Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-03
BEAUT|FY|NG THE CITY
Board of Trade Endorses Park
Commission Plans.
GENERAL DISCUSSION
RESOLUTION ADOPTED COMPLI-
MENTING SENATOR MCMILLAN.
Reports Received on Charities and Cor
rections-Medical Inspection
in Public Schools.
GENERAL DISCUSSION


parks and reservations. rivers and harbors
and public health. A resolution indorsing
the plans of the parking commission was
adopted, and much enthusiasm was ELECTED
by reference to the services of Senator Nc
tested high appreciation of the great in
terest which he has shown in District af-
fairs
Mr.. Thos W. Smith, the president of the
board, presided, and Gen. Geo. H. Harries,
the secretary, was in his place. The first
report presented was from the committee
on charities and corrections, by it's chair
man, Mr.. B. T. Janney. He called attention
to the last report made by the committee,
which brought out the facts relative to the
long term or cumulative terms of prisoners
in the District jail. Since then, he stated,
a bill had been introduced in Congress,
which was designed to correct this evil, and
he asked the Endorsement of this measure
by the board, and that authority be given to
the committee to advocate it's passage.
1t was stated that the bill had been Of
fered by the judge of the police court and
a resolution indorsing it was adopted.
Mr.. Janney next called attention to the
bill which had been introduced in Congress
relative to unsanitary buildings nthe Dis
trict. DR.. Woodward, the health officer,
was called upon to explain the measure,
and he stated that the purpose of the legis-
idtlOD was 10 secure lne APPOINTMENT Ol d
commission to have such buildings as were
decided to be unsanitary either repaired or
torn down. He said this amended
bill and placed the final determination as
to the character of buildings within the
province of the courts.
Mr.. Janney in further explanation said
the proposed reform did not bear upon poor
people. but rather upon the owners of
buildings occupied by the poor.
Counsels Caution.
In the opinion of Mr.. Corcoran Thorn,
the board ought to go slowly in placing
such power as proposed in the bill upon the
municipal government. The bill should be
so drafted to fully protect the rights Of
the property owners.
Mr.. Janney replied that this had been
guarded in the present bill. Only the power
was intrusted to the local government to de-
clare whether buildings are sanitary or not,
leaving to the courts to determine the facts.
General Harries said he was quite sure
that such legislation would not be granted,
because doubt had been expressed at the
Capitol to whether this bill was consti-
tutional For this reason ne thought It
would be wise for the board to go slowly.
Mr.. Curriden spoke of the bad condition
which existed in some sections of the city.
He believed the board ought to indorse the
general proposition that the evil complained
of should be corrected, and the bill could
be approved subject to such amendments
as would make II constitutional
General HarrieS stated that there Is no
objection to the spirit of the bill, but he
thought it was not wise to approve methods
which, from the expressions already made
az the Capitol. he felt sure, would not be
Endorsed by Congress.
Upon the request of several members the
bill was read by the secretary for the infor-
nation of the board.
In the opinion of Mr.. Arthur Cowsill the
bill infringes upon the rights Of property
owners and for tha it ought n he
carefully considered.
The resolution offered by the committee
for the Endorsement Of the bill was then
adopted
Parks and Reservations.
The next subject taken up was a resolu-
ton reported from the committee on parks
and reservations by Major II. B. LOCKER,
which was as follows:
That the committee on parks and reser-
vations having implicit confidence in the
high character, eminent ability, skill and
ripe Judgment Of the distinguished archi-
tects. sculptors and landscape architects
who form the parking commission appoint
ed by the United States Senate committee
on the District of Columbia, recommends to
the Board of Trade that it shall urge upon
Congress the adoption of the magnificent
plan presented by the parking commission
for the development of the park system Of
the District of Columbia"
Mr. S. w. Curriden said that there were |
some things recommended by the park COM
mission which were good enough for heaven;
others might be realized some time in the |
remote future. He referred more particu- |
arly to the feature of the report providing |
for the condemnation of the squares about |
the White House and the Capitol respect |
vely, as sites for public buildings. He |
spoke of instances of squares in this city |
which had been. mentioned as probable sites |
Tor government use resulting in throwing a |
blight. upon the property and putting an |
end to improvements He thought the pro- |
posed changes In the mall and the section |
south of Pennsylvania avenue, as suggest |
ed by the commission, Were admirable and |
so were other features, but in the particu- |
airs mentioned he thought the commission |
had gone too far and had made needless |
He then went on to contrast |
some of the methods of government in deal |
ng with London and Paris as compared |
With the policy of Congress toward this |
city, and said these imperialistic govern |
ments could furnish in some particulars |
worthy object lessons.
Capt Walker suggested that it would be |
a mistake to do away with a business Sec |
ton of the city, as proposed in the parking |
commission plans for the improvements |
south of Pennsylvania avenue.
In the opinion of Mr.. =. s. Bundy the |
parking commission plan was the first ade- |
1uate scheme that had ever been proposed
and 1t was the duty of the board to take a |
view of this subject and |
support the general features of the admra-
pie measure. mere might be some QueS- |
ton about the details, but there should be |
none in regard to the general proposition.
Compliment Senator Mcmillan.
Gen. Harries said the parking commission |
plan emanated from a man who had al
ways had the interests OF the District at |
heart and who had been instrumental IN |
advancing this city. This was Senator Nc |
MILAN, he said, the chairman of the Senate |
District committee, and the mention of the |
name was received with applause. He |
said that there seemed to be an idea that |
1t was goinng to cost the District large |
sum of money, but he found nothing of the |
sort In the proposition. The plan was not |
one to be adopted at this time, but 1t would |
live, and when new public building was |
needed 1t could be located in accordance |
with the plan; and. as is usual with such |
buildings, the cost would be met by the |
government. After a while, perhaps, when |
the park plan comes to be considered, the |
District citizens could see that they, will |