Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-10
EXTENSION GRANTED
Commonwealers Have Until Tomor-
row to Move Their Camp.
DESERfI0NS FROM The ARMY
Mr.. Coxey Talks About Health to
the Authorities.
7 81 E CA p A NJ EN- ACE
T he CAMP A MEN ACE


to remove its camp. As stated In yester-
days Star. Health Onicer Hammett iasued
notice directing Gen. Coxey to vacate the
premises and Owner Bensinger to abate the
nuisance existing there within forty-eight
hours. The notice reads as follows:
After a thorough sanitary and medical
Inspection Of the grounds and SURROUNDINGS
OF square 595 occupied by your men as Q
camp. IT becomes my duty under the health
regulations to inform you that the place In
unft for human habitation. the occupation
Of which is a menace to public health and
liable to disseminate disease in the COM
munity. You are therefore notified to va
cate said premises within forty-eight hours
from the receipt OF this notice"
The receipt Of this notice threw conster-
nation in the camp Of the commonwealers.
Gen. Coxey. although surprised was not
al all worried. He remarked IL was strange
that the Commissioners had taken such
means Of disposing Of the army after il had
done 50 much 20 improve the conditions ex-
listing at the camp when the army first oc-
cupled II. At any rate, he determined 10
confer with the Commissioners and get an
extension OF time IL possible Armed with
the notice to quit, he called upon the health
onlcer this morning to discuss the situation.
Mr.. Hammett Well Informed.
well, doctor. i received your notice to
vacate the camp. and have come to ask
You the reason such notice was issued"
said Gen. Coxey opening the conversation
Briefly speaking. the camp is unhealthy.
unsanitary and a menace TO health" re-
piled the health officer.
But are you aware Of the improvements
In the shape OF sanitary arrangements that
have been made there since have oc-
cupied it?' questioned the chief Of the COM
monwealers
Yes / know all about that, but they
] n
regulations. You are occupying eighty lots,
and the law requires that every lot 80 oc-
cupied shall be provided with p-ivy and
proper sewer connections"
/ do You mean TO say" questioned Gen
Coxey, that in the case OF a building oc-
cupying an entire square Of eighty or ons
or one hundred privies and sewer connec-
tions?"
But that is not a parallel case" said DIR.
Hammett The owner OF that property
has subdivided 1t into eighty lots. ana these
lots are occupied separately" Continuing.
] DIR. Hammett said:
There can be no doubt as to the sani-
! tary condition OF your camp. I have been
familiar with the place for twenty-three
years and know IL well. The emanations
from the ground. which is filled ground, are
deieterious to health. Why, the owner of
the lot told me yesterday that he would
not think of ccrralling his horses here. II
houses were erected there the situation
would be different The floors then would
J
/ from the ground. Now IL is well known
: that the sun dissipates odors and POISON
Gus germs. but al night IL Is diferens<f The
noxious odors from the canal only serve TO
! increase the liability TO disease. Why, Mr..
Coxey, the continuation of that camp 10
likely to breed typhus fever. Then there Is
a likelihood OF dysentery. which is almost
as bad cholera"
Mr.. Health Officer" rejoined Gen Coxey,
There was cause enough there before the
army arrived TO make the whole neighbor-
. hea haNA
cause. and have increased the sanitary con-
dition 100 per cent Drain pipes have been
laid. sew -r and water connections nave been
made. and The camp is. in my oplnion, In
as good sanitary condition as any house in
the neighborhood."
An Interruption.
While the conversation was going on Mr.
George W. White called TO enter a protest
against members OF the army deposlting ma
nure and other filth on Riley's pk,rf In
was becoming a serious nuisa2ec and s=y.
dangering the health OF the citizens in thss
vicinity.
Dr. Hammett ordered an inspector TO 20
al once TO the locality and stop further
dumping there.
Resuming. DR. Hammett said:
ACCORDING 10 the reports made 20 me ly
the physicians sent TO investigate the mat
ter, II would take at least six months 10
put the camp in a sanitary coniiiSn. can't
understand how human beings can want TO
live IN that place"
Can't Grant Extension.
There is where you misunderstood rs.
DOCTOR We have no desire to remain there.
We have Travelled hundreds OF miles 70
better our condition. not to make il worse.
And We have been exerting ourselves TO
make cur camp sanitary. Why. we occupy
the same position that thousands of peo-
pie do who live i'm tent ment houses all over
the country. They are anxious TO get away
nom their surroundings and better their
conditions, and so ale We. But let's TO
business. What I want is an extension Of
time in which to move. We have some
equities. and don't enjoy being evicted
without chance"
The power TO grant an extension does
rot rest with me-" replied DR. Hammett
II am simply executive officer and am
carrying out the orders Of my superiors. You
viii have to get an extension from the
Commissioners or stand the consequences"
/ the chief OF the commonwea,ers then
started fer the District building and OBJ
| tained a hearing before the board of Com
m.ssioners.
An Extension Granted.
II am before you. gentlemen. 10 ask for
an extension OF time I'm which to move the
ccmmoDweal camp. We have complied with
all regulations. but there seems a disposi-
ton to get us out. And we want to go. but
certainly time should be given In which TO
/ find another camp. We don't want 10 be
lie charge"
Commissioner Ross stated that there was
apprehension among a large number Of
citizens lest pestience should break out
in the camp. and the Commissioners were
simply acting in behalf of the citizens in
| ordering the army to move its camp TO
some more sanitary location. The report
of the health officer made that imperative.
The health officer should direct his at
tention to the pools OF stagnant water on
/ the outside Of the camp" interjected Gen.
| CoNey.
That shows the surroundings are bad
and is another argument TO move" naively
| rejoined Commissioner Ross.
Gentlemen, want to move and have
/ been doing our utmost TO get another camp.
My arrest has been responsible for the de-
lay. Even now an effort is being made 10
get another place"
| Finally Commissioner Ross said he had no
| objection to granting an extension. provided
due diligence was employed 10 find another
camp, and. with the consent OF Capt. Powell.
Gen. CoNey was given until tomorrow after
/ noon TO find another camp and report in
person TO the Commissioners.
To Hear Coxcy's Requests.
Representative Ikirt OF Ohio has intro
duced the following resolution in the House:
Whereas in view Of the fact that Ameri-
can citizens. however misguided they may