The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-28
MIR. MACFARLAND HONORED
The Commissioner the Guest of the
BrightwOOd Citizens.
Projects for the Improvement of the
National Capital Discussed-Louis
Il. Shoemaker. Judge a. :. Bundy,
l.. A. Dent. and j. d. kinnear Speak

AS compliment to Henry B. F. Mac
farland, President of the Board of Com
missioners OF the District of Columbia,
the Briehtwood Citizens Association held
q special meeting at the Brightwood Hotel
last night. Commissioner Macfarland was
the guest of honor and made a brief ad-
dress upon subjects of interest to the
members OF the association. A number of
other guests were present. and of their
number Judge a. s. Bundy, J. b. Kinnear.
and Judge l.. a. Dent made short speeches.
The other guests were Col L. NJ. Saund-
ers. Benjamin Holman. Col. r. S. Brown,
James H. White, of Pasadena, Cal, and
G. w Wood
Louis P. Shoemaker opened the meeting
with an address OF welcome to Commits
sioner Macfarlaud. Mr.. Shoemaker said
that Commissioner Macfarland had been
asked to attend at the meeting as mark
Of appreciation on the part Of the asso-
cIation for the interest he had always dis
played in the general welfare of the pub
lie. Mr.. Shoemaker said further that 1t
was the policy of the association to urge
all needed improvements in the District.
Touching upon improvements desired In
the immediate vicinity of Brightwood. Mr..
Shoemaker called attention to the
need of the extension of Thirteenth. Four
teenth, and Sixteenth Streets in order
that the city might extend its growth in
the natural direction. He then touched
upon the need for the dredging Of the
Eastern Branch and the reclamation of
the Anacostia Flats and the advisability
OF the construction of additional bridges
over the Potomac. In closing, Mr.. Shoe
maker paid an eloquent tribute to the
manner in which Mr.. Macfariand had
conducted the affairs of his office.
In opening his address. Mr.. Macfarland
said that Russia had been referred to as
!. Government made up of a Car and as
sassnation. The District. he thought,
was composed of Commissioners and as
soeiations. Continuing. MIR. Macfariand
said:
Congress did more for the District at
its last session than in any former year
since, in 1878, 1t gave us the constitution
of the District of Columbia" Not only
did the District receive much larger APP
preparations in spite of unfavorable con-
ditions, not only was the principle OF au-
vances from the Federal Treasury in an
ticipation of District revenues success
fully presented, not only was the first
half of the District code enacted into law.
the District chargeable in part to District
funds was provided for. more or less
fully, with the sole exception of the Dis
trict government building. which was left
in a hopeful state. Every department of
District affairs and every section of the
Dis;rict Will be benefited by the legisla-
tion of the last session.
at was due partly. no doubt, to the new
devotion of the nation to its capital, the
neg. consciousness of responsibility and
cuty toward the District in Congress, so
admirably brought out on Centennial
Day. at the opening of the session. But
il was also due. without doubt, to the
practical unanimity with which the Com
missioners of the District, its official rep
resentatives. We're supported by Its cit-
zens IN their presentation of its needs and
OF measures to meet them before Con-
gress All the organizations of citizens
that constitute a unique and important
feature of District life contributed to this
support The result shows what can be
accomplished when the Commissioners
are thus supported, and Congress hears
the District speak practically with one
voice.
Since took the office of Commissioner,
of all the representatives Of citizens as
ISOLATION with whom | have come In con-
tart. none have impressed me more IA
vorabiy than have the gentlemen of this
association"
At the conclusion of his address Com
missioner Macfarland was heartily ap-
plauded. Mr.. Shoemaker then introduced
Judge l.. A Dent. former Consul TO
Jamaica and once secretary to James G.
Blaine Judge Dent spoke of Jam1ica
and gave an interesting sketch of the
country and its people. His address was
Srrinklsd with many instructive and
humorous anecdotes.
Judge Dent was followed by Judge A s.
Bundv, who spoke at length on the press
ing necessity for the extension of the
system Of parks and reservations of the
District He brought out many new
points on this subject, and was accorded
hearty applause at the conclusion OF his
remarks.
Mir J. B. Finnear President of the
Takoma Park Citizens Association, spoke
briefly OF the growth of that village and
tine work done by the Organization of
which he was the head.
Before adjournment Mr.. Wilton J.
Lambert Offered a resolution which call
ed attention to the fact that the Bright
wood association had advocated a more
extensive scale of appropriations for
pubic appropriations in the District. In
titis connection. the extension Of = ir-
teenth. Fourteenth. and Sixteenth Streets
was mentioned. as was the reclamation
of the Anacostla flats. the erection of
municipal building and construction of
bridges over Rock Creek and the Poto-