Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-16
FILES A PROTEST,
MIR. Simmons Objects to Changes in
Names Of Streets.


Names Of Streets.
Mr.. Leo Simmons presented a lengthy
protest to the District Commissioners yes
terday afternoon regarding the proposed
plan to rename the streets Of the suburbs.
Mr.. Simmons said he appeared in behalf
of several clients, as well as himself, par
ticular objection being made to a change
in the name Of Yale street In his commu-
nication he says:
II understand you claim the right to
make such changes by virtue Of an act
of Congress, passed March 2, 1893, COM
monty known as the highway act Ger
tainly said act Is we'll named IL your con-
tention Is right though / cannot see how
that act can be so construed My construc-
ton Of that law Is that 1t contemplated
giving authority for a general condemna-
ton proceeding to lay out streets and
adopt others, whereby In such proceeding
mot summarily without notice or hearing
to any one affecteO 1t WAS intended that
all persons should be heard before a court
OF competent Jurisdiction, and where dam
ages were found by reason of any change
or alteration just compensation could be
allowed. And this construction It seems
to me, Is the only one that can be rea-
sonably placed upon such law, for certain
ly Congress did not intend to heap an out
rage upon out citizens by providing such
law II So man would go to bed feeling
that his house and abode was safely To-
Gated upon certain street which was en-
tirely satisfactory to him and awake In
the morning to find that he did not live
on such street. but on an entirely differ
ent one, selected by some Individual.
And want to further call your atten-
ton to the fact that the streets In CO.
lumbia Heights are not vested in the
United States or In the District Of Column
bia. but such streets are in the abutting
fu 10 Ion a
before the act of 1888, and prior to that
time dedication for street purposes did
not pass the fee to the city, but 1t re-
manned in the abutting owner and Is so to
this day. Such being the case, every own
er I'm said subdivision has an absolute right
in the name OF said street.
Therefore any act attempting to give
you the authority to change such name
its own act change the name Of such
streets without a proceeding. and certain
ly 1t could not delegate such authority to
you to do so, No doubt authority may be
delegated to make police regulations, ETC.,
when no vested rights are affected thereby,
but whenever such delegation would tend
to affect vested rights the act is unconsti-
tutional and void.
1T seems to me to name streets that are
supposed to stand for eternity after any
man Is absolutely wrong. Who Is Chan
ming? What did he do to deserve such
perpetuation of his name? There are thou
sands OF men with such name. What as
surance have We that an individual by such
name may not commit some atrocious
crime and become famous for that? Who
is Bryant? Is he the poet or the insane
man by that name that died at Good Hope
year or so ago? Take the city directory
and you'll find under the head of Bryant
laborers, walters, bellboys, butchers, ba-
kers and candlestick makers Fifty years
from now who will know for whom these
streets were named? The names of the
streets OF Columbia Heights were chosen
from weil-known institutions that have
stood. and are likely to stand for thou
grace the name. Your scheme, SO far as
adopting such name, is wrong. and trust
you will not force US to the courts to
protect our rights. And Il believe when
second thought that It deserves you will
agree with me, for do not believe II ID
your Intention knowingly 20 wrong any
onAs