Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-30
TO DEM land PROTECTION
Takoma Citizens Mean to Insist on Police
and Fire Apparatus
Meeting Last Night-ReIief for Burned
sented-Committecs Appointed.

Out Citixens-Enersetic Views Pre-
sented-Committees Appointed.
In response to call issued shortly after
the destructive fire at Takoma Park yes
terday morning between fifty and one hun
dred Of the citizens of the village met there
In the Presbyterian chapel last evening,
the gentler sex being we'll represented, to
render aid to those made homeless by the
fire. and. also to discuss the means of Sc
curing some protection Of the homes and
lives Of the citizens OF the place, As a
result OF the meeting something more than
800 was contributed for the purpose of re-
neving the wants of the sufferers from the
nre and a volunteer fire company was
FORMED. A committee was appointed to So
hclt and disburse the relief fund, and an
otner committee was appointed to lay be-
lore Congress and the District Commission
ers the needs of the village of police and
hre protection, with instructions not to re-
quest, but to demand as a matter of right
such Immediate and continued protection
mayor Enoch Maris Of the Maryland por-
tlon or the village was called to the chair
ana Mr.. Geo A. Warren made secretary
OF the meeting. After briefly explainine
the causes which led to the call for the
meeting Chairman Maris called for any
moton or suggestion pertinent to the call.
Speeches Follow.
Capt. Leh stated that those responding
to the call met as citizens and neighbors.
knowing no division line There was need
or immediate assistance and he knew that
every one would promptly respond. They
also met to devise plan for self protection
The disastrous fire had too forcibly shown
that such protection was an immediate ne
cessity.
DIR. A. j. Cory spoke In a similar way
and moved that a committee of three be
appointed to solicit subscriptions for the re-
lief of those sufferers from the fire needing
assistance, and to superintend the distri-
button of the relief fund.
Mr.. 5. 5. Shedd said he was opposed to
the appointment of any committee. The
meeting had been called for immediate ac-
tion but 1t would not be had by the APP
pointment of a committee The generosity
of every one was aroused. but before q
committee could act 1t might fall.
DR.. Cory explained that the appointment
of the proposed committee would not pre-
vent any one from at once contributing
and he again urged it's appointment.
The appointment of the committee was
then authorized and Capt. Leh. Mr.. Shedd
and Judge Thos. F. Miller We're named as
the committee.
Replying to Judge Miller, the chairman
stated that he understood that only Messrs.
Cox and Watkins were In real need, and he
believed that no great amount was neces-
sary for their relief. The secretary Of the
meeting was then requested to collect con-
tributions from those present, and previous
to the adjournment of the meeting 1t was
announced that 500 had been collected.
Demand Protection.
Mr.. ]. Vance Lewis. having moved that
a committee Of five be appointed for the
purpose of devising means for the better
protection Of the village. Judge Miller re-
marked that the people Of the village enjoy
ed no protection whatever. He was opposed
to the appointment Of committees. The park
had enjoyed full measure Of committees.
About all Takoma had received in the past
had been obtained in other ways. During
the day he had talked with District Com
missioner Ross, who had promised to do
what he could for the village. The reason
the place had not gotten what 1t needed. the
Judge thought was simply because its c1ti-
zens were too backward in asking for what
they needed. The village needed protection
from fire and 1t also needed police protec-
ton. The only way to get such protection
was to go before the District Commission
ers and Congress and demand 1t as matter
Takoma paid the same taxes as the people
of the city. and in law and equity were en-
titled to precisely the same rights and privi-
leges. He therefore moved as substitute
that the committee be directed to go before
Congress and the Commissioners and de-
mand the needed protection.
Judge Millers substitute was unanimously
adopted. and the following were named as
the committee: Judge Miller, Capt Leh, S.
Shedd, George Bailey and c. NJ. Heaton,
jr.
Volunteer Firemen.
The meeting then proceeded to a discus
sion of the subject Of a village fire depart
ment, and the matter was discussed at
great length, it being the unanimous opin-
ion that something should be done at once
to afford some protection against fire. Many
plans were suggested. and finally it was
resolved that a village volun-
teer fire department be at once formed, to
be composed of every able-bodied citizen
in both the District and Maryland portions
of the village. Mr.. G.. L. Favorite was
elected chief Of the department., and Messrs.
D. M. Judd. A. ]. Corey, Homer Gerry,
Lewis r. Dudley and George H. Wells
were made directors of the department,
with power to make all the necessary rules
and regulations governing it and to make
the necessary purchases Of ladders, buck
cts, &c.
The meeting then adjourned subject to
the call OF the chairman.
Written for The Evening Star.
December Drifts.
Cold cloudlets spot over the heavens,