Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-04
AGAINST LEGISLATIVE AurHoRIry
East Washington Citizens Opposed to Giving
That Power to the Commissioners


LARGELY ATTENDED MEETING OF THE AssocrA
TON LAST SroHr-A HISTORY OF EAST WASH
rssroS TO BE PREPARED AND PR1SrED-coR
REsPoSDEScE OVER EMPLOYING ELEcrKIS
LIGHr IN THAT SECTION.
The largest attended meeting Of the Eas,
Washington Citizens Association was called to
order by President Babson in regular monthly
session AZ Bsum's Hall After q slight correc.
ton the minutes Of the last meeting were APP
7roved and Mr.. s. G. Clark rising to question
ofprfviiege, said:
MR.. cLARK's PROTEST.
In IN emergency, awaiting the action OF
Congress on pending bill, prepared at the in
stance of the District Commissioners confer
ring on them the power OF legislation TO have
the same force and effect as if enacted by Con-
gysssp on the I'd Of February last. ten months
ago, i offered n resolution for adoption by
this association, depreeatory Of legislation by
executive officers, but the presiding officer
ruled that said resolution must first be consid-
cred by standing committee, and it was re-
ferred accordingly, thus necessarily delaying
action thereon to near the end Of that Congress.
Other agencies, therefore. were employed to
defeat said bill for that session OF Congress, and
the committee on railroads, to which said reso-
luton had been referred, neglected to make
any report thereon for six months. Then,
on the 9th of August last, said commit
tee was discharged from its further con-
sideration. and the said resolution was
thereupon referred to the committee to draft
proposed legislation. Said last named COM
mittee deliberately considered the question in
volved and carefully prepared a resolution on
the subject Invested OF every unpleasant illu-
sion and which WAS unanimously approved by
the committee and promptly reported with the
Recommendation that it be adopted by the
ISOLATION. Thereupon, on motion OF Mr.. Weller,
said report was received and fled At the
next meeting inquired as to the status OF
said report and was informed that IL had been
filed with the secretary. / then asked that its
consideration be made the order of business
for the next meeting. Thereupon 1 was told
II had been disposed Of or indefinitely post
ponsd, mir. Weller stating that his motion
Ito fle'' was understood to be equivalent to in
definite postponement, and the chair ruled that
IL must now be considered new business.
Thereupon Mr.. Brown moved that said report
be taken up and, without reading. be indefi-
nitely postponed. i then protested against
any action 80 discourteous and offensive in the
absence of all but one OF the members of the
committee; and DIR. Hubbell, who, / believe,
had never heard the report, inquired OF mo
what expected to accomplish by its consider
alton As was proceeding to inform him the
chair put the question and declared 1t carried,
and is Immediately followed by adjourn
ment I then went up to the platform to ask
the secretary TO let the minutes show that was
striving to be heard when the question was put
BY tie chair and turning to the chairman re-
marked that on re Election he would be sorry
for such proceedings. He then replied that
they were Impatient for adjournment and that
they complained that ne let me talk toe much.
Personally, think 1 can stand all this ii tho
association can; but can never consent that a
committee OF this association may be treated
In such a manner with IMMUNITY.
II, as Mr.. Weller claims, they ARE all agreed
upon the resolution" recommended for
adoption by the committee / have no desire
further 10 discuss it. but shall insist that it
be acted upon in a more civil, manly and par
hamen.ary manner. Obviously the action
thereon at the last meeting without war
rant or validity. IL, as the chairman ruled,
II was new business II could not thus be dis
posed Of except by suspension Of the rules
OF the final vote on the adoption or rejection
Of the said resolution 1 am comparatively III
different. for no man is more tolerant of honest
differences of opinion than am. But a brave
and honest man never sneaks away from an
issue and is never afraid OF honest criticism.
On account OF impaired health / do not ex-
pect much longer to attend these meetings;
but toward no member of this association, per-
soually, do i entertain any other than kindly
feelings and for the association itself cherish
grateful recollections; but cannot but deeply
depiore Its apparent tendency to degeneracy
into merely favor-seeking organization.
NOT A QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.
President Babson ruled that in view Of the
b04n8kAe VI lif- SiafA. Which wtte no more
than protest. they could not be received as a
question Of privilege. They were out Of order
and could not be received.
Under the call for reports from committees
President Babsou stated that the executive
committee had no report to make. The COM
piiauon OF the history of East Washington was
progressing. 1t had found out that IL would
cost sll0 10 print the pamphlet. which would
consist OF about seventy-five pages The his
tory was divided practically into three parts
FIRST, East Washington proper, embracing its
AREA, public institutions and statistics relating
thereto; second, East Washington historically
epitomized. and, third. some interesting acts
OF joint resolutions of the city of Washington
passed by the first to sixty-eighth councils,
from 1907 to 1871. By unanimous vote it was
decided to authorize the committee to print
the report, whatever the cost.
At the last meeting of the association a reso-
luton vas passed authorizing the committee on
water. light and sewer TO inquire why it was
the United States Electric Lighting Company
did not avail itself of the authority to Law CON
duit along East Capitol street, with view of
lighting the same by electricity.
Mr.. A. u. Bliss. the chairman Of this commit
tee, submitted the report, forwarding a letter
from President A. A. Thomas Of the United
States Electric Lighting Company bearing on
the subject. which Is follows:
= - LIeHIISe East CAPITOL STREET.
~ have the honor to acknowledge receipt of
yout COMMUNICATION embracing tne resolution
Of the East Washington Citizens Association as
10 the desire Of that body that measures be
taken to light East Capitol street by electric
tty. In reply thereto would saw that by an
act OF Congress passed at the last session "a re-
striction was land upon the building of auy
more than fye miles of underground conduits
In the District The District Commissioners
In the exercise of their authority determined
that all OF the eonduits SO constructed should
be utilized for public street lighting. of which
the territory extending fgom the Peace monu-
ument TO Pennsy lvania avenue bridge formed
. part Under these circumstances We were
unable to carry out our already determined
plan TO construct the East Capitol street con-
duit as well that contemplated to
extend from It'll street northwest along
New York avonue and II street
northeast to the Biadensburg road
end still another from East Capitol and LIST
streets along Maryland avenue TO Boundary
northeast This work Is now unavoidabiy post
ponsd TO await the further action OF Congress
which action depends altogether upon the ur-
gsney and persisteney with which the wants of
oar people are made manifest. Knowing as i
do that the association you represent IL zeal
ousiy forwarding the congressional legislation
reqnis,te 10 keep step with the rapid improve
meat Of East Washington heartily invite its
cooperation In the efforts to be made ut the
approaching session 20 secure such appropria-
ton and such authority as may be necessary to
extend the system Of electric lighting not only
through East Capitol street. but through