit
liens had sent to plead their cause. This
should not be-" said the captain. and thank
God. it will not be for long. [Applausel An
incoming administration. fresh from the peo-
pie, will do right, will be just. [Applause.I
WEBB HAS BEEN WEIGHED
in the balance and found wanting. He had
every opportunity to make himself popular
but he had become inflated with self-conscious-
ness of some sort, and had failed to be any,
thing but failure. [Laughter.l 1t was not
unnatural that such a man did not represent
the people. He was not appointed by the
people. He owed his power to the President
and, feeling that he was not responsible to any
one else, he naturally fell into real estate
pools" We don't want Webb Applause
And we are going to tell the Senate so respect-
fully but firmly. [Renewed applausel We
don't want to give Webb another chance to ne
glect East Washington" prolonged applause. !
WHY HE DOESN'T WANT WEBB.
Capt. McCathran then sketched graphically
the shoddy manner in which public repairs
were done and the manner in which petitioners
were treated by the present board. concluding
with the statement: Il don't want Webb because
he Is not simon-pure republican Applause
i want a man in that position who will not cater
to the southern brigadiers as Webb has. 1t be-
hOOves Us to say to the Senate, No more Webb
for Us" prolonged applause.l
MR. DoDGE's REMARKS.
There were loud calls for Dodge" "Dodger'
and in response the chairman surrendered his
gavel to DIR. E. A. Adams and stepped to the
front. ''For twenty-nine years. said he. Il
have lived in the District of Columbia and no
man has ever had occasion to doubt my politics.
and vet in all those years never knew William
Il. Webb as a republican. l was astonished
when informed that he had been appointed as
the republican Commissioner. and was still
more astOnished to see Webb come into the
league and pay his S25 like little man
TO GET CERTIFICATE OF REPUBLIcANIsM
ILaughterl Now, understand from a state
ment in this evenings STAR that he has offered
If confirmed. to place his resignation in a re-
publican Senator's hands. That would be
another certificate. and |, for one, don't propose
10 let him have it." lApplause.l
Mr.. Dodge then went on to speak of the sec
tional manner in which official positions had
been distributed. more especially in connection
with the public school system. Since that sys-
tenn had gone into operation there had not
been single official appointed who lived east
OF 18th street west and south of G street He
went on 10 state what Congress had done for
railroads and schools in the states and then he
compared the facts in those cases with the parsi-
mOny exhibited toward the District The story
of how Congress was petitioned for appropria-
lions for new schools was told and the
DEKIsIyE LAUGHTER OF THE AUDIENCE
was excited by Mr. Dodge referring to the
claim of Mr.. Webb that he webb was en-
titled to all the credit for the increased school
facilities. Mr.. Webb. he said. never had been
the friend of the public schools; he took per
cent Of the teachers salaries to make up a de-
fciency of sll,OO0 instead of asking Congress
for the money. That just how Mr. Webb
was interested in the schools and teachers. In
stances of the grossest neglect were quoted by
the speaker. There was much that was wrong
in the construction Of the Wallach school an
mex, and Mr.. Webs attention was called to it.
He said, in a letter, that the matter was be-