Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-12
ACCIDENTS AT CROSSINGS
Northeast Washington Citizens Association
Discusses Recent Occurrences.
Failure of District to Make Out Z
Case-The Police Pnrade-Of-
AeePs Elected.

fresldent tucker, IN calling together the
! members of the Northeast Washington
| Citizens Association last night. '.And, of
| course he added, 1.-The railroads are not
TO blame. The people were on the tracks,
where they had no right to be, and were
killed, and that's all there is about it. If
! the tracks had not been on the surface,
AID there had been 20 grade crossings the
| accidents would not have happened. But
the tracks are on public property and per
sons are killed, but no blame is attached
TO the railroads -
He expressed the opinion that the tracks
| should be elevated and the law should make
1t an offense fer pedestrians to trespass.
In conclusion, he said, that judging by
what the Commissioners say the chances
for the abolition of the grade crossings at
an early date are very bright.
When the minutes of the last meeting
bad been read and adopted, Chairman
trizzell of the railroad committee made a
verbal report. He told of interviews he had
with Commissioner Black concerning pro-
posed regulations affecting the railroad
| tracks and movements of trains thereon.
Referring to the prosecution of Mr.
Thomas of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
for the accident at the New York and Flor
ida avenue crossing, he said he thought
the prosecution was silly one, but he said
It was IN line with the conduct of the office
OF the attorney for the District in proSecut-
ing the wrong man for the right offense
His idea was that there should have been a
prosecution for the accident in which Mr..
Auerbach and party were involved, for the
train that struck his team was started
from the depot in this city.
Chairman FrizZell referred to Commits
sioner Wlghts report on the grade cross
inss. as printed in The Star at the time,
and he also read from The Star of the fol-
lowing day an editorial relating to the re-
port. and said he thought it expressed the
views of every person who is interested in
the abolition of grade crossings. The edi-
torial. he said, is a strong one. and he
moved that it be Endorsed expressing
the views of the association. His motion
| was adopted unanimously.
An Imperfect Regulation.
Referring to the failure of the District to
Ilake out the charge IN the New York ave-
nue accident case. President Tucker said
it was evident at a glance that such a
regulation would not hold, and he could not
understand why the attorney for the Dis
trct should frame a regulation and then
report that it did not cover the offense
charged under it, He wanted to know why
the regulations were made if they would
not cover the ofenses intended to be COW
cred by them.
The question of street improvements in
the northeast section Claimed the attention
of the association for a few minutes.
Chairman Martin Of the street &C mni,tee
told of an interview mad with the COM
N11SSiOntrS. Inc ScEeduie OF the aSSOcia-
tions was presented. and he thought the
Commissioners were inclined to do some
thing for the northeast. MIR. Holster said
that CommissioTer Black mad promised to
do all he could.
Mr.. Chappell, who acted as spokesman
at the meeting with the Commissioners,
sad he thought talk was cheap. that it was
one thing TO q make promise and 1t was
Two or three things III proportion to fulfill
it He hoped Commissioner Black. as well
as the other Commissioners, will do all
they can in the matter of securing street
improvements for Northeast Washington.
Chairman DalrvmDle of the school COM
mittee said he had no regular report to
make The schools in Northeast Wash
Igton. he said. are full and overlooking
He had been told that the Peabody and
Carbcrry buildings were filed and had
turned away children.
MIR. Martin said he had been informed
that provision rad been made in the Pea
body building for twelve schools but that
there.
There was no report made by the COM
mittee on public conveyances. but Presi-
dent TUCKER said he knew that the mem
hers of the association sympathiZed with
the peorle of the suburbs who had been
deprived of rapid transit because of the
power house ire.
Mr.. FriZzell announced that the Columbia
street railroad and the herdics were ex-
changing transfers at 18th street north
west.
oh1eci ~ IOI1cc I0f1ue.
When the committee on police and fire
| departments was called. Chairman sower-
butts said while he had no regular report
| TO make he desired to say a word about
the coming drill of the police department.
| He thought it was not Just the proper
thipg to put the extra work of drilling
| on the men and have them marching when
| they should be sleeping. The necessity
| for all the police duty possible is shown
! by the number of burglaries and assaults
| that are being committed. According to
| his idea, the police force was not organ
! tied to participate in ornamental drilisA for
| the purpose of entertaining the public. He
| thought if the officers attended to their
| regular duties, nothing more should be
asked of them. The competitive drill and
! parade may be intended to promote the
| efficiency of the policemen. he said, but
| ne believed !; to be an unwise move at Il
| tune policemen's services are SO much
| needed
| In this connection President Tucker said
| that perhaps the policemen were drilling
| a few days ago when he was detained at
| a railroad grade crossing for seventeen
minutes. He said he had always hoped
some United States senator in a hurry
would be detained at a crossing for as
| long time Recently. he said. he was
informed that President Mckinley had
! been stopped at crossing and detained
! for several minutes.
| President MckinIey's Adventure.
| In the same neighborhood. he said. there
| was a merrySo-round. with the distin-
| guished audience usual on such occasions,
| and when the crowd learned that the Pres
| ident had been stopped at the crossing
| the merry go-round was no longer an at
| traction, and because of the whooping and
/ shouting the President had to order his
| driver 10 turn his team and drive away
\ in another direction. This episode, Presi-
| dent Tucker said, he hoped would result
| in tie President paying special attention
| to grade crossings in his message 20 Con-
| gIeSS.
| The annual election was held. and the
| present officers were reelected, as fol-
| lows: Evan II. Tucker, president; ]. 3.
! Burke, vice president; S. Sowerbutts, Sec
| rotary; J. X. Colyin, financial secretary; A.
! H. Holster, treasurer.
The vote of the association for five menu
| bers of the executive committee resulted
| In the choice of H. II. Martin, Fills Dali
rymple. w. j. Frizzeil. DIR. E. W. Kirby
and n. l.. King.
| The report of the treasurer for the past
| year showed a surplus of s:.S3 in the treas
| ury of the association.
| Sleeper Daily 10 Hot Springs, Vm
Commencing today the sleeper via G. and