The Washington times., 1901-10-15
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT.
Action of the Commissioners on
Ex-MayOr Emery's Death.
A Park Street Residents Objection
to n Telegraph Pole-Policeman
Exonernted for Non-Payment of
Money Loaned ut High Interest.

| The District Commissioners yesterday
took formal action upon the death of the
late Matthew C. Emery, formerly Mayor
of Washington. Their expression of es-
TEEN for Mr.. Emery and the suspension
Of business during the afternoon of the
| funeral is set forth in the following reso
| luton:
1.-The Commissioners of the District Of
Columbia learn with deep sorrow of the
decease, at 1910 o'clock p m. OF Saturday,
of the Hon. Matthew Gault Emery, who
was mayor of the city of Washington
from June. 1870. to June. 1s1.
I'm the death of Mr.. Emery the COM
munity has lost one of its most eminent
and respected citizens. whose private life
was an inspiration to right living, and
whose business enterprise and public spirit
were potent factors in enhancing the pros
perity and improvement of the National
Capital. '
las mark of respect to his memory it
is ordered:
THAT the flag on the Municipal Build
ing be displayed at half-mast until after
the funeral; that the Commissioners at
tend the obsequies, and that this order
be spread upon the minutes of the Board
and copy thereof be furnished the fam
lily Of the deceased"
G. NJ. Emmerich. of the German Fire
Insurance Company, some time ago COM
planned to the Commissioners against the
setting of a pole in front OF his premises
on Park Street northwest, alleging that it
was unsightly and occupied too much
space on the sidewalk The matter was
referred to the Electrical Department,
and 1t was reported that the pole in ques-
ton was necessary for the extension of
the District fire-alarm service. The Com
missioners approved the recommendation
of the Electrical Engineer that the pole
should remain in its present position.
The Commissioners received another
communication yesterday from Mr. En-
merich, in which he says:
"On the 4th instant l addressed letter
to you protesting against the erection of
telephone pole in front of my premises
at the southeast corner of Park and Pine
Streets, Mount Pleasant.
"Since that date, have learned through
the daily newspapers that the pole refer
red to was erected by the District for its
own use, and that in the opinion of the
Electrical Engineer of the District the
pole does not interfere with the traffic on
the street, nor does he consider it a detri-
ment to my property, both of which points
! submitted as my objection to the pole.
while do not desire to underestimate
the opinion Of the Electrical Engineer, l
beg to say that his opinion IN TINS matter
Is at variance not alone with my own, but
with the expressed opinion of many of the
citizens and property owners IN my neigh
borhoOd.
'.The pole is erected on the inner edge
of the narrow sidewalk on Park Street, on
a line with my fence as now established
on that street and about six feet from my
faH Dfrn 2 tE FngT n
to move the Park Street fence back to
conform with the line of fence established
recently by other property holders on
Park Street. When that Is done the pole
in its present position viii be outside of
the fence line. which will most certainly
be a great obstruction TO travel on the
street.
ASIDE from the objections mentioned
the proposed extension of Sixteenth Street
affects my property in such a way as TO
leave me only small triangular piece of
ground after the ground necessary for the
street is taken by the Government. In or
der to give any value whatever to the re-
naming ground left TO me for building
purposes it will be necessary 10 erect the
improvements within a very few feet of
Park Street, and consequently the I'M
proyements thus erected Will be within
very few feet OF the opJectlohaple pore,
This would make the pole most serious
nuisance to the property, so much 80
as TO unquestionably Interfere with the
sale or comfortable use Of 1t:
class of property owners made to suffer |
by the long and tedious proceedings In
relation to the extension of Sixteenth |
Street respectfully appeal to you TO re-
lieve me of any further hardships that |
the Government might put upon me in |
connection with the property here IN |
volyed, by causing the removal Of the OBJ |
tectionable pole, which will be doing moth |
ing more than granting to me that justice |
and equity due me in the premises"
The Commissioners yesterday passed |
upon the case of Private j. e. Barnes, |
who was charged before the triel board |
of the Police Department with the nom
payment of a debt. After the investiga- |
ton of the case the trial bOard pro- |
nounced the officer not guilty.
In forwarding the case to the Commits |
sioners. Major Sylvester recommended |
that the charges be dismissed, which |
the Commissioners have approved.
The case was founded upon a claim |
made by Henry c. Terrell that he had |
loaned money TO Barnes on a personal
note. upon which there was still due s24. !