The morning times., 1896-02-05

The East Washington Citizens Associa-
ton is greatly Interested in the bin now
before Congress- the object of which is
to provide for an inquiry into the feast
| bliity Of cons ructing a bridge ever Massa-
chusetts avenue extended. for the accommc-
dation of street railways esiriDg TO cover
| that territory.
This was evidenced by the reception of
a suggestion made by Mr.. J. d. Croissant
chairman OF the committee On railroads.
who announced that within a short time
a mass meeting would probably be called
to express the opinion Of the people upon
| the subject
Mr.. Croissant said the roject was
destined 10 meet with violent opposition,
but the building of the br d &c is a ncces-
| slty for East Washington, ard he hcptd
the people Interested wou.d take it in
| charg2.
| Gen. Yuder approved the suggestion, and
said it was pnJper subject fer d scnssi0n.
The average advance ir gas bills for
| January was the topic OF mcst viGcr-
GUS dcnunciation, ard municipal ownership
Of eits was the generail ydeelar rcd ultimatum.
| Gas bills We're ia evitlelce. ard the greater
| portion OF Gre. especially out OF proper
|
to be plain, ElmidGated steal.
! IL was the account rendered in the usual
form and on the Customary Salmon-colored
paper for the Tavistoek building, at the
corner uf Third ana G streets northwest,
ana aggregated $68.25 with the discount
| OF. or % ,4oG feets FOR twenty-three days
only.
GOT no SATISFACTION.
Mr.. WeiIersatl he had made the customary
| call at the -as office, with the REGULATE
protest, and was met with the stereotyped
reply: IT must have gone through the
meter and that is ali the satisfaction he
got
| The association discussed the matter with
a good deal of freedom, Messrs. Tracy L.
Jeffords, E. W. Clark. O. b. Hallam, j. d.
| CroiSsant, a. Gir1uard, Dr. w. w. Hubbell
and Secretary A. F. snerry participating.
The result was that the regular commit
tee on street lighting was instructed to
| begin at once the agitation OF municipal
ownership of the gas works, ana TO invite
| the cooperation OF all who feel an interest
in the subject.
The committee ON proposed legislation
| was instructed to prepare bill FOR sub
mission tu Congress which shall provide for
1
each police precinct in the District, to hear
minor cases and thus relieve the police
court of large number of trials and re-
| duce the expense OF the hearings.
A conference of the charity workers, act
| ipr under the direction of the Associated
! Charities. was announced Ia be held at The
residence OF General S. s. Yoder, on Thurs
| day evening Of the present week, to discuss
|
Mr.. P H. Adams representing the Home
| Telephone Company, was rendered an in
vitation to present the question OF cheap
| telephones. and to discuss the feasibility
Of introducing a new service in opposition
| Ia the present monopoly. Mr. Adams de-
tailed the efforts in behalf OF his com
| pany. before the Commissioners and in Con-
| gress, to secure Il franchise.
MUST HAVE COMPETITION.
The only way to reduce rates, he said,
is to secure competition, and in order to
do that it is necessary To center upon that
one thing and ask for it. He thought there
would be but little trouble III persuading
Congress To grant relief.
-Dr. Lewis ]. Battle said he knew OF
number OF young physicians in the city,
who are struggling for success and whose
| tuSllSSS " III iiou justly NHc
| Of the amount eXacted for the telephone
| privilege. He gave some one Il sly dig by
saving that a prominent member OF the
ASSOCIATION had declined to speak in be
half of the competitive enterprise, because
the president of the Chesapeake and Pc
tonac Telephone Company is a friend ol
| his.
The speaker said he doubted not the
Commissioners syere actuated by a similar
| reason in denying the rights solicited fol-
an opposition line He hoped the associa
ton would take action.
Mr. Michael II Weller made u vigorous
| plea for composition, and closed by NOV
ing that the qHsstion be referred TO the
| executive cOnrnittee, with Instructions to
take STEPS for cooperation Of other asso-
Citations in an effort to break down
monopolistic prices. The motion was
adopted unanimously.
| The sentiment of those present was cvi-
dently voiced bg the presiding officer, who
said that gas monopoly was quite enough
TO endure, and any opportunity to get rid
| Of another should be accepted withou;
question.
Gen. S. s. Yodcr occupied the chair, in
the absence of President Babson, who was
| detained at home by illness.
TO PAY PENSIONS BY CHECK.