Evening star., 1901-10-02
PROTEST
East Washington Citizens Oppose
Enlargement Of the Workhouse,
WANT PENAL INSTITUTIONS REMOVED
The Jail and Other Structures
Regarded as Detriment.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS

After recess of four months the mem
bers of the East Washington Citizens As
socation met last night at Baum's Hall.
corner of East Capitol and 4th streets. Mr..
Thomas W. Smith, president of the asso-
citation, who has taken great deal of in
terest in the affairs of the organization, was
in the chair. After the reading of the min
utes of the last meeting the annual report
of the treasurer, Mr.. B. W. Clark, was sub
mitted. The amount of dues paid last year,
according to the report, was $27, and tie
association was s1S.17 in debt at the be-
ginning of this year. Collections amount
ing to s12 were made, and the treasurer
said he thought he would soon have funds
enough to defray the outstanding bills.
President Smith In submitting his annual
report said:
"On the first Tuesday in October, 1900,
this association met and elected me preSi-
dent. Regular meetings Of the association
and of the executive committee have been
held. Much work has been considered and
discussed. l regret, however, to say that
very little appears to have been accom-
plished. This may seem dtScouragtng, but
when the facts are considered it is not.
Several questions concerning the welfare
and physical condition of the eastern sec
tion of the city lying between North and
South Capitol streets and the Eastern
branch have been SO thoroughly legislated
for and the working out Of the plans con-
sidered and adopted by Congress have pro-
gressed 50 well and satisfactorily that lit
tie or no criticism is due. 1 mention street
railroads, with which. you are well
aware, this section of the city is well sup
piled. The service Is entirely satisfactory.
Until something other than electricity for
street railroads is found we will be con-
tent. AS the city grows eastward, however,
street railroad extension will have to be
a hn ami Ina No dc.
mand for extension and will not be, In my
opinion, for several years to come. Legis-
lation adopted respecting the water supply
Of the whole District is ample and when
completed will give satisfaction to all citi-
zens Of the District of Columbia and to the
citizens of Capitol HILL We have been
crying for many years for more water and
greater pressure.
Sewers and Sanitary Measures.
Sewers and sanitation have been given
attention and the sewer work Is progressing
rapidly and soon a system, which was
adopted by committee of experts about
ten years ago, will be completed, and the
Anacostia and Potomac rivers will be free
of sewage along our city front. A sanitary
condition has not been accomplished be-
cause of the open sewer which borders this
section of the city for distance of more
than six miles. and it will be referred to
later. Public parks and open spaces have
mittee. You will note the many small res
ervations at the intersection Of streets and
avenues, which have been made into lawns
by baRe 5g plants plants
upon until they are now assuming
the appearance Of parks. This good work
Is still going on and the eastern section of
the city is as well taken care Of as any
part Of the District of Columbia by the
superintendent of public buildings and
grounds, to whom we owe our hearty
thanks.
Police System Commended
Public order and comfort experienced
for many years past, has been brought
about by our major of police, Richard
Sylvester, to whom we owe much and whose
hands we desire to strengthen by any ac-
ton he may desire of this association We
have been getting our share of the public
funds allotted to the Districe for the i'm
provements of streets, avenues and alleys
until our section of the city is becoming
as well paved as any other part of the
District. Lights and electrical appliances
used in the lighting of our streets are fully
up to the times and little more can be
asked for, except the extension of the cleo
trio lighting system to North Carolina ave-
nue. and Maryland avenue from South and
North Capitol streets to the terminus of
these avenues in the city. Another item
which this association can commend as
having made long strides is the work done
for schools and libraries. 1t pleases all to
have an interest in schools and libraries
and to note the fine buildings which have
been erected in all parts of the District,
especially the Library building, the pride
OF the whole country, which is on Capitol
Hill, and the new city library, now In the
course OF erection, on Mt. Vernon Square.
Other Improvements Needed.
There are several matters Of interest to
all, and when 1 say all 1 mean the whole
District, Of which we are a part which
need attention and careful supervision to
the end that all work to be done under
legislation may be accomplished wisely for
the interests Of all and the injury of none
we nave committee on public buildings
which has used great deal of the time
of Its members and has spent of it's means
bringing to the attention Of Congress the
necessity for a large and commodious pub
lie building for the Of the Supreme
Court of the United States, the Department
of Justice and the Supreme Court Of the
District OF Columbia, as we'll as audi
slider questions of national Importance and
worldwide interest.
Matter of Taxation.
1.-THE committee on taxation and legisla-
tion will have work of an important char
acter to consider during the next year.
The taxes on all of the homes Of our
citizens is too great in comparion with the
taxes on large business properties. The
taxation on the homes of the people within
the city limits is greater than the taxa
ton placed on similar homes outside Of the
city limits. The taxation placed upon lots
within the city limits is far greater than
the taxation placed upon similar lots Of the
same value outside Of the city limits. This
system is wrong. There should be equih-
zation which would place all persons own
ers of property within the District of CO.
lumbia on the same level to assess
ment valuation.
1.-The committee on charities and correc-
tions will have it's hands full Of work in
caring for the interests Of the citizens, not
only Of East Washington, but Of the whole
District, in their efforts to clean out many
pest holes and pest houses in the eastern
section of the District. 1t will work with
the committee on the reclamation of the
Anacostia fats, and it win work through
the encouragement Of its own members and
Of all good citizens of the District in its
efforts to remove from the eastern border
Of this section the United States jail and
the workhouse for criminals, the small
pox hospital and other similar buildings
bordering on the Anacostia river. The
committee on the reclamation of the Ana
costa flats will continue It's work before
Congress and the Commissioners and with
the committee on sewers and sanitation
can look forward to this winter with en-