Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-26
MIR. RIDDLE CENSURED.
The South Washington Citizens AssO-
citation Adopt Vigorous Resolutions.

The meeting of the Citizens protective asso-
citation, of South Washington last evening was
mainly occupied with the consideration of the
attitude OF Mr.. Riddle, the attorney of the Dis
trict Commissioners, towards the interests of
that section in their warfare against the use of
the streets by the Pennsylvania railroad COM
pany. n. II. Shea presided, and NJ. J. Colbert
was secretary. Father Donnelly, Maurice Fitz-
gerald, DR.. Allen and others made addresses
and resolutions offered by Henry Wex were
adopted
THE RESOLUTIONS.
In the resolutions it is stated that the atten-
ton of Mr. Riddle was called to the fact that the
Pennsylvania company was occupying streets
with railroad tracks contrary to law. That Off
cial, the resolutions assert, thereupon "delIv-
cred himself of the extraordinary opinion that
the railroad can not have tracks from Virginia
avenue into the freight depot complained of
without an act of Congress, while the state
ment of the citizens showed that such track
was there contrary to law. Yet this learned
dlgnltary most complacently advises the Com
missiOners not to prosecute the railroad. He
was so much afraid of losing the good will of
the railroad company that he did not wish to
quarrel with them even If he did have to vio-
late his oath OF office in order to leave them
alone.
Whereas we, on account of his inconsistent
opinions and by reason of his WEAKNESS in at
tending to the peoples business, and his flip
pant and insulting challenges, feel that We must
protect ourselves.
Whereas the citizens association Of South
west Washington has been organized to pro-
tect the interests of the people of that section
in this particular. We, then, the members of
that organization hereby
RtSOiCe. That we heartily and emphatically
condemn the treatment of our citizens when
presenting complaints which need legal opinion
from the attorney for the District; that ii is the
duty OF the Commissioners to act on such COM
plants, the law having placed them i'll charge
OF streets and given them police force to re-
move distractions; thata private citizen should
not be called upon to institute a suit to abate a
nuisance; and that the attorney for this Dis
trict, A. q. Riddle, has mistaken the legal
remedy i'll his sundry invitations to these
South Washington people" as he calls us. to
come to his office and make aftidavits in a case
for him to prosecute; that We regard Mr. Rid
die Invitations as evasions of duty, and his
advice to hold our tongues unless we accept
them as more hippant and insulting than even
the remarkable language OF many OF his So
called legal opinions had led US to expect;
that We respectfully invite the District Com
mlssioners to take measures to secure decorum
of language i'll the official reports OF the attorney
for the District.
GLAD THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS TERMS HAD
NEARLY EXPIRED.
DR.. Allen, in the course of his remarks,
sharply criticised the Commissioners for their
conduct regarding the railroads and said that
he was very glad their terms of Office had about
expired He expressed the hope that the new
administration would recognize the injustice of
appointing all the Commissioners for the
northwestern section of the city. He thought
that Gen. Harrison would help the citizens of
South Washington to obtain redress of their
grievances.
After further discussion the meeting ad-
iourned