Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-03
A AlNST Mr.. COW EN-
Civic Center Has an Opinion About Mary
land Congressman.
Don't Think He Ought to Go on the
District Committee-Deadly
Grade Crossings.

The regular monthly meeting of the Civic
Center Council was held at the First Con-
gregational Church yesterday afternoon,
the president, the Rev. DR.. s. NJ. Newman,
presiding. The very inclement weather was
responsible for a rather limited attendance,
although much business was transacted.
Delegates were appointed to the coming
convention here of the National Civil Service
Reform Association, grade crossings We're
condemned, the alleged efforts of Repre-
sentative John X. Cowen of Maryland to
secure an appointment as a member of the
House District committee were frowned
down upon and the effort of Health Officer
Woodward TO secure legislation lettering
the condition of tenement houses was heart
lily approved and commended.
After the resignation of Mrs. Anna l..
Woodbury. had been accepted, and Dr. New
man had been elected to the vacancy in the
council, the latter resigning the chairman
snip OF the committee on religious organiza-
tons, Miss katharine p. Hosmer moved
that Mr.. w. F.. Willoughby be made chair
man of the committee on the relations of
capital and labor, and that Mr.. H. d. New
comb be made member of the same COM
mittee. The motion prevailed Mr.. Horace
Mann transferring committee places with
Mr.. Newcomb.
AS delegates to the convention of the Ma
tional Civil Service Reform Association.
to be held here on the 18th of this month,
the following were selected: Mrs. Ellen
Spencer Mussey. DR.. John NJ. Gregory. Mr..
Edwin Willitts. Mr.. w. F. Willoughby, Mr..
Miss Josephine Clark.
Miss Isabel Lehman. DR.. James o.
Adams. Miss Emily s. Cook DIR. Edward
a. Morse and MIR. Bernard T. Greene were
elected to membership, and the two first
ramed were assigned to the committee on
public morals, and the two last named to
the committee the housing of the peo-
pie.
Grade Crossings.
After Mr.. F. l.. Siddons had given notice
of an amendment to the constitution pro-
viding fer the office of president of the
Civic Center, he called attention as chair
man of the committee on streets and al
lsys to the wide-spreading, popular move
ment here against grade crossings. He
ferred to the regulations recently made
by the District Commissioners requiring
steam railroad trains to stop before cross
ing street railway tracks, remarking that
a rigid enforcement, of the regulations
would eventually drive the steam railroads
to do away with grade crossings. OF
course. Mr.. SiddOns explained, these roads
will resort to all means to evade a COM
pliance with the regulations, and have al
ready filed a petition in court praying that
the Commissioners be enjoined from en-
forcing the regulations in question.
In the coming hearing on the petition,
said Mr. Siddons, Mr.. Nathaniel Wilson,
the attorney of the Metropolitan Railroad
Company, will assist the attorneys for the
District, and the Northeast Citizens Asso-
citation was also endeavoring to secure rep
resentation at the hearing. Representative
John X. Cowen of Maryland, explained Mr..
SIGdons, the general attorney of the Balt-
more and Ohio Railroad Company, is max
ing desperate efforts to secure an appoint
ment on the House District committee.
That is, said Mr.. Siddons, he had been re-
liably informed so, and it was fair and
legitimate inference that the Baltimore and
Ohio company is close behind and pushing
Mr.. Cowen in his efforts. 1t was also fair
inference, he thought, that the purpose of
Mr.. Cowen in getting, If he could, on the
District committee was to defeat hostile
railroad legislation, or legislation which Mr..
Cowen and the Baltimore and Ohio COM
pany might deem hostile. He thought that
the Civic Center should do all it could to de-
feat Mr.. Governs appointment to the Dis
triot committee, and that it should also join
in the crusade against the deadly grade
crossings.
District Committee.
Miss Alice Fletcher, after her motion
piedging the hearty cooperation of the
Civic Center with all other associations
and citizens against the further continu-
aEce of grade crossings, suggested that
Speaker Reed should be seen at the
lest moment, for it was only fair, she
thought, that the Speaker should, before
he makes up his committees, be made
acquainted with the real purpose of Mr..
Ccwen in endesvorirg to get on the Dis
trct committee.
DIR. Newman agreed with Miss Fletcher,
remarking that it would be very unfortu-
nate, indeed, to have Mr.. Cowen succeed in
getting where he might defeat the efforts
of the people of the District in their fight
against grade crossings.
Mr.. Siddons also thought Speaker Reed
should be made acquainted with Mr.. Cow
eE's supposed purpose, and should be re-
quested not to appoint him to the District
committee. Personally, said MIR. S!ddons,
he had great respect for Mr.. Cowen, and
he did not intend or wish to dscredit him,
but he did trust he would fail to get on the
District committee.
Mr.. Siddors, therefore, moved that the
secretary write Speaker Reed. asking that
Mr.. Cowen be not placed on the committee,
and the molten prevailed.
A suggestion of Miss Hosmer that every
police station in the District should have a
matron to care for female prisoners was
referred to an appropriate committee for
examination and report and then, at her
suggestion, resolution recitipg that the
Civic Center indorse and approve the eff
forts of Health Officer Woodward to secure
legislation effectively providing sanitary
and comfortable habitations for all classes,
particularly the poor, was adopted. Miss
Hosmer stated that the support of the
beard of trade could also be relied upon in
the matter