Evening star., 1902-02-05
NO PERSONAL TAX
Resolution Opposing It Submitted to
East Washington Association.
CRITICISM OF TEE new WORKHOUSE
Demand That National Govern
ment Shall Share in the Expense.
STREET RAILWAY SERVICE

Several matters of Importance were called
to the attention of the members OF the
East Washington Citizens Association at
the regular monthly meeting of the assoc,a-
tion held last night at Baums Hall. Ral-
road matters were discussed, movement
was started looking to the establishment OF
public comfort places in the parks, and the
ouestion of personal tax was talked over.
One matter of Importance had reference TO
the workhouse property. especially con-
cerning the new building. This matter
was called to the attention of the assoca-
tion in series of resolutions presented by
Mr. S W. Curriden, chairman of the COM
mittee on charities and corrections, which
read:
This association is advised that the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
have included in their estimates for ap-
propria tions for the next fiscal year the
item of 100000 for continuing erection OF
workhouse for males.'-this being contrary
to the requirements of the act of Congress
approved March /, 1901, as follows: Pro-
vided that the total cost of the building
shall not exceed $150,O08, including the $780,
OC0 heretofore appropriated
This association has also been informed
that of the above appropriation of $15OOOO
large sums have been expended for costly
plumbing. far in excess in cost and extent OF
lnaC IOunu III any llhe uCtuIe III .<aAiCA-
lea, resulting in one of the most expensive
structures in the District, and so small as
to afford no commensurate accommoda-
tions for inmates. The association Is war
ranted in believing that this building, with
approaches, if completed as the present
condition of the plans call for, will exceed
the enormous sum of STOO,O00, all of this
sum over $15O,OOO being in violation of law.
Contrary to Park Commission Plans.
This associa ton has been further in
formed that the location Of this workhouse
structure on it's present site is contrary to
the plans of the parking commission and
hurtful to the project whereby promise is
given for unbroken extension of the
parking system along the Eastern branch
of the Potomac river
Therefore, the president of the assOcia-
tion and with him the members of the ex-
ecutive committee be and they are hereby
directed in person and by letter to the ap-
preparation committees of Congress to pro-
test against the further appropriation OF
money for continuing the erection of
wOrkhouse building on it's present site and,
further, to urge that a new and better site
therefor be selected in accordance with
the urgent recommendations of all the COM
mittees Of this association by whom the
present bad conditions OF affairs there have
been investigated.'
Mr.. Curriden, during the course of his re-
marks on the resolution, said the time will
come when the Jail and workhouse will have
to be placed along the line of the steam
railroads, where car switches can be run
upon the property and where workshops
will take the place of solitary confinement.
He spoke of the alleged deplorable condi
tion of men who come out of the prisons
after serving long terms, and advocated
work and Open-air exercise to benefit the
moral and physical condition of the prison
ers.
Respecting the new male workhouse, he
said the superb accommodations planned
will attract tramps from all over the cOun-
try. 1t was the intention Of the Rev. DR..
Parsons to speak in support of the resolu-
tion said Mr.. Curriden, but he was unable
to attend the meeting.
The resolutions were adopted.
Public Parks and Spaces.
Mr. ]. D. Croissant chairman of the COM
mittee on public parks and spaces, sub
mitted a report Of his committee, which
reads:
Your committee on public parks and
spaces would congratulate the association
and the citizens Of Washington generally
on the recent report through the Senate
District committee of the park commission
for the District of Columbia, which was au-
| thorized by the Senate last session. This
| report has been made public, as yet, In part
| only, but through the extended quotations
given out through the public press. and the
exhaustive plans now open to inspection at
| the Corcoran Art Gallery. enough has been
| learned of these comprehensive plans for
| remodeling the city on the lines laid down
| by L'Enfant to convince us that when this
report is adopted, as it unquestionably will
| be, it will mark an important epoch in the
| history of the national capital.
| Following out the suggestion laid down
| in this report will put stop to the irregu-
lar and haphazard custom of locating pub
| lie buildings, which hereafter will fall in
line with this admirable plan. 1t is special
| ly gratifying to note the thorough manner
| in which the eastern part of our city has
| been treated, and we heartily indorse the
| new plan Of treating AnacoStia flats. In
| fact, all the recommendations contained in
| this report are SO generally satisfactory
| that we trust 1t may meet with the most
| cordial and hearty Endorsement of this as
sociat tion, and we pledge ourselves to assist
in every way possible to carry out their rec
| concentrations.
The report was received and filed.
For Public Comfort.
Mr.. Croissant also submitted a resolution
recommending public comfort accommoda-
| tions in the parks. The resolutions recite
that many of the parks which are frequent
ed by children are without such accommo-
dations, and conclude by asking the Com
| missioners to investigate the matter and
request Congress to make the necessary ap-
| preparations to carry out the suggestion
| made in the resolutions
| Mr.. Weller said he felt satisfied the COM
| mittees of Congress would favor such i'm
| provementS.
The resolutions were adopted and copies
| of them will be sent to the Commissioners
and congressional committees.
Mr.. Nottingham offered resolution to
the effect that the association cordially
unite with the Northeast Washington Citi-
zens' Association in opposing the closing OF
H street northeast on account of the pro-
jected union station. Mr. Chappell said sc
far as he was concerned he objected to the
people of the northeast section having tc
pass through tunnel in order to reach the
heart of the city.
Mr.. Curriden said he had been informe e6
by General Harries that the matter OF
closing II street had been abandoned an6
that General Harries usually knows wha
he talks about"
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Weller, chairman of the committee
on taxation, said he had no report to make
The tax bill, he said, has been amended
since 1t was introduced and some further
changes are anticipated. So far as he wa.
concerned he thought the merchant whs
has large stock of goods and carries or
business for gain should pay his proper
tionate amount Of the citys expenses a.
well as the poor man, who owns only hi.
little home.
Against Inequality.