Evening star., 1900-12-19
TAkOMA PARK AFFAIRS.
Association Addressed by Judge Cot
ton on Subject of Suffrage.


ton on Subject of Suffrage.
The Citizens Association of Takoma Park
held a meeting Monday night in the town
hall. with President Kinnear in the
chair. Mr.. Ben G. Davis, the associations
secretary, was present and recorded the
minutes of the meeting.
Mr.. X. S. Brown, chairman of the com
mittee sewers and sanitation. presented
resolution, which was indorsed by
the association, providing that the
District Engineer Commissioner be re-
quested to furnish the association.
through the president, all informa-
ton relative to the proposed route
OF lateral sewers to connect with the trunk
sewer within the District portion of the
town.
Capt. T. w. Lay called the attention of
the association to the open cars on the
Brightwood line. The secretary was
Quested to communicate with the railroad
officials relative to placing closed cars on
the road. Captain Lay also reported the
progress on the new school house. and that
the building would be completed by March
1st
Mr. l.. NJ. Mooers. chairman of the COM
mittee membership. presented a report
of the recent work of his committee. A
large number Of new members was added
to the rolls, many ladies being included
The office Of treasurer of the association
was declared vacant and Mr.. G. r. Will
Jams, formerly treasurer, was unanimously
reelected to the position. Mr.. Woodbridge
Clapp. having removed to New York, was
unable to continue in his official capacity.
Mr.. George A. Warren presented reso-
luton. which was adopted, relative to tele-
phonic communication among the residents
of the park. The resolution stated that
under existing law telephone wires of no
description character could be erected
outside the limits of the city of Washing
ton, thereby depriving the people of Takoma
of tp]pnhoDjc nmIIuic3 ion and rendering
large and growing community with wide
ly separated houses without the means of
quickly summOning help in cases of fire,
disorder or other cmergent causes.
The association was requested to Vigor-
ously protest against such prohibition
detrimental to the comfort. convenience
and safety of the people of Takoma, and
special committee was appointed to con-
fer with the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia, the telephone company, Sena-
tor McComas and Representative Pearre
and urge their cooperation in the enact
ment of legislation that will remedy the
matter.
President Kinnear appointed a committee
composed of George A. Warren. chairman:
Ashley NJ. Gould and c. NJ. Douglass to
take up the question.
Mr. ]. Vance Lewis suggested that fire
committee be appointed to aid the volun-
teer fire company in its organization. Mr..
o. D. Sunny was appointed chairman Of
the committee.
A resolution was presented by Mr.. Geo
A. Warren for the appointment of a spe-
cial committee, composed of three members
of the association, with President Kinnear
as chairman, to communicate with the post
office officials with a view Of inaugurating
local free delivery in Takoma Park and
vicinity.
President kihnear introduced Judge J.
B. Cotton, formerly assistant attorney
general of the United States, who spoke at
some length of the suburban towns of
years ago as compared with those of the
present day. He argued in favor of prop
erty suffrage for the District as against
political suffrage. He explained his idea
of the kind of suffrage he would like to
see in the District Closer connection be-
tween the citizens and the governing power
was what he desired. At the present time
ne said the citizens are at arms length
and the citizens associations. the newspa-
pers, the Commissioners and the citizens
are the only means of making public wants
felt. He said that in certain quarters there
frage idea, because it would not be consid-
cred polite, bat he felt that Congress.
which deals SO largely with the District
in the matter of property and with SO
many questions affecting property interests,
should not do so without permitting the
property owner to have direct representa-
ton.
He suggested that there should be dele
gates from the District in the House and
Senate elected by the property owners,
who should have the right to speak and
vote on all matters relating to the Dis
trict They should, he said. be members
of both of the District committees and vote
on local bills only.