The times., 1899-10-11

on the subject of membership. He said
that he desired to see the association turn
out more members on meeting night. and
he knew this to be the desire of all the
other members. The present dues of 81
per year were too high, the speaker
thought, and he gave notice that at the
next meeting he would offer a resolution
to amend the constitution so that the
amount OF dues could be reduced to 90
cents. Several of the members opposed
the stand taken by Mr.. Somerville
although they We're in favor of doing some
thing that would increase the membership
of the organization After long discus
sion it was decided to appoint canvass
ing committee TO secure an increase OF
members and William Montgomery was
designated as chairman, with the privilege
of selecting two other members of the as
sociation to act with him.
The qualifications necessary for member
ship were then discussed. Several persons
advocated amending the constitution 50
that residents not holding property could
be admitted as members. Mr.. Somerville
stated that on one occasion he had appear
ed before a District official on some busi-
ness for the association which was direct
ly contrary TO the wishes of another citi-
Zens association of nearby section. He
stated that the official referred to had
taken him aside and told him that the
wishes and requests of the members of
the Mount Pleasant Association had more
weight with the District authorities than
the protests and complaints of the other
association, simply because all of the mem
bers of the organization in Mount Peas
ant were property holders and paid taxes
to the District. For this reason Mr. Som
erville said he did not think it would be
advisable to make the amendment until
due consideration had been given the mat
ter. A number of the, members / 9sent
concurred in the views of Mr.. Somerville
and related several instances where they
had been favored because they were tax
payers. 1t seemed to be the general opin-
ion that every expedient should be tried
before the amendment was adopted.
The question of transportation TO and
from Mount Pleasant was then discussed.
Several of the members protested against
the manner in which the citizens of that
section of the District had been treated by
the last Congress, which adjourned with
out passing the bill providing for the ex-
tension of the tracks of the Metropolitan
Railroad through Mount Pleasant. The as
sociation had been Informed that the bill
went with several other bills which were
held over and consequently the residents of
one portion of the village were compelled
to walk half the distance TO their places CT
business before they could get street car.
The same complaint was made by the resi-
dents of the section through which the
Capitol Traction Company operates its line.
One Of the members stated that while ii
was true the railroad ran almost past his
door, he was compelled to pay two fares
whenever he wanted to visit the Northeast
ern section of the city. The sentiment OF
the association seemed to run toward a
transfer system if the extension of the syn
dicates lines could not be secured. This
idea was not presented to the association
for discussion, but it appeared TO be the
only solution of the transportation problem.
After the discussion of few minor mat
ters the association adjourned until next
month