Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-01-11
CITIZENS CONF Err
Resolution Soliciting Loan From
Treasury for District Improvement
SENTIMENT AGAINST 4 BOND ISSUE
Draft of Bill Which Congress VIII
Be Asked to Pass.
THE ITEMS DISCUSS ED

THE ITEMS DISCUSS ED
A score or more of Washingtons promi-
nent business men, representing nine citi-
zens' associations in different parts of the
city, for more than two hours last even
ing discussed methods whereby the Dis
trict of Columbia may be relieved from
the stress put upon 1t by the present
straitened condition of it's finances. The
discussion was participated in freely and
the result was the adoption unanimously
of the following resolution presented by
Mr.. A. E Kinnan of the Brookland Asso-
ciation:
ut is the unanimous sentiment of the
delegates from the different citizens asso-
Citations throughout the District that Con-
gress should grant at once an. advance
from the United States treasury to
the District commensurate with the pres
ent urgent needs Of the District for pub
lie improvements, and that money so ad-
vanced should be paid back through a
series of years in proportions provided by
the compact or organic act OF 1878 relating
to the District of Columbia
The meeting was held at the Office of Mr..
w. J. Lambert, No. 40 9th street north
west, who called it to order and who was
made permanent chairman. Mr.. John Ford
of Brookland acted as secretary. Mr.. Kim
nan, before introducing his resolution, said
he had considered the question fully and
had had several conferences with the Dis
trict Commissioners and the members of
the Senate and House committees.
BOND Issue Disapproved.
He declared that it was the unanimous
sentiment of all with whom he had talked
that a bond issue was entirely out Of the
question. The people of the District, he
said, are already burdened with debt and
it would be entirely too much to place upon
them the expense of paying off an increased
Indebtedness that would certainly not be
less than $4,000, 600.
The bill, which Congress will be asked to
pass, was read by Mr.. Kinnan. 1t proposes
the advance by the treasury to the District
of the sum of 81, 800 900, or SO much thereof
as may be required for public improvements,
to be used as follows: For constructing fill
tration reservoir, 81, 766, 217.50 completing
sewage disposal system, $2.6S0,097; bridging
the Eastern branch and other necessary
places and completing Rock creek bridge,
81 600, 600; improving streets, roads and
highways, 81 OFT $50. 80; retaining the Ana
costa fats, $976095.
Mr.. Kinnan said that he did not intend
that the amounts stated in his bill should
stand as he felt convinced that such would
not be the case. He also said that he did
not wish it to be understood that the i'm
that would be attended to through the adj
vance, which he had reckoned on basis
Of $10O00,00O. More money than this would
probably be needed and more money would
probably be appropriated, but the figures
and improvements noted in the bill were
mentioned in order to give the meeting
basis on which to work.
Argues Against Haste.
Mr. Kinnan then read the bill He was
closely questioned and a general discussion
of it's provisions ensued. Mr.. Thomas w.
Smith, president Of the Board of Trade,
warned those present not to be too hasty
in their action. He said that the members
Of the park commission were almost ready
to make their report, which Is of vital i'm
portance to the improvement of the Dis
trict, and which might change the trend of
improvements to be made. He thought 1t
desirable that definite action should be de-
ferred until after the park commission had
reported, and then the members of the va
rious citizens associations could see just
what improvements were contemplated in
their sections of the city and would be able
thereby to talk more intelligibly of what
was needed in the future.
Indorses Mr.. Smiths View.
Mr. B. H. Warner Endorsed Mr.. Smiths
remarks. He said that many of those pres
ent had seen the plans of the park COM
mission and knew for a certainty that some
of the things in the bill proposed by Mr..
Kinnan would have to be materially altered
to meet the new conditions.
1.-THE report of the commission has been
virtually adopted by Congress. although not
presented" Mr.. Warner said, ''as all MEM
bers of both houses have seen and approved
it. In one matter particularly the plans of
the commission would alter the plans pro-
posed by Mr.. Kfnnan, 50 500. 900 having been
decided upon as the cost Of the municipal
building
Mr.. Warner said the amount mentioned
by Mr.. kinnan would not be enough to
erect such building as is needed by the
District.
Mr. Evan H. Tucker, president of the
Northeast Washington Citizens Associa-
ton. and Mr.. William B. Henderson presi-
dent of the North Capital and lexington
Citizens Association, spoke in a similar
strain, advising against undue haste.
Reason for Previous Failure.
Mr. Lambert said that the reason the
plans Of the committee formed last year
had failed to carry was that the matters
were not presented to Congress In time for
proper consideration. He urged that the
association get to work Immediately in an
effort to make some sort of a showing to
Congress and to the Commissioners.
Mr.. Shoemaker of the Brightwood Citi-
zens' Association said he thoroughly be-
the ground, but he believed the time was
ripe to be up and doing; that the people
were sure Of the ground and that something
should be done. Should the park commits
sion's plans interfere with any plans that
might be prepared by the committee, all
that would be necessary would be to go to
Congress and to the Commissioners and ask
for an alteration of plans. He said that he
thought the people whose ground has been
designated as the route of the street i'm
provements contemplated would be COM
PEELED to hold their property for perhaps
twenty years, paying taxes on it all the
time unable to build upon it, before the
government assumed control. Those citf-
zens desired an extension of the improve
ments already commenced without delay,
and it was his belief that the meeting
should act decisively.
Those Present.
Among those present were Louis L. Shoe
maker and Wilton ]. Lambert, representing
the Brightwood Citizens Association; A. E.
Kinnan, John McPhaul and John Ford of
the Brookiand Citizens Association; Will
liam B. Henderson and A. o. Tfngley of the
North Capital and lexington Citizens AS
ISOLATION; Walter Keene of the Georgetown