Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-16
The Commissioners Criticised For Their
Division of the Improvement Fund.


Division of the Improvement Fund.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO LOOK AFTER IT-MR.
WELLER MAKES REMARKS ABOUT Mr.. wHgArLEY
THE EAST WASHINGTON '.pooM' ENTRUSTED
TO A COMMITTEE.
The District Commissioners were discussed
considerably at meeting of the East Wash
ington Citizens association last night. Mr.. ].
". Babson was called to the chair in the alb
sence OF DR.. McKiu1, the president The secre-
tary read replies from Senators Spooner, Plumb
and Cockrell acknowledging receipt of the reso-
lGtiOns of the association thanking them for
their services. Senator Spooncr said: Il beg
leave to express the qualification afforded me
by the action OF the association. The duties of
the committee on claims, of which 1 am a
member, are very exactinG, and 1 have much
regretted my inability to give closer attention
to the affairs of the District"
Senator Plumb, in his response. remarked:
cit has been my desire, as a member of the
subcommittee having in charge the District
appropriation bill. TO sec as far as possible that
the appropriations which were made were so
distributed as TO do equal and exact justice to
all portions of the civ" Senator COckreII
said that while he felt that he had simply done
his duty II gratifying to know that the
good citizens of East Washington appreciate
the service.
AND VOW THE COMMISSIONERS.
Mr.. Weller, upon the conclusion of the read
ing of the responses. said that he felt it his
duty. in connection with the kind words he had
just listened to. to call the attention of the
association to a state of affairs brought about
BY the District Commissioners to Law before
them the net result OF the appropriation bill as
construed by the Commissioners. The sub
committee on the District OF the House asked
the Commissioners to forward a list of the
streets to be improved. in tire order in which
the work to be done. This was compiled
with and the schedule was submitted They
virtually. therefore. promised the committee to
improve certain streets in certain order and
tine committee recommended this list to the
House. The amount was cut down by $50. $50
and Il rested with the Commissioners to appor-
ton that loss.
how THE DIVISION WAS MADE.
How did they do it," asked MIR. Weller.
They cut down Georgetown's appropriation
b. 80 per cent. or S13.7JO; the southwest's by
80 per cent. or $500: the northwcst's bv G per
cent, or $4,000. and East Washingtou's by over
90 per cent, or $4,000. Thus thev gave the
most favored section the greatest gain and the
least loss, and the most deserving section the
least gain and the greatest loss, whereas the
only just and equitable method would have
been tC cut down the appropriation Of each sec
ton by 80 per cent. But we who know this
bOdIu OF commissioners. VINO nave had busI-
ness with them. are not surprised to see them
10 anything like this. Here is a promise TO
the committee to improve streets in a certain
order. Are they doing it, or gong to do itY
Far from II. They are making plans that will
shut out streets away up at the head of the
general schedule. streets that were left over
from last year, while they go ahead with the
Improvement OF other streets away
down on the list. 1t is somewhat
amusing TO notice the haste of the present
board to appOrtiOn out the money that will not
become available until July /. while we are
daily looking for an entire change in its per-
sonnet. But this Is just on par with the pol
Icy that has always characterized the treatment
OF East Washington by these Commissioners.
The spirit that governs the board, the master
mind. is Mr.. Wheatley His malignancv for
this section is only surpassed by his ignorance
That We have rights. and that they are recog-
nized.is proved by the letters we have received
from the Senators. IL Is our plain duty TO call
the attention Of the new board of Commission
ers, a. soon a. they are appointed. to this un-
Just discrimination by their predecessors in the
fHce Of their promises to Congress In nv
opinion We have a perfect right to appeal to
the controller OF the Treasury when the time
comes Tor payments OIt Of this fund. and de-
msnd that he withhold payments until the
schedule Is carried out in accordance with the
provisions fixed by the House
III " AftAAs't III 70 DC tbLltiItd enough 10
think that he wl.l ue his own Successor. Ii he
J. We snail have 70 carry him before a higher
tribunal"
COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER IT.
Mr.. Weller moved the appointment OF a COM
mittee Of FIVE 20 take this matter of the
street schedule under consideration. with the
power to Use thor own discretion in acting 70
preserve the inter. sts Of East Washington. This
VS. agreed 10. and the char appointed Mes-rs.
weller. Sperry. Stocking. Edwards and Walker
Mr.. >perry was elected q delegate 10 the Com
Elttce of One Hundred IN the place Of Col. Far
row. resigned. BY vote of the association the
number Of altcrDates 10 the committee was in
Creased from SIX 10 twelve, and the following
additional aiternates we're selected: Geo. II.
HOFFMAN. james Plant. A Gaddis. z. J. Lock
wood. Duncan thompson and A. ID. Chesledyne
The ASSOCIATION was TemInded bv Mr. Weller
that II was barely possible that the Eastern
Branch bridge would be finished before 1880
and that 1t would be a good thing for the mem
bers TO begin the preparation Of plans tor a
celebration Of the event to eclipse any
similar occasion ever seen III this section of the
country.
BOOMING COMMITTEE
Mr. Sperry brought ont his boom" which
was laid on the table at the last meeting. and he
talked earnestly In favor OF a systematic adj
vancement of the claims of East Washington AZ
"a desirable locality for homes and for the in
Nr-LOf ne favored the organization of body
similar 10 the boards Of trade of other cities
and moved the appointment Of a committee of
three to consider schemes for the production OF
p healthy, honest and efficient boom.
Mr. stocking. in secOnding this motion, re-
marked that public spirit Is at rather low ebb
In Washington just at present. He referred 10
the fact that the nOrtheds. has grown wonder
fully of late, Notwithstanding many disadvap-
tages. such as hills 20 be lowered. holes TO be
filed. and a generally lower level. The south
east Possesses some Disadvantages. too. of
course. he added: the presence OF the aims
house. the workhouse. the hospital and the
jail, for example. But they have got to go. he
Irophesled. and the Eastern Branch il gong
10 be dredged. thus extending the living poe
slDIlItIes far into the east The northwest is
comparatively full now. being in fact so fully
occupied thar the sewerage system is far from
being good as ii should be.
The committee was agreed upon, and Nessrs.
sperry, stocking and Weller were appointed.
Our Relations with Spain.
The Marquis de Armijo, minister of foreign
Affairs. has prepared reply to a communities
tlOn recently addressed TO the Spanish govern