Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-10
CRI TICAL CITIZENS
Broad Allegations Leveled at Dis
trict Attorney Thomas.
RlILRoADCASES CONSrANrLY DELAYEr
Lively Meeting Of the Northeast
Washington Association.
MANY SUBJECTS DISCUSSED
MISUNDERSTANDING DELAYED
MANY SUBJECTS DISCUSSED

A large map showing the plans of the Sec
ond section under the highway extension act
adorned the wall Of the hall at the meeting
of the Northeast Washington Citizens Asso-
clation last night, and President Tucker, in
calling attention of the members to it. said
he was proud to say that it showed that the
Commissioners had fully Endorsed the recon-
mendations of the association.
When reports of committee chairmen were
called for Mr.. Frizzell of the railroad COM
mittee was heard from. He said he had no
formal report to make, but he would make
some remarks about railroad matters in
general. So far as the Baltimore and Ohio
failure is concerned, he thinks the people
may be benefited, for the prospects of getting
some relief from the murderous grade cross
irSs are brighter now than before. In South
Washington, he said, the Baltimore and Po-
tomac Company has made a proposition to
depresS its tracks This will necessitate the
erection of a number of bridges by the tax
payers; but if the people of South Washing
ten are satisfied he supposed he had no
reason to complain. Chairman FriZZell then
related an incident involving the narrow
escape of number of passengers in a cable
car at the III street crossing. The cable
going east, he said, had stopped al the cross
Ing and waited for a train to move. Then the
grlpman, In response to the conductors call,
started ahead. Just then a train came
around the curve, and down went the gates
while the street car was between them; but
the motorman boldly pulled his through
the gates. The gates were smashed and the
car windows demolished.
Then, what has become of the order of
the Commissioners which requires steam
cars to stop before gong over these cross
ings?' inquired President Tucker.
ITO answer that" said Chairman FriZZell,
"Fll have to call on another witness, and
that witness is Mr.. Sidney L. Thomas, at
torney for the District"
Chairman FrizZell, continuing, said that
cases had been pending in court for about
three months and they have not been dis
posed of for the reason that the attorney,
Mr. Thomas, has not the time to attend to
them.
Sharp Criticism of Mr.. Thomas.
He Is too much engrossed with his private
business" said Chairman Frizzell. He gets
only 5000 from the government. while his
private practice is worth about $4,000. And
If the passengers in this car had teen killed,
would he not have been morally responsible
for their Deaths because of these unwar-
ranted delays?"
Certainly" responded several members
in chorus.
But" added Mr. Frizzell, Ibis code of
morals is entirely different from ours He
lives on Dupont Circle, and we live across
the railroad tracks. He sizes up people ac-
cordinS TO the section of the city in which
they live. That's the way with some people,
especially when they get a little power. And
it's the same with the speed cases too I've
been in court almost every Saturday since
the case was started and Mr.. Thomas never
has the time And l think the Commission
ers don't care much about 1T, either"
Following these remarks was a discus
sion about the offer of the association to
have It's attorney render assistance to the
District in these cases. and it was agreed
that there is even more need for his Serv-
ices now than there was when the offer was
first made.
Mr. Sowerbutts favored new plan. He
moved that the association make formal
complaint against Attorney Thomas, but it
was finally determined &c renew the re-
quest that the associations attorney be
allowed to work in these cases.
In this connection President Tucker said
he had sent the Commissioners a letter
which might make interesting reading. He
favored sending another communication to
the Commissioners, and if nothing is ac-
complished then he favors giving the press
the entire correspondence. This will he
said, show up the Commissioners, as well
as the attorney, and will show what the
attorney Is doing and what he is not doing.
A Railroad on Reservation.
Chairman Martin of the committee on
streets, avenues and alleys made a report
concerning reservation POI, at Delaware
avenue and H streets where the Baltimore
and Ohio Company has a derrick for the
unloading of freight, and where its cars are
various communications including one from
the Commissioners, inclcsing Il letter from
Superintendent Alvey of the Baltimore and
Ohio Company. In this letter SuperintenI-
ent Alvey stated that the company received
permission to use this reservation for the
purpose of loading stone to be used on
public buildings. In this letter he states
that the reservation is still being used for
the purposes mentioned. When this ar
rangement was made the company gave up
a piece OF property elsewhere for use by
the government in lieu of the surrender of
the reservation.
Chairman Martin read letters from the
various government departments and Off
Gals, including one from Col. j Ohm NJ VIII
son, superintendent of public buildings and
grounds, in which he said:
No Record Of Such Permission.
THE records of this office fail to show
that any authority has been granted for the
occupancy of this reservation for ary pur-
pose whatever. either by myself or by NV
predecessor. Col. Ernst, or that Col Ernst
ever authorized the erection of the derrick
mentioned.
The records do show that I have fro
quently invited the attention of Congress to
the illegal occupation of the reservation by
the railroad company.
This Office has no desire or intention To
evade any duty, however iisagraeaol de-
volving upon it. and the present officer in
charge has made earnest efforts to recover
cohtrol u III Reservations Illegally occupied
lie Will continue these efforts for the short
remaining period Of his tour of duty but the
opinion of the Attorney General clearly de-
fines the limits OF his jurisdiction where
United States reservations are Illegally oc-
Cuped.'
THANK God!'' exclaimed Chairman Mar
tin. I'VE have found ore Official who
lealizes how just cur cause isl
He next referred to the attempt made TO
have the street crossings of + and q streets
over the railroad tracks improved, and read
a letter received from Capt. Fiebeger which
was based on Inspector Bradshaw's report
Mr.. Martin said that there is not one word
OF truth in 1t, and he hoped Capt Fiebeyer
would make personal inspection of the
crossings.
Promises Made and Broken
President Tucker. as chairman of the
committee on proposed legislation, told of
hearings had before congressional commit
tees concerning the efforts made to get rid
of the grade crossings. Senator Mcmillan
he thought, was in earnest in his efforts to
give the people of the city some relief from
the deadly grade crossings.
Every time bill is introduced or some
move is made the railroad companies make
promises, he said, but everybody knows
what railroad promises are. The railroads
are treacnerouS in their offerings to denress
A1,~..,