Evening star., 1897-12-04
L. A. w. GOSSIP.

l ." w. NSOSSt
One of the latest recruits to the ranks of
the local division of the League of Ameri-
| can Wheelmen is Commissioner John B.
| Wight. His application was sent in a few
days ago, his name was published in the
| ohclal organ, and he has now received his
! membership card, emitting him to all of
| the privileges afforded by the organization
| Inc wheelmen of the city should feel proud
| Oh having the Commissioner classed among
| thelr ranks, as this means much to them.
| Ever since his entrance into office Com
| missioner Wight has been disposed to listen
| to the grievances of the riders, and afford
| reNef wherever it was possible or consist
| ent. Nearly all, If not all, of the recent
| legislation, favorable to the wheelmen can
be attributed to him. 1t was through him
| that the police regulations were modified
| regarding speed. 1t was through his ef-
forts that the regulation was changed
| making the hours of lighting lamp until
| one~hour after sunset instead of at sunset.
| 1t was he who caused the adoption of a
| uniform for the bicycle squad. In fact, it
| was he who caused a great number OF
| changes since his induction into office. ana
| all cyclists hope that he will continue in
| the same line during the remainder of his
| term. To him must be given the credit
| OF being the first to recognize the rights of
the cyclists, and placing them on the equal
| ity to which they are entitled to be-
| The advantage of such a member to the
| organization cannot be enumerated. He is
in position to justly afford whatever re-
| lief may be necessary. This brings to mind
| the fact that Commissioner Wight is not
| the only official in the District belonging to
| the organization. Captain Burr, who has
charge of the water department, is a mem
| ber, and in the list may be classed a num-
Der OF others. The aCuulSltlOn OF Such
members is indeed a good thing for the
| LEGAL branch of the organization.
| The membership of the local division was
| increased by six names during the week
| and the grand total is now swelled to 9:'S
| In addition to this number, there were nine
| renewals of old memberships, which makes
a total gain of fifteen members. The total
! membership is given 3:2S. just sixty two
| short of the thousand mark. The highest
| number of members ever before known in
| this division was something like 9S4, and
at the present rate of increase this total
will soon be passed. The new members
| are as follows
| Jno R. Brown, ooI5 18th street
| p. S. Gar'retson. 1341 r street northwest.
Michael j. Lcnihan 1924 street.
| A. l.. Moors. S27 F street.
| w. A. Mcfarland, District building.
John B. Wight,
| Another advantage of membership in the
League of American Wheelmen is the offer
! made by the publishers of the official
gan, that any member who is killed out
right or fatally injured while riding BIZ
! cycle. or the result of bicycle accident.
| lis her heirs will receive the sum of
| 500. This offer has been in existence for
about two months. and has brought good
| to the famtly of several unfortunate bicy-
Gle riders. The, first person to secure the
reward was the father of a Pennsylvania
wheelman, who was injured in bicycle ac-
| cident at Philadelphia, and died from the
effects of the wounds. The check was
pr omptly transmitted. Another New Eng
land rider met with a similar mishap. and
his family was reimbursed to the extent of
s1n9. This offer seems to have struck a
right chord. though when takes into
consideration the true facts. the percentage
of deaths due to bicycle accidents is very
light.
Tho result of the election in Maryland re-
suits in Practically the selection of the old
officers. Conway S. Sans was reelected
| having no opposition for the office of chief
| consul. He received 1,146 votes. William
Culland of Cumberland elected vice
consul, receiving the same number of votes
as Mr.. Sans. Robert II. Carr. jr of Bal
timore was elected secretary-treasurer, he
having held the same position previously
and had no opposition. He polled a total of
1,47 votes. The representa- tives-at- large
elected were as follows: John F. Semmes,
Harry V. Casey, Fred f. Eisenbrandt and
John NJ. Ramming. all of Baltimore: Ira
J. McCurdy of Frederick. H. B. Nichols of
ID. Norris of Sykesvile and r. S. Crawford
of Hagerstown.
Samuel A. Boyle the United States at
torney for the eastern district of Penn
sylvania whose name has been mentioned
as a possible candidate for the office of
national president, was elected to the posi-
tion of chief consul of the PENNSYLVANIA
division by a vote of 1856. There were
only thirteen votes against him. and they
were scattered. Mr.. Boyle held the same
office last year. and proved good man
for the place. The vote at the annual cleo
| ton, however, was rather small, the total
membership in the state being something
like 2I ,2S5.
Since the publication last week that In
dianapolis was the only city that was real
ly after the meet of the league for next
year. a report comes from Boston that the
wheelnen of the hub will make an effort
to capture the honor. The announcement
comes rather late, and by some the chances
for securing the meet In the east are placed
at to 10. During the week the Boston '9s
Meet Club was organized with the avowed
intention of making lively fight fer the
honor encouragement was received from
| clubs all over the state. and plans were
made to confer with the league officials in
regard to the matter it being announced
| that Chairmtr N Mott was more in favor of
that city than the western metropolis
committees we're appointed to consult the
! merchants of the town in regard to the
matter, and from all indications the work
| of the club was businesslike in the extreme.
On the other hand, dispatch from New
York city says that while Boston NAV
! have started for the meet. it will never
! secure it for next year, as indianapolis has
| safe hold for the event. Furthermore
that Boston Is being urged at present for
the meet Of 1898 merely to make the hub
prominent in the. race for 1899, will be re-
sented by the Buffalo contingent, who want
position Of Boston since the upheayaI in
L. A. W. affairs in Massachusetts that
landed Sterling elliot in the chief consul's
| chair, is worrying some of the politicians in
the big wheel body They are beginning to
| wonder whether the modern Athens is get
ting hungry, and has determined to bite off