Evening star., 1899-03-04
AFFAIRS IN GEoRGETOWN
The Citizens AssociatAh Discusses Matters
of Local Interest
Abolition of Office of Justice of the
Peace-Resolutishs Respecting
Cemetery.

evening at the hall of the First Co-Opera-
tive Building Association, on 32d street,
with Mr.. B. T. Janney in the chair, and J.
Barton Miller as secretary. Mr.. John
Leetch, pending the final report of the
committee on legislation, which has the
consideration of the Jenkins bill in charge,
spoke in opposition to the passage of the
bill. Mr.. Lsetch said the District of CO.
lumbia Is the camping ground for new
propositions. 1t is the testing spot for new
legislation, and congressman use the Dis
trict and Its laws as a means for gaining
a notriety which they could not possibly
gain in their own districts
The adjustment of the office of justice Of
tne peace, which the Jenkins bill Is de-
signed to accomplish, the speaker said,
would result In irreparable injury to the
business interests of Georgetown and the
city generally. The pros and cons of the
next meeting of the committee on legisla-
tion, when final report will be submitted
to the association.
Resolutions Presented.
Mr.. ]. Barton Miller, under the head of
new business, presented some resolutions
which aroused considerable discussion
They set forth that 1.-The Commissioners
of the District Of Columbia be and are
hereby petitioned to abolish the burying
ground known as the Presbyterian grave
yard, lying between Q and R, 33d and 34th
streets and to order the removal of all re-
mains now there to suburban or outside
cemeteries for the following reasons:
Ffrst-That the burying ground is locat-
ed in the midst of a thickly populated Sec
ton of the city, and is detrimental to ad-
Jacent property interests.
Second-That it has been abandoned not
only as place of burial since 1855, by
order of the District authorities, but prac-
pcally by the church, which heretofore has
exercised active control over it, said church
having dismissed the sexton years ago, re-
sulting in the place becoming rendezvous
for rowdies.
"Third-That the site as it exists presents
sad picture of desecration, the fences
having been destroyed, graves robbed of
their marble headstones and the vaults
greatly defaced.
Fourth-That numerous tenants of said
properties which abut thereon have used
the Durylng ground as a dumping place for
household refuse.
t1fth-That in the summer months it
emits the combined odors of domestic gar
bage and growing and decaying vegetation,
polluting and rendering obnoxious the sur
rounding atmosphere.
''Sixth-That the place today is a serious
menace to the health of Georgetown, the
most virulent cases of scarlet fever and
typhoid fever during the epidemic Of sew
eral months ago having generated and
fourished there, resulting in a large num-
Der of deaths.
Seventh-That the health of the city's
people Is supreme to all other considera-
tons, and that the necessary and expedient
remedy is the immediate abolshment of
the graveyard" Also, that the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia be and
take such other steps to further the pur-
chase of said graveyard site and to estab-
lish In Its place public park for the bene-
MT OF the people of Georgetown
RevOcabIe Permits
In support of his resolution Mr. Miller
stated that he had consulted legal authority
in respect to the title to the old cemetery
and had learned that the friends of those
buried there have no fee title to the grave
sites, and that the title to the entire grave
yard, with the exception of one lot. at the
northeast corner of 34th and Q streets, rests
in fee simple with the Presbyterian Church
1t was stated that the Presbyterian Church
issued only what is known as "revocable
permits for interments, and that when
ever it was deemed advisable to abolish
the place for burial purposes it was incum-
bent upon the church only to see that the
examinations and reinterments were de-
Gently made.
Mr.. John Leetch stated that while the
church entertained sentimental regard for
the graveyard and would not care to see
the dead disinterred after having. rested
there for so many years nevertheless the
for proper consideration.
Ihe sense of the meeting was to the effect
that IL would be most advantageous to
Georgetown for the citizens association to
accept the resolution and to work for the
accomplishment of its Recommendations
The case was referred to the committee on
public improvements for consideration. a
report to be made at the next meeting
Hook and Ladder Company.
The appropriation just made by Congress
for the establishment of a hook and ladder
house in Georgetown was taken up and
the public improvements committee in
structed to wait upon the Commissioners
and recommend that a site for the house
be selected on the heights of GEORGETOWN
where are located the high school building,
the Home for Incurables, Georgetown con-
vent and similar institutions.
Mr.. j. Hadley Doyle of the public inn
provements committee reported upon the
condition of the streets of GEORGETOWN
The following applications for member
snip were received and favorably acted
upon: Captain ]. D. Cathell. Mr. A r
Beatty, Mr.. E. H. Harner, Mr. T. C. Ho.
miller and Mr.. Louis Hoffmaier.
The meeting adjourned to meet the first
Friday in April.
Church Exercises.
The services tomorrow at the Dumbarton
Avenue M. E. Church will be held. as usual
and will be the first since the departure
of the former pastor, Rev. DR.. J. B. Stitt.
Rev. G.. w. T. Wright, ID, will occupy
the pulpit at II o'clock, and in the evening
Rev. I. J. Smith will deliver the sermon
and conduct the services.
Rev. Father William ]. lyman, S. J.. will
deliver the sermon tomorrow morning at
the late mass at Trinity Church.
The junior choir of Ebenezer A. NJ, E.
Church will hold a song service tomorrow
evening at the church, on o street between
9th and 2Sth streets. After an opening
solo by Mr.. Sumner Williams and a hymn
by the choir, Rev. ]. j. Evans will deliver
the invocation. Besides the general
choruses, there will be solos by Mrs. Yes
sells, N. G. Mitchell, Winston Payne Miss
Daisy Jackson, Joseph Wilson, Miss Jones'
Mrs. Bundy, Miss Maggie ashington and
Charles Lee. The latter is the director of
the choir; Frank Whiting vtohnist, and 8.
Williams, the organist
The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Michael
O'Brien, formerly Of Georgetown, died this
morning at their homefin Brightwood
Mr.. Clarence Knight Conard, who en-
listed at the beginning of the war in the
I'd Missouri Infantry, and who has just been
mustered out OF thesxservice, returned to
Washington last night, and is at present
with his mother MRS.! William Conard at
Bolt o street northwest.