Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-03
ARGUE FOR AND AGAINST
BROOkLAND CITIZENS OPPOSE A
PROTECTED CEMETERY.
The Question Discussed Before the
Comm ssiOners Yesterday by Adj
vocates and OppOsers.

At recent meeting of the Brookland Cit
liens Association a committee, consisting
of Messrs r. R. West, James B. Sherwood.
John B. Lord I. s. Holldge, e. C. Ford,
A F. Kinnan, E. Southall and Hiram ].
Penrod. was appointed, as stated in The
Star. to wait upon the Commissioners and
protest against the establishment of the
proposed cemetery on the grounds Of the
monastery of the Franciscan monks near
Brookland. These members of the associa-
ton were present at hearing given by the
Commissioners yesterday, as were num-
Der of other members of the organization
but 1t soon developed that there is divi-
sion of opinion among the members of the
association. as there appears to be among
the people of Brookland as to the advisa-
bility and desirabilty of granting the re-
quest of the institution. The law of Janu-
airy ., 1895 prohibits the establishment of
and a half miles of the boundaries of
Washington or Georgetown, or within 200
feet of a dwelling without the consent of
the owner or tenant thereof.
The Law Quoted.
The law was quoted by the Rev. r. r.
West, pastor of the Baptist Church in
Brookland, a member of the committee
from the citizens association, and he ex-
planned that those who oppose the estab-
because they believe 1t would be detri-
mental to health and to property interests.
and that it is not desired by the commu-
nifty. He spoke of the nearness of the
proposed cemetery to Brookland, and con-
tended that that suburb should be given
the same protection in the matter that the
law affords those who dwell in the city
proper. To grant the application of the
Franciscan monks. said Mr.. West, would
IA n no fnllnurs,t Inv i'm
liar requests from like Institutions The
District is well supplied with burial places,
he thinks, and before the application is
granted the applicants should be required
to show that it is necessary and proper
Miss NJ E. Mann. a property owner, su4-
gested that the whole subject DO postponed
until after Congress shall have had an OPP
portunity of declaring whether the cstab-
lishment of such cemeteries as the enc
proposed was intended to be sanctioned by
the act of 1898.
of Mr.. Jamese L. Sherwood, whose proper
ty adioins that of the monastery, and he
read affidavit signed by Mr.. Sherwood,
from which it appeared that there is a
200 yards of the proposed cemetery, and a
well. upon which he Is forced to depend.
within such a distance and so located as to
be In danger of contamination. Mr.. Sher-
wood also affirmed that his property would
be deprecated 30 per cent should the GEM
| etery be established. Mr. Linton entered
upon a legal argument designed To con-
vince the Commissioners that they should
not grant the application, he stating that
the modern policy of municips Titles is to
discourage and prevent the establishment
of cemeteries within or near the city linn
its. He declared that the Franciscan monks
are not taxpayers. and he asked that II
| there should be any doubt in the minds Of
| the Commissioners upon the subject they
should give the taxpayers the benefit Of it.
| He also argued that they should in inter
preting the law of 1898. treat Brookland as
| a part of the city.
The Other Side.
The applicants were represented by Mr.
Vincent Sheehey. who called upon Mr.. ]. c.
Noyes, Mr.. j. Horgan and Mr.. Jean F. =.
des Garennes. members Of the BrooIsland
| Citizens Association. who declared that
| they had no written notice of the meeting
| at which the committee appointed to pro
/ test against the granting of The applica-
/ ton was named. They also stated that
| they see no reason why the application
| should not be granted.
| Mr.. Sheehey proceeded to argue tho CUES
\ ton. stating that the site proposed for the
! cemetery is not within 300 yards Of any
| dwelling, and that II has been approved by
the health officer. who stated that in his
| opinion the establishment of the cemetery
\ would not be detrimental to health. It Il
not proposed, said Mr.. Sheehey, to make tho
| cemetery public one, and only abou
| fifty members of the order are present a.
| the monastery at one time. there would not
| in the ordinary course of events, be moro
| than one death among them each year
| They have now been there about two year.
| and no death has yet occurred among
| them. There should be no straining of tn,
| law as advocated by Mr.. Linton Mr.. Shee
hey remarked and he expressed the opinion
| that. after carefully considering the Who'll,
| question. the Commissioners would fee
that they should grant the application.
Mr. Linton briefly replied. declaring tina
the meeting of the citizens association wa
regularly called and duly advertised, where
| upon the Commissioners took the matte
| under advisement.