Evening star., 1900-02-07
EAST WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Citizens Association Discusses Pending Leg
islation and Other Matters
Resolution offered Opposing Occu-
vania r. R.-Mnnicipal Building.

| A well-attended meeting of the East
| Washington Citizens Association was held
| last night at Baum's Hall. Mr.. M 1. Well
| Ter, chairman of the committee on street
| railroads. made verbal report There are
| four bills pending in Congress, he said,
which affect East Washington These are
! Senate bill 10, Ito amend the, charter of
the Capital Traction Railroad Company
| Senate bill 100, "authorizing and requiring
| certain extensions to- bel made to the lines
| of the Capital Traction Company of the
District of Columbia Senate bill 1853, ito
| amend the charter of the East Washington
Heights Traction fCompany." and Senate
bill 267s. ito incorporate the East Wash
| ington and Benning Railway COMPANY of
| the District of Columbia
OF these bills. MI Weller thought the one
requiring the extension OF the Capital Trac-
| ton road to the new bridge was almost GER
| tain of passing. This was the extension
| first proposed, he said. by the East Wash
| ington Citizens Association
| Although the association had already put
| itself on record as favoring Judiciary
| Square as the proper site for a municipal
| building. it receded from its former action,
and last night. by unanimous vote, de-
| cided that a Pennsylvania avenue site is
| the best possible for the purposes desired
| The matter brought to the attention of
| the association by Mr.. j. W. Babson. who.
| after referring to the necessity for this
| great municipality to have building of its
| own, said he had been in favor of Judiciary
| Square proper site for such a building.
4 Lately he had changed his mind and was
| now convinced the south side of Pennsyl-
| vania avenue was the place not only for
| the municipal building, but for all pubic
| buildings
| His remarks were received with applause
| and with this evidence of approval from the
10 n1n in6nrsaynapt 49,
sociation. which was unanimously given.
| Mr.. A. Patten moved that the question of
opening 18th street northeast to connect
| with 18th street, Brookland be referred to
| the committee on streets, avenues and al
leys, to examine into its desira bleness and
| the building of the proposed north and
south street railroad on said street from the
present north and south street railroad
now on 18th street. This was carried with
out discussion.
Public Order and Comfort.
In the absence of Chairman Hallam, Mr.
Leonard Sergeant made the following re-
port of the committee on public order and
| comfort:
your committee on public order and
| comfort. having had under consideration
| the subject of inclosing the vestibules of
street cars for the protection of motormen
| from the weather, referred to 1t at your
meeting January 2. 1900, respectfully re-
ports:
THAT it appears from reliable news
paper publications that similar require-
ment has been made and Is now in opera
ton in the cities of Baltimore, Pittsburg
Detroit. Chicago, Mawaukee and Rich
| mond: and that 1t dcD not operate injuri-
ously to the public, Notwithstanding the
fact that most of these cities have much
narrower and more crowded streets than
the city Of Washington.
Immediately following your action, be-
fore referred to, quite a number of bills
were introduced in Congress having the
proposed object in view. Some of them
contained other provisions in relation to
street railroads. but Senate bill No. 2230
introduced by Senator Carter January S.
and House bill 5273, introduced by Mr.. Mer-
Ger January 4, relate to this one single
subject. The proposed legislation meets
with the approval of the members of the
committee. and while they understand, or
are advised, that numerous other indi-
viduals and organizations are agitatfng
and urging the legislation proposed, the
committee thinks 1t proper that this as
sociation should also add the weight of it's
Endorsement. and. therefore, recommends
the adoption of the following resolution:
g" That it is the sense of this association
that legislation should be had requiring
the protection of the motormen of street
cars against the rigors of the weather. and
that House bill 5273 and Senate bill 223o
now pending before the Congress of the
United States. meet with our approval. and
We earnestly urge the passage of the same,
| oI one Ol them, OF SOME leSlSldtlOn ell
braclnS the same general idea.
g" That the secretary transmit to the
committees on the District of Columbia in
the House and Senate a copy of the fore
going. resolution, and also forward a copy
of same to the Commissioners of the Dis
| trict of Columbia" vi
The report was adopted by unanimous
vote.
separate report the erection of a shelter at
| the Peace monument. The secretary was
directed to inquire into the subject as to
It's feasibility.
Against Despoiling Garfield Park.
The association adopted letter prepared
| by the committee on public parks and
| spaces and addressed to Colonel Bingham, in
charge of public buildings and grounds. and
Secretary Wilson. recommending the label
| ing of the trees and shrubs in parks with
their common and botanical names, an
educational matter.
This committee also reported resolu-
ton opposing the occupation of any part of
Garfield Park for railroad purposes in con-
nection with the proposed changes along
the line of the Pennsylvania railroad. The
resolution recited that feasible and unob-
jectionabe route can be found south of
Garfield Park. leaving the tunnel at 4th
street. Again. the report put the associa-
ton on record as opposing the occupancy
of the surface of that portion of Garfield
avenue and, If 1t is necessary for a line
| to cross that space. stating that 1t should
be beneath the surface by continuation
of the proposed tunnel to the west side of
said streets. the tunnel being mounded over
| in part if required by the topography of
the surface.
Mr.. M. l. Weller spoke forcibly against
the adoption of such resolutions until all
sides had been heard. He thought the sub
ject matter of railroads was of much more
importance than all the parks in the city.
1t was not subject for the committee
parks to consider. To pass the resolutions
would be a direct reflection upon the Com
missioners of the District of Columbia who
had given the subject much consideration.
He insisted upon report from the COM
mittee on railroads before anything was
done and urged that action on the report
be postponed until the railroad committee
had reported and the citizens directly in
terested had been given an opportunity to
express their feelings in the premises. In
closing, he hoped in the future to
realize the prayers of the citizens-the
abolition of grade crossings.
Mr.. ]. F. Engle of the committee defend
ed the resolutions. motion was made to
defer action upon the report for two weeks
at which time special meeting should be
held to take up the subject, the railroad
nNp, writ tf,., -toI