Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-15
THE CAPITOL CENTENNIAL.

East Washington Citizens Urge the Com
missioner Cooperation in the Proposed
Celebration.
At q special meeting Of the board Of Com
missioners this afternoon the executive commit
tee Of the East Washington Citizens Associa-
ton, composed Of Messrs. J. W. Babson, A. F.
Sperry, NJ. l. Weller, VIM. Birney and F. A.
Lehman, appeared to lay before the
board a memorial asking the cooperation of
the Commissioners in the celebration Of the
centennial Of the laying of the cerner stone of
the United States Capitol. President Babson
presented the memorial which is as follows:
THE MEMORIAL
To the Commissioners Of the District Of Co
lumbia:
movement Of the citizens of portion of this
District to secure the celebration in an appro-
pirate manner of the one hundredth anniver-
sary of the laying of the corner stone of the
United States Capitol, brings us before this
session Of your honorable board today to make
a formal presentation Of the matter and ask
your cooperation.
These citizens have proceeded SO far as to
have ascertained that all reasonable facilities
for occupying the grounds. erecting stands
decorating the Capitol building, &C.. will be
accorded; that the movement meets with the
cordial appreciation of the Vice President, the
architect of the capitol and other prominent
officials and citizens. and they have gathered
together suggestions of what appears fitting
form of ceremonies to be observed on that occa-
sion, which have been embodied in the form Of
a report "a copy of which is attached a. an APP
pendix) OF a committee to the association Of
citizens, under whose direction they have
acted, which report and its recommends
tons have been approved and adopted
by the organization and its executive COM
hAHo
structed to take steps for the assembling
together Of the citizens of the District to SECURE
the united and earnest efforts Of all our people
to commemorate the great occasion by fitting
ceremonies.
As local movement it should be restricted
only by the boundary lines Of the District Of
Columbia, and from you. as the official repre-
sentatives Of all its citizens the call for such a
meeting would most appropriately come. In
80 far as 1t may partake OF a municipal charsc-
ter it would be inappropriate for other than the
official heads Of the local government to take
the initiative.
Believing that this movement will swell as il
touches the patriotic sentiment of the Ameri-
can people. till the sun OF September Is. 1898,
Will shine upon proper observances OF this an
niyersary in all the states and territories of the
Union, We think the executive heads of the
government of this federal territory should take
position at its head and front. to communicate
with and inspire other executives to partici-
pate.
For these reasons the East Washington Citi-
Zens' Association and other gentlemen asso-
ciated Herewith respectfully request that YOU
will call a meeting of the citizens of the Dis
trict at some suitable public place at an early
day to formulate means for securing the
celebration of the one hrfhdredth anniversary
of the historical event of the laying of the cor
ner stone of the United States Capitol with
appropriate ceremonies"
COMMISSIONER PARKER APPROVES
In the absence Of Commissioner Ross CON-
missioner Parker received the memorial and
said it was eminently appropriate that the lay
ing Of the corner stone Of the Capitol should be
fittingly celebrated. 1t was a matter not only
of local importance but one which should
command the attention of the nation
He had no doubt the Commissioners woul.
take such steps TO carry out the wishes of tn,
association embodied in the memorial. Gen
VIM. Birney and Mr.. NJ. l. Weller spoke inter
estingy In support Of the celebration.