Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-05
AGAINST PROPOSED BILL
MISS MARY E. MANN OBJECTS TO
PENDING MEASURE.
Proposed Legislation to Permit Burial
of Dead in Protestant EpiscOpal
Cathedral Grounds.

Miss Mary z. Mann has written to the
District Commissioners saying that she
considers 1T her duty and right, "as the
founder of the Protestant Episcopal Cattle
dral project, to most earnestly protest
against the enactment of any law legalizing
the burial of the dead within the cathedral
grounds Miss Mann has reference to a
bill pending before Congress proposing to
authorize the Protestant Episcopal Cathe-
oral Foundation of the District to permit
the burial of the dead in any designated
part of its land in the District, situate be-
tween the Tenleytown road, Woodley lane,
Galveston street, 25th street and Massachu-
sets avenue, or in vaults to be built on the
said land, under such sanitary regulations
as shall be prescribed by the Commission
ers. not more than four such burials to be
allowed in any one calendar year. The bill
also provides that the remains of Thomas
John C!agett, the first bishop of Maryland,
and his wife, may remain in the vault in
the church yard of ST. Adams Church, adj
joining the cathedral grounds, and here
after be removed to the cathedral grounds
or to the cathedral which shall be built
thereon.
In a report to the Commissioners on the
bill, DR.. VIM. c. woodward, the District
health officer, says that. in view of the
fact that the intcrments authorized under
it are to be under such sanitary regulations
as shall be prescribed by the Commission
ers he sees no objection to its enactment.
He believes the second section of the bill,
referring TO the remains of Bishop Clagett
and his wife, is unnecessary, as perme sion
for their disposal has already been granted
by the Commissioners upon the advice of
their attorney.
Cites the Law.
In her protest Miss Mann invites the at
tertion of the Commissioners, to the act of
January -, 1888. which provide: that there
shall be no cemetery in the District with
in one mile and d half from the boundary
of the city, nor within less than 300 yards
Of any dwelling house. except with the
written consent Of the owner, lessee and
occupier of such house. The distance from
the boundary of the city. Miss Mann says,
to the line of the cathedral grounds is
1,32I.!J feet. little moro tlan quarter Of
a mile, ard there are many houses on the
west side of Wisconsin avenue within the
prescribed limits Of 300 yards
Il can, she states. "c"nceivc of IL" rea-
son why III" wiz provisions for n" prrser-
walton of the public health. referred to in
the 'boye-nan!cd act, should be rendered
null and void, as they necessarily will be
by the passage of the bill referred to-
Having been both pupil and a teacher
Tor many wears in young ladies boarding
schools. Miss Mann says she knows what
dep1 cSsing effect the constant sight If
grave or graves in the same iuclosurt Nth
school buildings would have upon the
bill to incorporate the Protestant Episcopal
Cathedral foundation was compiled by her
states Miss Mann, and she was inStru-
mental, she claims, in getting it through
Congress 1t provides, she explains that
said corporation is hereby empowered to
establish and maintain within the District
OF Columbia cathedral and institutions of
learning for the promotion of religion. and
education, and charity
My interests concludes Miss Manu.
have been. and still are, chiefly centered
In the educational feature of the work and
in founding the cathedral project it was
certainly my intention to promote the es-
enlistment of seminaries and not Gene
tcrieS.
Others Oppose 1t.
Miss Mann has also Joined with Messrs
Joseph #. Kengla, Edward Brooke Geo, A,
Hill, l.. Q. Howard. Charles r. Kengla and
others in protest against the passage of
the act. In their protest they invite atten-
ton to the fact that within the cathedral
grounds there Is now nearing completion the
Hearst School for Girls, endowed by Mrs
Phoebe n. Hearst, and to which it is pro-
posed to shortly invite girls from all over
the country for training, education and
residence.
The bill, if T.assed, the professionals believe
would necessarily open the way for the
establishment Of a cemetery in the heart of
what is already q most inviting residential
neighhorhuod and which must inevitably
become thichly settled ard highly i'm
proved portion Of the city. They believe it
to be contrary to public policy ard a dam
gerous precedent menace to the health
oil the ntfghborhood. great injustice to the
noble educational enterprise already begun
at the spot, as well as an injury to the
neighboring residents and proprietors
Therefore, they protest against favora BILE
report on the bill.