Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-26
THE APPLICATION DENIED.
Can't Hold q Public Meeting on the
Streets to Solicit Funds for Coxey,

Can't Hold q Public Meeting on the
Streets to Solicit Funds for Coxey.
The application of the sympathizers of
Coxey, to hold public meeting on the
streets Of Washington, for the purpose of
collecting funds for the support Of his fol-
lowers, has been denied by the Commits
sioners.
When the application was received it was
sent to Maj. Moore for report. The latter,
however, made no recommendation other
than quoting the law relative to such meet
ings.
When the board met this afternoon, the
subject was called up for discussion. 1t did
not take the Commissioners long to make
up their minds. They unanimously rejected
the application on the ground that they had
no general power to grant permits of that
character. The following is their letter in
full upon the subject:
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS,
WASHINGTON, d. c., April %, 1894.
Messrs. ]. A. De Witt and others:
Gentlemen: The Commissioners have the
honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
communication of April q, 1894, in which,
referring to a mass meeting held April p
for the purpose of providing provisions and
comfort for the bands of the unemployed
who are now marching to the national
capital, you state as follows:
THE undersigned were appointed a COM
mittee to wait upon your honorable body
and ask permission to hold meetings from
the 'tally-ho coach the use Of which has
been rendered by Mr.. j. A. De Witt,
Thursday and Friday evenings OF this week
at 18th and Pennsylvania avenue north
west; also for a mass meeting in front Of
the court house and corner Of It'll and
pennsylvania avenue on Saturday evening.
April 2S 1894.
THE object of these meetings is to in
terest the public In contributing provisions
and clothing, ETC., to the bands aforemen-
toned"
The Commissioners have carefully con-
sidered this matter and are convinced that
tney nave no power under the law to grant
the permits requested. The act Of Congress
approved July ~. 1872, entitled, IAN act
for the preservation of public peace and
the protection of property within the Dis
trict of Columbia" section q, provides as
follows:
THAT 1t shall not be lawful for any per-
son or persons within the District Of Co
lumbia to congregate and assemble at the
corners Of any of the streets or avenues
or in any street, avenue or alley, road or
highway or on the foot pavements or flag
footways of any street or avenue or at
the entrance or on the steps. cellar doors,
porches or porticoes of any public or pri-
vate building or office, or at the entrance
OF any public or private building or office
or at the entrance or in, on or around any
Of the Enclosures Of the Capitol, Executive
Mansion, public squares District build
IiSS, judiciary SQudTt, or AT the entrance
of any church, school house, theater or any
assembly room, or in or around the same,
or any other public or private Enclosure
within the said District. ana be engaged
in loud or boisterous talking, or to insult
or make rude or obscene comments or re-
marks or observations on persons passing
by the same, or in their hearing or to so
crowd, obstruct or incommode the said
foot pavement or flag footway, or the en-
trance into or out of such church, public
or private dwelling, city hall, Executive
Mansion Capitol or such public Enclosure,
square or alley, highway or road as to
prevent the free and uninterrupted passage
thereof, under a penalty of not more than
$25 for each and every such offense.
The Commissioners have no general power
to grant permits for public meetings upon
the streets or avenues Of the District of
Columbia, or in front Of the city hall, and
1t will be apparent to the members of your
committee that the issuance of the permit
requested would be in direct violation OF
the last clause of said section. which makes
unlawful for such assemblages 'to so
crowd, obstruct or incommode the said foo,
pavement OF nag footway, or the entrance
into or out of any such church, public or
private dwelling, city hail." etc.
In other words, the act Of Congress posi-
| lively forbids such meetings at the places
| named, and the Commissioners have nc
authority to issue such a permit.
Very respectfully,
JOHN w. ROSS,
| President Board of Commissioners, u. c.