Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-05
THE HIGHWAY ACT
It Is Discussed by East Washington
Citizens.
Mr.. DODGE BECOMES CRITICAL
A Lively Del bate Occupies the En-
tire Session.
THE ACTION AIKEN


Washington Citizers' Association at its
meeting last night was to listen to the re-
port of the executive committee on the
highway act, which was as follows:
The executive committee nave fully con-
sidered the resolutions referred to them by
tie association at its last meeting in ref
vrence 10 the highway act, and in lieu
thereof they recommend the adoption Of
the following:
First. That the present highway act
should be repealed.
Second. That We are opposed to the
issue of bonds for any purpose other than
the completion of the sewer system.
Third. That bonds for any purpose
should receive the sanction of the citizens
of the District. expressed by popular vote
Fourth. That we favor such legislation
ss will provide a general system of streets
and avenues for all that portion of the Dis
trict OF Columbia not at present included
in the city of Washington and existing
subdivisions, such system to correspond as
nearly as practicable to the plan of streets
and avenues of said city and subdivisions
the plan of such system to be placed on
record. and all streets and avenues here
after opeEed and improved TO conform to
said plan; also that all costs hereby in
CURED should be borne as provided in the
organic act of 1875"
MIR. JcHorti's Review.
Mr.. NJ. I. Weller opened the discussion by
moving the adoption of the report. This
brought Mr.. Tracy l.. Jeffords TO his feet
with rehearsal of the provisions of the
highway act, as well as a statement of
what had already been DONE
With the record of five years experience
with the law Mr.. Jeffords said, cit was
apparent that it was unsatisfactory.
THE whole question resolved itself into
Whether iS
TO eXpend three or four millions of dollars
Tor the purpose of Strengthening out the
streets in certain subdivisions.
Presents an Amendment.
Mr.. w. c. Dodge was in sympathy with
the report of the executive committee, but
desired to present an amendment, which, in
a series of whereases, set forth the local
financial conditions which made street ex-
tension at this time inadvisable, and which
concluded by proposing the repeal of the
highway act.
Calls 1t Steal.
Mr.. Dodge said that in his opinion the
highway act was the most gigantic steal
ever perpetrated. and the stealings of the
Tweed ring in New York was as nothing
in comparison. To carry out it's provisions
would place per capita tax of $3.50 43 upon
each person in the District of Columbia
He saw nothing in this highway
scheme but a steal to benefit SUBJ
urban property. He referred to the estab-
lishment Of the Rock Creek Park, and
characterized it as a similar scheme to
benefit certain property. With our sewer
system in its present condition, we are not
in a position, he said, to expend such
large sum of money in the extension of
streets.
1t would cost 500, 900, 600 to extend the
streets according to the plans. taking as
basis the present assessments on the
subdivisions which have already been ad-
Indicated
There was ROOM Mr.. Dodge declared,
right here in the city limits for a million
inhabitants. In concluding. he said:
"Gcntlemen, this is a gigantic steal l
have fought it from the beginning and re-
signed my position on the board of trade
because of the position of the board on the
subject. The Commissioners are attempt
ing now to do by instalmentS what they
failed to do in lump because of the gi-
gantic cost. l repeat. it is a steal pure and
simple. If these owners of outlying dis
tricts wanted the streets extended why not
donate the land, as the original proprietors
did? I am heartily in favor of submitting
the whole question to vote of the people"
Mr. NJ. l. Weller spoke at length in sup
port OF the report of the executive COM
mittee
A Dissenting View.
Mr.. ]. D. Croissant said it was with
ton. in view of the evident feeling. The
past history of the city was sufficient
argument for the extension Of the streets.
He denied that any jobbery existed in the
matter of street extension. The Commits
sioners would not lend themselves to any
scheme of jobbery, nor would the members
of the honorable board of trade lend their
influence to any scheme of fraud. But
neither needed defense at his hands, He
remembered the struggling village of
Washington Of the past, and recalled how
system of street extension was forced
upon the people, and the people now rose
up and. in one voice, called the great head,
the big man who did it all, blessed. "a
voice: Alexander Snepherd.')
Eyes. sir" responded Mr.. Croissant: "but
what does the opposition mean? 1t weak
ems the position of those opposed to the
street extension and hurts the city"
Concerning the proposition to put the
subject to vote, he said he was opposed
to it. Our experience in the primaries to
select delegates in the past has proved this
method to be impolitic. Such a thing
would be dangerous in view of the lack of
Information upon this subject of a large
class OF people. and If the real voters here
were to vote they would be disfranchised
In their votes at home.
The Speaker ArraIgned.
Mr.. w. C. Dodge replied that the gentle
man who had just spoken was evidently an
owner of some suburban property. The
property owners of Washington were as
intelligent a set of people as could be found
in the world, and 1t was ridiculous to say
that the voting of the people upon such a
question would disfranchise them. He
scored the board of trade, which again he
characterized as an organization formed
to put through certain schemes, and assist
advocates to Office. 1t meets now and then.
he said, to discuss home rule with speak,
ers and speeches selected beforehand.
Mr.. A. Z. Leckie made a stirring speech
in favor of home rule, and believed the
right of the people to vote upon the high
way act to be supreme. Mr.. NJ. l. Weller
deprecated that personalities should have
been INDUCED In. He did not believe that
the advocates Of the highway act were
part of any scheme Of jobbers.
Mr.. w. c. Dodge responded to this that
he had not intended to indulge in person.
alities. The jobbery he referred to was
used in its broade3t sense to mean the
people who sought to benefit their proper
ty at the expense of the District.
Upon invitation Mr.. Warder VOORHEES, of
special counsel for the District in this
street extension matter rehearsed late pro-
ceedings in the court, and explained what
was being done. The plan, to his mind. was
| q perfectly feasible one and wherever 1t had
been adopted was universally admitted to
be proper, after trial. He defended the bill
at length and said now was the time. while