Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-03
EAST wAsHINoron CITIZENS.



They Think Congress Does Not Give Su0cient
Time to Dfstriet Interests.
The East Warrington Citizens Association
met in regular monthly session last night q
s26 Pennsylvania avenue southeast
Mr.. NJ. L Weller, from the COMMITTEES on
assessment. said that through the efforts Of thu
committee having charge of the assessment
bill the latter had been engrafted on the Dis
trict appropriation bill and he understood the
same would be reported Tuesday. The associ-
alton, he said, should feel proud Of this meas
ure, which was first presented and urged by it
Mr.. A. r. sperry spoke at length on the in
sufficient means ut the disposal of the associa-
ton for meeting. BE said that every month
he devoted two days to the association. one
writing postal cards notifying the members Of
the meeting, the other secretary, recording
the minutes. He did not object to devoting
this time, providing something was done, but
out OF us members only en- average OF about
ten regularly attended. This, he thought,
would not be the case if the association met in
OF two things should prevail Either n hall
should be provided for the association to meet
In or the meetings should discontinue until the
president called them together. There was
plenty OF work to be done, and he would like
to see the committees stirred up, for out OF six
committees but three had ever done any work.
He hoped something would be done. ~ -
Mr.. Weller agreed with Mr.. Sperry regard
ing suitable meeting place. He said he was
IN favor of dismissing the committee which
had been intrusted with the duty of looking up
q suitable place for meeting and appointing
new one. consisting Of the president, secretary
aud treasurer, which should decide upon q
suitable place for he next meeting of the asso-
citation. He reduced his remarks to q motion
and itpreTailed unanimously.
POPULATION OF THAT SECTION.
aIr. Weller then referred to the instructions
he had received last fall regarding the popula-
tion Of East Washington. He said he had writ
ten three letters to the superintendent of CEN
sus, all of which had remained unanswered.
These were written in the name OF the associa-
ton. He had since written personal letter
and Ind received reply from Superintendent
Porter, in which that gentleman stated that as
the request involved considerable work, it
would be several days before the information
could be obtained.
A NEW FoRH OF GOVERNMENT.
Mr.. 8. c. Clark, under the call for new bust
ness, stated that he was sorry that the resolu-
ton submitted by him to the association and
referred to committee had not been re-
ported. The resolution, it will be remembered,
provided that the association earnestly pro-
tested against the passage of the bill author
i2ng the Commissioners of the District TO
make regulations concerning railroads in the
District. Mr.. Clark said that as this had not
been reported he would offer another resolu-
ton, which lie hoped would receive considera-
ton. Ho accordingly offered the following,
which was unanlYohsly referred to the rail-
road committed, sfter considerable discussion
by Messrs. Weber, Sperry and Clark
- hesoive&, That this association is in favor Of
a gayer1Kient for this District, republican in
form, in which good tax-paying citizens may
hay nj rr1las
shall be in some manner amenable to the peO-
ple''
Mr.. Sperry said that he did not think the
association should be hasty in taking up this
matter. He did not think tina: the association
should unnecessarily spread itself. II the citi-
zens committee of one hundred called upon the
association to take the matter up he would say
differently. but he saw no reason for the assO
citation pitching into the District at this time.
Mr. F. A. Lehman suggested that the matter
be laid upon the table, but he was overruled.
CONGRESS SEaLECTs THE DISTRICT.
Mr.. s. c. Clark spoke at length in advocacy
Of the resolution, and Mr.. Weller followed in
the same line. He said that If Congress could
not give sufficient attention to the District in
terests he was III favor Of comforting even
greater powers upon the Commissioners than
they possess at the present time. While in
spirit he was opposed to the union of legislation
and judicial powers he nevertheless recognized
the necessity OF additional legislation in fur
therance Of District interests. Apparently the
United States Congress was SO absorbed in
national matters that they we're unable to grant
any time to consider District affairs. Under
such circumstances it would certainly be pro-
tecting the welfare of our citizens by granting
authority to the District governors to frame
needed laws for the benefit of all concerned.
He said further that it was we'll
known fact that he was opposed to this form of
government, and was heartily in favor OF the
restoration of the municipal privileges in
which the citizens possessed the right to select
their own rulers, but SO long as We had the
present form of government it was absolutely
necessary, in the hight Of the experience of this
present Congress, that had totally disregarded
the recommendations OF the District commit
tees and refused to give o single hour to the
consideration Of questions which did not even
involve the expenditure OF single dollar, but
which were nevertheless of paramount impor-
lance, such as the chartering and extension of
railroad lines, changes in the laws governing
the admission of members to the police force,
the prohibition of the construction of tene-
ments in alleys, &c, that the board of Com
missioners of the District of Columbia should
be clothed with more plenary powers.
In conclusion he said that in view of the i'm
portance of the resolution presented he would
second the motion to refer 1t to the proper
committee. The meeting then adjourned.