Evening star., 1898-12-13
GRADE CROSSINGS
Northeast Washington Citizens Asso-
citation Wants Them Abolished.
RECENT FATAL ACCIDENTS DISCUSSED
Memorial Praying Construction Of
Supreme Court Building.
SUBJ RBAN RAILWAY TRACKS

In calling the meeting of the Northeast
Washington Citizens Association to order
| last night, President Tucker said it was
his unpleasant duty to direct attention to
another double murder on the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. He said he had the
same unpleasant duty to perform at the
last meeting
Il am tired of calling these killings ac-
cidents," said President Tucker. They
are murders and nothing else
After reciting the facts connected with
the killing of the children at Ivy City on
the crossing, President Tucker said the
citizens will have to compel the abolition
of the grade crossings. He had been told,
he said that in England no grade crossings
are permitted In conclusion, he spoke of
the many delays caused in the city by the
steam cars being on grade and said he
supposed the abolition of the grade cross
ings would have to be purchased by the
blood OF citizens.
Secretary Sowerbutts read a communion
ton from the Northeast Suburban Citizens
Association asking assistance in the matter
or having New York avenue extended. AS
slstance was also requested in the matter
or getting water supply.
Mr.. n. l.. King said he read in yester-
DAY Star where the matter of condemn
ing iand for the extension of New York
avenue was before Congress yesterday.
Ihe communication was received and re-
ferred to the committee on legislation.
chairman Frizzell of the railroad commit
lee said he had no formal report to make.
ihe grade crossings are still with u.s.,
ne remarked, but | understand that q bill
looking to their abo ition will be intr3duc
IN Congress this week.
iI,,,
the death of Mr.. Feeney on the Baltimore
ana Ohio tracks last week. and said he
would not have been killed had the plan
OF senator Mcmillan and commissioner
Black been in operation.
Lacks Faith in Congress.
Mr. Martin said he did not believe that
the present Congress or the incoming Con-
gress has any idea of compelling the Bal
1more and Ohio railroad to abolish grade
crossings.
so long as senators and representatives
and their families and friends travel on
1fee passes, he said. they are not going
u make the roads live up to anything"
lie said that when the railroad company
asks Congress to take action, then and not
until then Will the people of this city get rid
of grade crossings.
Mr.. Chappell said some representatives
in Congress owe their seats to railroads.
and, therefore, he said, they cannot afford
to take any action against the corpora
tions.
Mr. Dunn added in this connection that
he had heard great deal said against the
railroad company, and he thought it was
time to suggest a remedy
Major Burke suggested a remedy. He
spoke of the ordinance providing for the
stopping of railroad trains before passing
over crossing where there was a rapid
transit street car line. This ordinance he
said. was promptly rescinded by the Dis
he
believed. was because the Commissioners
knew if they did not do it they would not
be Commissioners very long. With such
ordinance in force, he said, the rail-
roads would find some other means of
reaching their depOtS.
President Tucker did not know the rea-
son why the ordinance was rcScinded. 1t
was fought in the courts and declared
valid.
Mr.. Chappell addressed the association,
speaking of the fatal accident at Ivy City
He said watchmen at the crossings should
be paid money enough to enable them to
give strict attention to their duty. They
are paid so little, he said, that some Of
them have to be on the lookout for other
positions.
These gatcmen are paid $40 a month"
said Mr Holster.
How long do they work. he was asked
Prom to g." was his answer.
President Tucker expressed the belief that
information concerning great many ac-
cidents on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
never reaches the public. For some reason
it dent reach the newspapers.
There IS only one paper i'll Washington
that takes much notice of these accidents
and represents the people in the fight for
grade crossings remarked Mr.. Martin,
and that is the paper that is represented
here tonight
That's our friend, The Star" interrupted
Mr.. HOlSten.
Chairman Chappell of the school commit
tee sa!d he had no report to make. He was
told by President Tucker that he had
heard OF something in connection with the
kindergarten at Maryland avenue and 18th
street which might need attention. There
is disease prevailing among the children
he SAID, and the punching together of the
children seems to have caused the spread
ing Of the disease.
Change in Street Hallway Tracks.
Mai Burke chairman of the street rail-
road committee, spoke upon the proposition
to change the tracks from the south to the
north side of Stanton Square on account of
the danger to the Peabody school children.
This change, he said. will not avoid the
danger, for the children go on both sides
OF the park. He thought the only remedy
would be for the cars to move slowly
around the park.
When the president called for unfinished
business Mr.. Chappell wanted to know if
anything was to be done in the railroad
matter He said considerable talk had been
INDUCED in and he thought il was time
some action was taken.
President Tucker replied that he also
would like to see the association take some
action.
Maj Burke suggested that the association
ask Tor the appointment of joint commit
tee from the various organizations of citi-
zens- Let this committee go to the Capitol
and present the matter in the proper way
Then something may be accomplished.
Supreme Court Building.
Mr.. w. o. Miller offered the following:
Whereas the crowded condition of the
Capitol building, brought about by the con-