The Washington times., 1902-06-14
HON. DAVID MERCER
VISITS BRIGHTWOOD

| ing Hon. David Mercer upon the cuimi-
nation of his efforts in securing for the
! District an appropriation for new mu-
nicipal building. The resolution voiced
the sentiment that it is a national dis
| grace that the Capital of the Nation
has been without city hall during the
century of it's existence
The following resolution respecting
the duty OF Congress to extraordinary
| improvements in the District was unan-
| imously adopted:
washington being the National Cap
| ital, 1t should be embellished and i'm
proved along national lines and in keep
ing with the dignity of the United
| States. 1t is therefore proper for Con-
gress to declare that great parks, build
ings, bridges, streets, boulevards, ave
nues and other improvements should be
extensive and costly so that Washing
ton or rather the District of Columbia
shall become the admiration of the
world.
1t is not however, proper that Con-
gress should direct these extensive i'm
provements for the benefit of the people
Of the United States and compel the few
| taxpayers of the District to bear an
enormous burden which will cause tax
alton to operate as confiscation of
their property.
Appeal to Congress.
Therefore, be it resolved by the
Brightwood Citizens Association, that
We are of the opinion that Congress
will at once recognize the error and
/ injustice of the present policy and grant
the desired relief.
We further believe that the people
| of this country desire to see Washing
ton what it ought to be as the Capital
| City and at national expense and that
they are opposed to the imposition of
natioral burdens upon District land
| owners
| Mi. Mercer then addressed the asso-
citation. He spoke of the interest ex-
cited by the proceedings of the meeting
and admonished the association to keep
on passing resolutions and to add
thereto the element of hustle. The con-
dition of taxpayers in the District was
compared with that of the colonists be-
fore the Revolution, and Mr.. Mercer de-
plored the fact that, without represen-
tation in the National Legislature. citi-
zens of Washington have only the right
of passing resolutions and of petition at
the Capitol.
Mr.. Mercer referred humorously to
SONY of his colleagues, who come to
Washington without ever having seen
sewer or an electric light. He thought
that was not the best timber for the
common council of a great city. but he
said that through the citizens associa-
| tions most of them were finally educated
municipality.
Compares Other Cities.
Washington was compared with the
capitals OF Europe. and the fact was
brought out that til, Sotional Govern
ment was beginning realize its duty
&c its Capital. Mr.. Mcrcer spoke of the
new and growing public sentiment in
Congress and in the country for the
Identification of the Capital City. This,
he thought, had been largely brought
about by visits OF the people to the
Capitol and the Congressional Library
He said that If forty such buildings were
erected here there would not be a
grumble from a taxpayer in the Union. |
N.Y. Mercer spoke OF his desire to secure
a biilding for the Supreme Court of the
United States just north OF the Library,
onTten acres OF land, and to have on |
Capitol Hill three of the grandest struc- |
lures in the world.
Mr. Mercer advocated the purchase OF |
all the property south of Pennsylvania |
Avenue. He declared that the rentals |
would in time pay for the land and then |
the Government would have the ground |
for public buildings in the future.
Must Keep at Work.
The speaker urged upon the association
to keep at work upon the improvement of
the District. He suggested that the asso-
citation and others like II should take |
pains with the legislation for such work
He thought 1t was the province of the
citizens associations to take such legisla-
ton before the Commissioners, to i'm
press 1t upon their attention. to induce
them 10 report II TO Congress, and never
to give up until it becomes law. He said
that was the proper line of work, full OF
promise for the future of the Capital
City.
Mr.. Arthur E. Kinnear. president of
the Brookland Citizens Asscciation, also
addressed the meeting. Col. S. Z. Cham
beriain spoke briefly Of the battle between
Gen. Jubal Early and the Union troops
near Brightwood on July IL and y, 1864.
The association adjourned to meet en-
the second Friday evening in October