The morning times., 1895-12-10

Grade crossings, lack OF gatemen aud
the liability To accidents, as well asthe want
of a larger police force. were leading topics
OF discussion at the meeting of the North
east Washington Citizens Association held
last evening.
President Tucker started the bali rolling
by reading newspaper clipping in which
1t was stated that Senator Orville II. Plat
OF fCoDnecticut had been in imminent danger
OF death by being run over at a grade
crossing in Waterbury, Conn. Mr.. Tucker
suggested that Senator Platt should be
made chairman. and If not that. then a
member OF the senate District Committee.
and he believed the association should nle
such recommendation at the proper time
and place.
President Tucker described two recent
In peril from grade crossings. One was
that in which Prof.. Galiaudet s family was
endangered at the Fourth street CROSSING.
and Prof. Gallaudet, who is a member of
the association, was invited to be present
to address the members. but being obliged
to leave the city he sent letter of regret
Instead
the other occurrence was that of
coiured man, who was caught while at
tempting to cross at Seventh street.
Several members, Mr.. SowcrDutts and AR.
W. o. Miller particularly, referred TO the
habit OF watchmen OF reading books and
pdptfS Wniie on uutN-
ON STREET EXTENSION.
The committee on streets, avenues and
alleys reported back a resolution referred
to II, i'll reference TO street extensions. es-
pcciaily as affecting the extension of +
street east ward ITS full width. and in a
straight line to Benuings road.
L street is 100 feet wide, and a very
popular tnorougnfare, from northwest to
northeast, but the suburbs are cut orr at
FIiteenIn street northeast. by Rosedale
snlfily vision with (pntuSinn N
row streets. which do not properly connect
with or conform To the city streets.
B.nning's road, it was argued, is the di-
rect route for a large and increasing traffic.
and the committee is OF the opinion that
the extension of the street named is the
best method of relieving Rosedale OF the
existing confusion and making II q part
of the city.
For these and other reasons. the adop-
ton of the resolution calling for the improve
n;ent was unanimously recommended.
The report was signed by II. II. Martin ".
X. CavcD. George Is. Rose. John Il. Agate
and W. z. Evans. and the same committee
was authorized to lay the matter before the
Commissioners.
petition from Rev. William |. Hawkins.
pastor of Nash Mission n. Z. Church. and
others, asking for the erection of street
lamps on Trinidad avenue. and vicinity, was
placed before the association, and on
motion of Major j. B. Burke, was unani-
n,ously indorsed.
FOR MORE POLICE.
The report OF the committee ON police and
fire department. to which was submitted
a resolution calling upon the association
10 take some action toward securing an
increase in the number of police officers.
as recommended by Chief OF Police Moore.
reported In favor of the proposition. and
recommended such action as Will bring
the subject TO the attention of Congress.
The committee sa IS that from an investiga-
tion made, and due inquiry, IL is OF the
opinion that the situation Is not overdra wn.
and that if action Is not taken, as recon-
mended by Major Moore:
'.Our fair city will become notorious
as aresor for thugs. thieves. and criminals
from all parts OF the country
Our daily papers: the report con
laries, highway robberies and assaults.
and we find that only small proportion
of the criminals are brought TO iustice.-a a
result that can only be expected when we
find that an officers beat includes. on an
average, about twenty souar
''we find upon making inquiries OF the
lieutenant OF this, the Ninth precinct, that
one officer has actually. at TIMES. fifty
squares to patrol. and that the average is
twenty squares in the day and ten at night
for each officer.
.The precinct extends from East CAPITOL
street TO the boundary. and from First
street to the District line. The number OF
officers in the precinct Is forty four: thir-
ty- six being supposed to be available for
street duty, including five mounted men
for the county. This includes day and night
men.
FEW AND FAX BEL WEEN-
I'm the early part of the day, when
many officers are at police court as wit
Desses. there are seldom more than seven
men ON duty on the streets, and one day
during the past week we found but four
men available for street duty.
This We found to be the state Of affairs
in the Ninth precinct, which covers nearly
all of Northeast Washington. and we were
assured by the lieutenant that the other
precincts were in about the same helpless
condition"
The report expresses the belief that the
police force will compare favorabls with
that OF any other city. and that the
officers are often blamed for what they
cannot remedy, citizens forgetting that
the officer may be faithfully performing
his duty, though many squares away.
The association Is urged TO take i'm
mediate action.
The report is signed by S. Sowerbutts.
F. Fsnsan TnsKsl ana W ycferreS L. sah55 With pleas
ure 10 the success Of the teachers bazaar
at Convention Hall.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
The visduct bill, presented at the last
sess ion of Congress. and fndorsed by the
Commissioners and thousands of citizens.
will be reintroduced as soon as the asso-
ciation can make needed changes in the
phraseology. 1t is the bill TO require
both branches of the B. and o. Railroad to
enter the city on an elevated way.
Dollar gas VIII also receive attention by
cooperation with the board of trade, and
the proposition for the construction Of
municipal building and court house. THE
association VIII strongly indorse also the
bill to establish free library all through
its committee on proposed legislation, the
propositions being discussed by DR.. Street.
Messrs. Martin, Chappell, W. o. Miller.
President Tucker, Mai. Burke and others.
complaint was received with reference
to the transfer of the lexington street car
horses over Florida avenue from Thirteenth
and C streets TO New Jersey avenue.
The associa ton appointed committee
DR.. j. F. McA lister, who was member
of the organization.