Evening star., 1897-01-22
A NEW CITIZENS, ORGANIZATION.
Property Owners of Lanier Heights
Form an Association.

Form an Association.
A meeting Of citizens and property own
ers of Meridian Hill and Lanier Heights
was held recently at the residence of ex-
Senator John B. Henderson. for the pur-
pose of forming an organization to pro
mote the interests and development Of
those sections.
Those present were F. Henderson. ex-
Senator Henderson. Mrs. Many, judge A.
c.. Bradley, DR.. q. IT. Sewers. ex-Gov.
VIM. Pitt Kellogg, Louis P. Shoemaker,
E. B. Townsend, Chas. c. Lancaster, A.
NJ. McLachlen, H. d. Walbridge, Major
R. H. Montgomery, Donald Mcpherson.
Geo. W. Linkins, David Cranmer, J. H.
c. Wilson, c. M. Carter, Robt. L. Long
street, Alvah Thompson, D. c. Turner.
Richard NJ. Goode. VIM. Watson. Freder
ick P. Demey. Mrs. Lucy H. Diner, E.
Shuttle. Thos H. Fuller. Capt. R. c. Du-
Bois, Mrs. 8. E. W. Fuller. Miss Mary E.
Mann, VIM. D. Brown. Geo. H. Dana,
Mrs. NJ. H. B. Mahon Ezra W. Clark,
H. J. Free, F. W. McReynolds.
Mr.. Henderson nominated Judge Bradley
for temporary chairman, Geo. H. Dana
was made secretary pro TEN. Mr.. Louis
P. Shoemaker said this meeting was the
outgrowth of meeting of citizens and
property owners Of Lanier Heights, and 1t
Wds IOT tue purpose OF uniting tnl6 sec
tion and Meridian Hill that this meeting
was called. He read proposed constitu-
ton for the organization, which is to be
known as Meridian Hill and Lanier Heights
Citizens Association. The constitution as
submitted was adopted.
Judge Bradley was nominated for pres
ideEt, but declined. saying that his time
was tco much occupied to permit him to
president Mr.. Kellogg General Joseph c.
breckenridge and DR.. 2. T. Sewers. vice
presidents and Geo. H. Dana, secretary
and treasurer.
Mr.. Henderson. on taking the chair. said
that such organizations were absolutely
essential in this city. The members of Con-
gress do not reside here, and almost ncces-
ssrily are at first wholly ignorant of the
w wants nts OF the people. They know nothing
ties OF the future What l say" Mr.. Hen
derson went On, ''is not in disparagement
OF our congressman nor In a spirit OF crlti-
cism OF our system OF municipal govern
ment In the District of Columbia. It is
perhaps the very best system that, under
the circumstances. can be adopted. Under
the Constitution Congress is and must re-
main the law-making power for the Dis
trict, and our misfortune is that, from the
very nature Of things, that law-making
power Is not, and cannot be, sufficiently
conversant with the needs Of the people
governed to secure the best results Of wise
and beneficent legislation. Congress must
govern US directly. as a board Of aldermen
(Which Is impracticable), or, second. by a
board Of Commissioners, as now adopted
In practice: or. third. by officials elected by
popular suffrage. The third plan would In
sure better knowledge Of our wants by
the legislative power. But the elective sys-
tenn has been tried and its evils far out
weighed ITS advantages, and 1t promises
but little better now than when previously
tried.
But the plan now in existence has its
olsadvantaSes also, one of which Is Of q
serious nature. The Commissioners feel no
responsibility to the people. The people.
whose rights and interests they are an
pointed to guard and protect, are too often
treated by the Commissioners as aliens or
Eentiles A second difficulty is found in
the fact that they, too are often profound
ly ignorant Of the necessities and demands
OF the people. Washington has now grown
TO be large and important city, having
varied and sometimes conflicting interests.
and no three men, one fresh from the army
and not necessarily a citizen Of the nlace
can possibly possess the necessary informa.
ton to secure the best results of wise ad-
ministrat tion.
'The facts I have already named. and
might name many more, are SUFFICIENT to
justify this organization of citizens. and
other organizations Of q similar nature. II
should be our duty to select committees
from our most intelligent and prudent in
habitants to go before the Commissioners
and make plain the way Of better leeisla
ton. II our counsels are rejected there let
us 90 10 tne 1ounta1nhead-to Congress- IT.
self-and plainly and modestly, but firmly.
make known what from the very nature
OF things is not now known.
Something Is certainly wrong when the
site OF a great public park is purchased at
cost Of over million dollars, and that
park 10 suffered to lie for three years in a
tangled wilderness without road to reach
1t and without path within 1t along which
one may travel to view and admire Its
natural beauties and its splendid possibili-
ties.
Let us. therefore, organize and do our
duty at least"
Mr.. Lancaster spoke. urging quite strong
ly that an effort be made to have 18th
street opened to Columbia road. Mr.. Nc
Pherson thought that something might be
done at once about sewers, and commit
tee Of five, consisting Of Mr.. Mcpherson
chairman; David Cranmer, Geo. w. Lin
kins, A. M. McLachlen and E. B. Town
seId. was appointed by the chair to report
at q meeting to be held the I'd day of Feb
ruary at the residence Of ex-senator Hem
derson.