Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-01

have marked the course of the Washington
! board of trade ever since it's organization
were accumulated anew during the year by
its consideration of various subjects vitality
affecting the city and District and it's action
| in regard to them. In January the board
discussed at length the system proposed for
equippipg the city with adequate sewers, and
Endorsed the proposition providing for an
! issue Of bonds for the sum necessary to car
ry out the improvement on the lines project
ed. The subject Of the laws govern
ing the District was also entered into
with much care and study, and the necessity
for their codification strongly impressed on
| Congress. Judge Cox of the District
Supreme Court was invited to codify
| the District laws and agreed to undertake
| the task. In May a very important step
Alexandria county, Va. opposite Washing
ton, where gambling and kindred vices had
been carried on for many years in fragrant
violation of the law. The county officers
we're fully aware of the outrageous condi-
Ing existing. but made no effort to remove
| them. The temptation thus offered to the
youth OF Washington by the existence of the
gambling places and other vile resorts and
| the refugees they also offered for criminals
who pursued their operations on this side
of the river were deemed sufficient grounds
to permit the board of trade to take meas
| ures to assist in eliminating the evil. A
committee was therefore appointed to con-
| fer with Gov O'Ferrall of Virginia. and to
| furnish him with ample evidence upon which
to proceed against the violators of the law
| The result was that Gov. O'Ferrau took
quiet, but effective, measures to make gam
bling impossible in Alexandria county. A
wnll-directed raid was made on the most
notorious gambling resort, and this was fol-
lowed by Gov O'Ferrall announcing his in
tention of Kidding Alexandria county of it's
evils. In pursuance of this he has written
a powerful appeal to the legislature for laws
! to assist him in the good work, which will
| doubtless be forthcoming.
The condition of the poor of the city was
also discussed by the board of trade, and q
plan adopted by which poor people were fur
| nished land prepared for cultivation. and
potato and other vegetable seeds for plant
ing.
There was, during the year, vigorous COM
mendation of the plans for a free public
library, which will undoubtedly have sub
stantial influence upon favorable congress
sional action in the matter.
The annual reports to the board of the
officers and various committees made in
November showed a prosperous condition in
its affairs, and intelligent conception of the
vital Feeds of the District with a praise
worthy determination to secure needed re-
lief. At the annual election Mr.. B. H. War
ner, who had served so faithfully the
energetic president of the organization, was
| succeeded by Mr.. s. w. Woodward.
Conventions.
Washington has sustained it's reputation
as being the ideal convention city, and dur
ing tine twelve months of 1895 numerous
represent atve bodies held the sessions of
their conventions or annual meetings at the
nations capital. A number of religious
bodies convened here, among them being
the Christian Workers, the 111th session of
the Baltimore conference of the NJ. f.
Church, the Open Air Workers Associa-
ton of America, the Southern Baptists' con-
ventfon, the largest delegated body in Amer
| lea; the Maryland and District of Columbia
Baptist missionary convention, the 18TH an
nual convention of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church of the diocese of Maryland the
fourth annual conference of the Baltimore
conference Of the African Methodist Epis-
copal Church, the annual conference work
| ers of the Protestant Episcopal Church
among the colored people. the Eucharistic
| League, the national conference of Unfair
ian and other churches, delegates from the
Lutheran churches in this city and Balti-
more, Mt. Bethel Baptist Association, Ma
tional Gospel Mission Union, and the Ma
| tional Spir;tualists' Association.
Secret and benevolent bodies were repre-
sented as follows: Fort:eth national con-
vention of Good San. aritans; Supreme Cas-
| tle Knights of the Golden Eagle; Supreme
Council. Ancient and Accepted Scottish
| Rite Of Masons. southern jurisdictions; Roy
al Order of Scotland of Masons; the Su-
preme Council, thirty-third degree Masons,
and the Grand Council Mystic Shrine, of
| colored MasCEs.
Some of the labor organizations which
convened here were the United States Pot
ters' Associatfon,G General Assembly knights
| of Labor. and the National Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers. The annual meeting
of the national board of trade was held.
and the executive committee Of the Ma
| tional Association of Underwriters and the
Southern Tariff Association of Fire Under
writer's convened here
Women also chose Washington as the
| proper place for conventions of their Or
| ganizat tons, and the city has entertained
during the year the Daughters of Liberty,
the National Council of Women. the Ma
| tional Society of the Daughters of the
| American Revolution and the Woman's
Foreign Missionary Society of the Balti-
more conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South. The huge polyglot temper
ance petition stopped here on its travels
around the world, and was the occasion for
great temperance mass meeting, address,
| ed by women accompanying the petition
During the closing days OF the year per-
sons interested in closing the saloon gath
cred here, and the outcome of the meeting
was the formation of the American Anti
Saloon League.
| held conventions in this city, among which
! may be mentioned the National Academy
of Sciences, the Tefegraphic Historical So
ciety, the National Association of Police
Chiefs, rail- DAD commissioners of the Unit
ed States, the American Numismatic Asso-
citation, the German-Amerfcan Technical
Society, the Southern Surgical and Gyneco-
| logical Association, the National Civil Ser
vice Reform League, the National Dairy
Union, the Comma ndery in Chief of the
Loyal Legion. the American Historical So
clety, the Nadonal Retail Liquor Dealers
Association and free silver democrats, who
perfected free courage organization with
in the democratic party.
Seven months hence the fifteenth inter-
rational convention of Christian Endeavor
Societies will be held in this city. 1t is es-
tmated that not less than 10000 persons
will be in attendance. and. indeed, the num-
Der of visitors to Washington at that time
may be more than 1900 Preparations for
this important orvention, expected to be
the largest religious body ever to assemble
In the worlds history, have been steadily
progressing since the formation CT the To-
cal committee of 90. in November, 1904
During the past two months auxiliary COM
mittees aggregating 5000 members have
been formed Churches are offering their
buildings for the uses OF the convention
and headquarters and hotel accommoda-
tioDs have already been secured by many
| of the state delegations. bill has been
introduced in Congress authorizing the use
of the White Lot for three immense tents
each with seating capacity Of 10000 per-
| sons which will be used in conjunction
with twenty more of the large down.
town churches meeting places for the
expected crowds. Speakers of worldwide
fame will deliver addresses and delegates
from the far ends of the earth Will be pres
ent- General Secretary Baer and Treasurer
Shaw, officers of the United Society OF
Christian Endeavor, visited Washington in
November and expressed themselves as
/