Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-08
Association Discusses the Proper
Number of Commissioners.
NO ACTION WAS TAKEN
New Officers Elected and Several
Committees Reported.
THE DIFFERENT SPEECHES

ing at Mission Hall, 14th street and Florida
avenue, was largely attended.
The annual election of officers resulted in
the unanimous election of the following:
President, NJ. A. Ballinger: vice president,
L. p. Williams; secretary. George Sim
mons "a re-election), and treasurer, c.
Schneider. Much routine business was
transacted and, through the influence of
Its newly elected president, the association
decided that a change in the present form
Of government for the District Is a matter
much too big for it's consideration, certainly
at present. and that it should confine its
efforts just now to securing the much
needed improvement of the section en-
braced within its Jurisdiction.
In the absence of President Gilbert M.
Towles. Mr.. Thos. ]. LASER presided over
the meeting until the election of officers
took place. Upon the call of the commit
tees for reports Capt. Patrick OFarrell,
from the committee on express charges,
stated that nothing could be DONE it seemed,
to induce the express companies to cease
charging additional tolls for goods delivered
north of Florida avenue. Such extortion,
he declared, would apparently be exacted
Simmons also thought that, but said thst
one telegraph company. the Postal, has re-
moved such extra charges.
On Legislation.
From the committee on legislation Mr.
Z. G. Jeffries reported that the commit
tee had held two important meetings late
ly. at the residence of Mrs. John A. Lo-
gan, a member of the committee, and much
business had been done. subcommittee
had been appointed, and the needed i'm
provements of Columbia Heights laid be-
fore the District Commissioners. The Com
missioners, he stated had assured the
committee that they would gladly second
suggestions of the committee. and, when
the committee had mapped out the i'm
provemeuts needed. would present them to
Congress with a favorable recommendation.
The report was adopted and the committee
instructed to continue its work.
Some Communications.
The secretary laid before the associa-
ton several communications, one being
from President Towles, regrettng that his
other duties had prevented him from CIV
ing greater attention and time to the as
ISOLATION. Senator John Sherman wrote,
thanking the association for electing him
as an honorary member, and Senator A. p.
German assured the association that while
he appreciated such an honor. he could not
accept it, although he would always adj
the interests of the District when
ever he found it possible to do SO. The
vote of the previous meeting electing Sen
ator German an honorary member was,
therefore, reconsidered, when the motion
r. B. Brown stated it seemed that the peo-
pie of Holmead Manor were not disposed
to march under the associations banner,
it being probable that they would organize
an association of their own.
More Commissioners.
Upon the motion of Mr.. Simmons the
former committee on the revision of the
constitution and bylaws of the associa-
ton was discharged. and the following
O'Farrell
The election of officers then took place,
and after President Ballinger had been es-
corted to the chair and had returned his
for the honor conferred
upon him, Mr.. Simmons addressed the as
ISOLATION upon the proposed reorganization
of the board of District Commissioners. He
stated that he believed that there is wide
spread dissatisfaction here concerning the
manner in which District affairs are being
managed, and thought relief can be found
only in an increase of the number of Com
missioners. He advocated a board of seven
civilian Commissioners, the District to be
divided into as many commissioner dis
tricts, the Commissioners to be residents of
their respective districts. He mapped out a
proposed division by sections.
To the objection against the doing away
of the Engineer Commissions Mr.. simmons
said that the vast interests here of the
United States would be, nevertheless, fully
protected as the seven Commissioners
would be appointed by the President He
admitted that there would be wide di-
verSity of opinion as to the mode of select
ing the Commissioners, and many persons
would favor an election of them by the
citizens of the District. Personally, he
said, he favored a limited and well-guard-
ed suffrage but between free, unquali-
fled suffrage and presidential selection, he
preferred the latter.
Mr.. Jeffries took a similar idea Of the
matter. but favored making five the num-
10
also favored extending the city limits, and
thought those two matters should go hand
in hand, believing that they should be en-
bodied in bill to be presented at the next
Congress. He did not, however, favor suf-
frage here.
1t was suggested that Mr.. Simmons sug
gestions should be referred to the COM
mittee on legislation but Captain O'Far-
rell and President Ballinger vigorously
opposed any action in The matter whatever
by the association, and they carried the
meeting with them, the matter being
dropped.
This question" said Captain O'Farrell,
as a rather big one for little association
like ours to handle, and we had better
drop it and fight for the paving of our
streets, the putting down of water and
sewers and the filling up of our gulleys and
bitches. Let well enough alone. We don't
want suffrage here, Tor L DelleVe THAT IL d
vote was taken in the District today
great majority of the people would vote to
continue the present form of government.
+ believe in suffrage and all that, but not
here, where the government owns every
thing and where Congress has exclusive
Jurisdiction. And 1 do not believe that the
people here want an increase in the num-
Der of Commissioners. Besides, II the pres
ent,state Of things is bad a greater number
of Commissioners would only make 1t
worse Drop the question and let us work
alone for the improvements Columbia
Heights needs so badly
Then the newly elected president took
hand in the discussion, and spoke In such
an earnest and forcible manner as to carry
the meeting at cnce along with him.
II think it unwise," explained Mr.. Bal
linger, ito attempt any fight for an in
crease in the number of District Com
missioners To do so would be to incur
their enmity and this association should
not do anything of that kind. Besides. as
Capt O'Farren SAID the question is rather
too big for so small an association. Let
US make no such fight, let us look out for
cur own particular interests and needs out
here on Columbia Heights, and by being
nice and pleasant with the District Com
missioners We will get pretty near all we
should have. We should remember that
more flies are caught with sugar than with
vinegar, and act accordingly. The office
of District Commissioner Is no Sinecure,
and but for the salary and honor. about
every man in the District would throw it
Of ty- cr1b.