Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-04


UPON STREET IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT SECTION
OTHER BUSINESS TRANSACTED.
An important meeting Of the East Washing
inStou Citizens A Association was held last even
! ing at Baum Hall. corner Ith and Fast Capitol
streets. In the absence of President Babsou
Mr. W. ". Danenhower was called to the chair.
When the call was made for reports from
committees Mr.. +. A. Lehman, chairman Of
the committee on streets. avenues and alleys,
reported verbally and submitted certain data
relative 10 the resolution of Mr.. S. c. Clarke.
presented at the last monthly meeting Of the
association.
STREETS THAT BAD BEN IMPROVED.
The resolution in question was briefly to get
the committee on streets. avenues and alleys
to report what streets in the northeast and
southeast sections had been benefited by the
congressional appropriation Of s4O0, 600 for the
improvement and repairs under the second
class provision 'for the streets and aven ues
heretofore and not herein authorized and not
contracted for" The following streets Mr..
Lehman reported. had been improved under
the siO0.0O appropriations: The paving OF
New York avenue northeast from North Capt.
toll street 20 Florida avenue: North Capitol
from X to VI; 18th southeast from ID to Penn
sylyania avenue; Flofids avenue northeast
from BladensbUrg road to 9Th, grading and
regulating; Sd street northeast from to II,
paved; Massachusetts avenue northeast from
North Capitol to LIST, paved; 10th southeast
from ID to Pennsylvania avenue; Pennsylvsnia
avenue southeast from llth to new bridge,
sidewalk, paving; llth street southeast from
East Capitol to q; & street northeast from Sth
TO lOth ID southeast from 9Th to Pennsylvania
avenue; North Carolina avenue southeast from
eth to llth; north side OF Lincoln Square;
street southeast; I'd street southeast.
MR. CLARKE TAkEs ISSUE WITH THE REPORT.
Mr.. S. c. Clarke took issue with Mr.. Lehman
on the report of the committee for the reason
that it was not pertinent with the resolution.
What the resolution was intended to bring out,
lie said. was the law in the case and the rights
of the citizens of East Washington under it.
He referred to the act OF Congress appfoprlst-
ing the money and that portion of the act
which read that the money was to be expended
upon the streets and avenues heretofore and
not herein authorized and not contracted for"
He was of the opinion that the words hereto
tofOre and not herein authorized and not con-
tracted for applied to all streets which had
heretofore been recommended. The Commits
slOners. however had ruled differently.
MIR. NJ. W. Wines desired to know what the
assoc. ton could do in the matter.
Mr.. Clarke replied that while he was not
lawyer he was sure that if the Commissioners
bad exceeded their authority and violated any
law they were amenabe to the law, and one
could be found To reach them.
THE REPORT ADOPTED.
The previous question being called for, the
report of the committee was adopted.
The chairman of the committed on water,
sewers and lights. Mr.. A. g. Bliss reported the
recommendation OF his committee that III street
be lighted by electricity. The committee also
recommended that two public gas lamps be
placed in front of the NJ. +. Church. corner Sth
and Il streets southeast. Both recommend..-
tlOnS received the anprOyal of the
MIR. j. W. Brown OF the committee on public
parks and spaces reported that action had
been taken on the resolution presented on the
2lst of last April requesting the Commissioners
to cause the Washington and Georgetown Rail-
road Company to take Its tracks out Of the
parking on Pennsylvania avenue east He said
he found that the act of Congress of May II.
1862. chartering the railroad provided that
the tracks shall be laid in the middle of
the street. The committee had found that the
COmmissionershad no jurisdiction in the mat
ter and there was nothing further to be done,
unless an act of Congress be obtained to change
the act of Incorporation.
The committee to draft proposed legislation
submitted its report relative TO the resolution
of Mr.. VI. /. Weller. affecting the retention of
Capts. Eossell and Lusk.
CAPTAINS RossELL AND LUsK.
The following is the report:
"Your committee to draft proposed legisla-
ton the resolution introduced by Mr.. NJ. /.
Weller instructing it TO inquire and report
what action this association should take to re-
tain the services of Capts. Rossell sald Lusk
and Is of opinion that no action should be
taken IN the premises. This conclusion is
drawn from the following facts: These officers
are. under the law, under the exclusive control
of the War Department as to assignments.
There seems TO be a practice prevailing that an
assignment to this District shall be only for a
period of about three years. but there is no dc
partment regulation on the subject. If any
extension of this period is sought your com
mittee is of opinion that it should be by the
individual action of citizens and not by resolu-
tion of any organization. Therefore. without
any intention that the action should be con-
strued as any objection. personally or officially,
to either OF the officers named, your committee
recommends that the preamble and resolu-
tion be laid ON the table. All of which is re-
spectfully reported by order Of the commit
tee.
The report created quite stir.
THE BEsr ASSISTANTS We HAVE FAD.
Mr.. NJ. |. Weller was on his feet in moment
and defended his resolution at length He said
that he thought it piece of impertinence on
the part of the committee in recommending
the tabling of a resolution which was referred
to them for report and not recommendation.
lie eulo-iZed the assistants to the Engineer
Commissioner and declared they were the best
Washington had ever had This periodical
changing of engineer officers was all wrong
No matter how bright man might be it takes
one or two years to master the works Of the
District assigned to their care.
The discussion grew quite warm. All were
ready TO admit that Capts Rossell and Lusk
were able men and that the District would
suffer were they transferred. but a few thought
it no business of the association to try and
run the War Department.
Mr.. Neil Dumonts resolution that the report
be accepted without the recommendation
proved the oil to the troubled waters and it was
carried unanimously las was the report accepted.
Mr.. Wines then moved that further argument
be suspended until the next meeting. and this
prevailing, the heated discussion ended.
The committee TO draft proposed legislation
also reported a resolution changing its name to
the committee on legislation. The committee
also had third report to make but owing to
the lateuess of the hour it was held over until
the next meeting.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Under the head of unfinished business the
amendments offered by the executive commit
tee to the constitution at the last NEE ting were
taken up and passed. the principal one being
the change in the annual election of officers
from September TO October.
Before the meeting adjourned Mr.. Weller
called attention to the centenary of the naming
of the capital. which wound occur on Septem-