Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-30
BOND ISSUE PLAN
A General Unanimfty n to the Inn
Asnts-The Resolutions Adopted.

After the report closed In last nights
Star Of the discussion at the special meet
ing Of the board Of trade held yesterday
afternoon at Willard Hall. for the purpose
of considering the bond issue plan. there
was further debate, and then the following
resolutions presented by Mr.. A. 8. Worth
ington. were adopted: .,-
Resolved. that the board Of trade heart
ily Endorses the proposition to issue bonds
to the amount Of 81. 500. 900 to raise nond 2
necessary to complete the seweragS9tys
tenn of the District in accordance with the
plans recommended in 1890 by the board
and suburban street extension and improve
ment after plans for extending the same In
harmony with the present city streets and
avenues shall be approved.
Resolved. that proportionate contribu-
ton by the national government toward all
Of these improvements, without exception.
II vital feature of the proposed legisla-
ton"
the rising vote which was taken. with the
exception of Mr.. w. c. Dodge. who was
opposed to the issue Of bonds for any
larger amount than was necessary
to extend the sewers in accord
ance with the plan Of the board Of en-
gineers. Mr.. Dodge. in the course Of his
remarks. emphasized the importance Of
carrying out the plan of sewer extension
as recommended by the board of sanitary
engineers, and said that in regard toq this
Improvement he was confident that there
was no dissenting opinion among the citf-
zens Of the District.
He was heart and soul in favor Of the Is
sue of four and one-half million OF dol
lars in 3 per cent District bonds for sewer
extension work. He expressed, however,
his decided opposition to the proposed issue
of three millions Of bonds to pay for the ex-
tension of the city's streets. He spoke Of
the present debt on the District Of $1S.-
600 900. and said that this debt was six
times as great per capita as that OF any
Of the southern states. He claimed that by
adding this additional amount the District
would be too heavily burdened. He pre-
dicted that II the friends Of this bill per-
sisted in inserting this rider. as he termed
1t. providing for 100000 for street ex-
tension. that the measure would be killed
Congress. he said. had already refused to
pay Its share in the improvement Of sub
urban STREETS and 1t will be found that that
body will throw out this provision for street
extension.
Various Views Expressed.
Previous to Mr.. Dodge's remarks. Mr..
T. L. Holbrook made quite a lengthy speech
In which he favored the measure with the
exception that the pending bill in several
particulars could be amended to advantage.
He offered as amendments to the bill sew
eral Recommendations which had been adopt
ed by the Washington Brick Exchange.
which provided specifically that the plans
Of the board Of sanitary engineers should
be followed. that no part of the proceeds
of the sale of bonds should be used In
experiments, etc. Qualification was .ex-
pressed by Mr.. r. Ross Perry that no dis
senting voice had been heard as to the inn
portance and necessity Of the measure. He
laid emphasis specially on the necessity Of
improving the sanitary condition of the
city. In regard to the objections offered
by Mr.. Holbrook; Mr. Perry was Of the
the work could be properly trusted to those
who would be in charge of 1t and II mis-
takes were made they could be corrected.
In the opinion of Mr. A. 8. Worthing-
ton. II this bill was to be cut In half as
proposed by Mr.. Dodge he believed that 1t
would be more to the public interest to re-
tain the half which would authorize the
extension of streets than the part which
gives authority for sewer extension, i'm
portant as the latter work isx He referred
to his work In connection With preparing
the street extension bill and dwelt on the
heavy expense which further delay in
carrying out the scheme of street extern
sion would involve He believed that the
board should place itself on record as
favoring the general principle involved.
leaving the details Of the bill to be worded
was.
Government and the District.
Attention was called by Mr.. c. C. Glover
to the fact that the so-called highway law
for street extension divided the cost be-
tween the property-owners and the Dis
trict- The bond-issue plan bill makes the
bonds payable half by the government and
half by the District, so that when the bond
issue plan becomes a law 1t Is evident that
the old relations Of the government and the
District as to street improvements in the
suburbs would be restored. He spoke of the
advantages to the District of -he street ex-
tension, and cited the case Of the Rock
Creek Park as an illustration OF how delay
In the acquisition Of that property cost the
government double in the course Of four
years. -
Mr.. B. H. Warner quoted figures showing
the large sums Of money that had been sx-
pended by private individuals in the county
In the way of public improvements. He
showed how the spread Of the system of
wfde generous streets had improved prop
erty. He quoted the statistics of the popu-
latfon Of Washington and said that this
wonderful growth was due to the influence
Of the enterprise and energy of Alexander
r. Shepherd. This sentiment was loudly
applauded, and Mr.. Warner went on to say
that II the people of this District supported
this measure In a weakened way II would
get the same kind Of support In Congress-
A strong speech was made by Mr. John
Joy Edison in support Of the measure Mr.
w. H. Moses also Endorsed the measure, and
then. as stated above. the resolution was
adopted and the meeting adjourned
A vote Of thanks was extended to Mr.
Staples for the use of the hall. :"