The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-06

SbtAtioidi OF iabhflnE CIEff%iSc Efucf
complex diSa bilitics. has broken out in a
Lew spot. There have been many piemoni-
tons of the ROW proposed plan, which is
merely mat Congress shan wipe the Gem
miSSioners' map OF the extended street off
the District with the official sponge.
TIE movement now is in The hands of
the lawyers who represent nearly all the
citizens ef Tie northern part Of the Dis
triCt whose property has been aCv.r rsely
affected hy the marking Of the laEdS with
certain led lines, which have lad the el-
feet of pu ting property in the fix
of not being able To sell, mortgage or
borrow money Cu tLCir holdings. This con-
ditioB has existed ever since the survey
OF the Commissioners, who have Claimed
that the land, once marked, became the
property Of tie District, subject To what
ever assessments and rebates a jury Of
awards might pay 10 tie owners.
The lawyers who have taken a view sim
liar to this are Messrs. Nathaniel Wilson, W.
l.. Cole, Gen. William BrncY, Leo Simmons,
Chaplin B-Own, +. $. McCalmont r. A
Lambert. Henry +. Davis william y. Cook,
c. A. b. Yandenburg. and John Ridout
They nave prepared petition to Congress
praying for the repeal of the highway act.
These gentlemen have asked the House Dis
trict Committee for hearing at which
time they are expected to give their views
for the proposed repeal.
STALLING'S REPEAL BILL.
There is already before the House
bill, introduced by Mr.. staliiHg, on Feb
ruary 20, which seeks to repeal the act
Gf March, l S93 and allamendmentS thereto
this act being commonly known as the high
way act. The terms OF this bill are that
the Commissioners shall at once withdraw
from the records OF the office OF the Dis
trict surveyor al maps, plarS, etc, which
they have filed under that act. The bill
also seeks thus to remove any cloud on the
tilIeS Of lands by reason OF this act OF the
Commissioners. The bill is 10 go into
effect immediately on its passage.
Mr.. Nathaniel wilson was seen by a
Times reporter last evening and was asked
what would be the effect Of the paSsa ge of
the StaIiings bill. lie said that il would
leave the status just as it was before the
paSsa ge Of the highway act. He was
asked what would be the next step. he
said that he did NOT know but that ii would
leave the way open for the extension OF
some OF the highways by other bills.
Mr.. Wilson's attention was called to the
fact that the Commissioners had Yesterday
reported adversely an bills seeking To eX-
tend some of the streets otherwise than
by the operation OF the highway act.
on" he said. ''it appears that the Com
miSsiOnerS are welded TO the highway act.
They evidently believe that the decision or
y
the opinion OF the@awyerS generally who
believe that the opinion will be sustained
Mr. Wilson was asked if IL was proposed
10 extend even "A few of the streets by the
issue OF bonds. lie replied that that
question had not been considered except
that il would be expected that, whatever
was done, the Government should bear
half of the expense.
BOUND TO HAVE BONDS.
have as the first consideration The preScnta-
ton OF the street extensions in such shape
10 Congress aS viii always carry with it
the necessity OF providing such large sum
Of money tGat the issue OF bonds VIII be
condition precedent. This appears 10 be the
motive for their adverse report on the
proposition made 20 extend Fourteenth
street and North Capitol street, which adj
verse reports were made yesterday.
One of the members of the hoard Of
trade sad last night that he had now
come to the conclusion tEat the real
Oh ieCt OF the hackers Of the ChimeriCaI
scheme for uniysrsal street extension, was
simply the issue OF bonds. This is evident,
be said. from the fact, that al attempts
10 extend streets either by taxation, rs
suggested by The Times, or to do he
work piecemeal, as suggested in the bills
which they have reported against, have
been blocked.
They are not disposed 10 submit to the
court or to the views OF Congressman
stated openly III the board that the street
extension scheme as they uDdeTsl and il
cannot pass the House or the Senate.
Congress ought to know by this time that
it was mere bluff on the part OF the Com
missioncrs to say that there was immediate
need OF the better sewerage of the city.
Ii is long time since the board OF trade
met and passed resolutions commencing
the water supply and the sewer reforms
10 the Commissioners, but instead of acting
on it they have persistentIy gone ahead
with the cloudy and shady business OF the
street extensions.
THINGS LEFT UN NDoNE.
1t was demonstrated at the meeting that
only about one million and a talf dollars
was necessary for giving the city good
water, which physicians believe viii relieve
the situation. if another sewer or street
was never built, but, instead OF pressing
that on the attention OF Congress, they
are flying in the face of public sentiment
and trying their utmost to concentrate
Congressional attention to the carrying
out OF a scheme which has actually been
declared TO be unlawful, and which
means at least S20. 600 600.
Il am glad now that the StalIinCS bill
is getting the support of the people who
have been diSastrouSly affected by the
street extension scheme When it is dead
the Commissioners may have time TO de-
vote to better water and some internal
reforms.
Il would suggest to members Of the
board OF trade that at their next meeting
they propose a bill giving any citizen a
right to have a bill introduced in Congress
and that IL may be put on its passage with
or without the consent OF the three Com
miSsioners. 1t is idle TO have q Congress
Ia II ~.
ness it is TO know what is best for the
District, and then TO have their suggestions
passed upon by the Commissioners, who
have, three times within the past year,
stultified themselves as to their policies
when it was question of dealing with
corporations which they have taken under
their wing"
TIME ENOUGH FOR THAT.
Another member said that he was not
even in favor Of having, streets extended
two or three at q time by the suggestion
of the lawmakers.
Il think it is q fair business proposition
that it VIII be time enough to have any
street extensions when the people in the
suburbs say to Congress by petition that
they want them. There are already as
many highways and driveways in that sec
tion as the nobility OF our city could de-
sire for their outings"
Thinking people viii remember that at
the last meeting of the board OF trade the
committee to which was committed the
whole question as TO sewers and street ex-
tensions reported only on the sewers and
asked time for the considerat ton of the
street extension matter. 1t is possible that
this was done in Difference to that element
in the board of trade which, in common
with the Commissioners, stin believe that
Judge Cox's decision viii be reversed and
that there viii be another opportunity for
pushing the bond bill This phase of the
question will be developed without any
chance Of evasion when the Stallings bill