Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-25
ORNAMENTAL BRIDGE
BUSINESS MEN OBJECT TO PRO-
POSED HIGHWAY STRUCTURE.
Resolutions Embodying Views to Be
Presented tol Secretary Root
Other Business Considered.

The regular monthly meeting of the Bust
ness Mems Association was held last
evening in the banquet hall of the
Hotel Barton. The chief matters con-
sidered related to proposed amend
ments reducing the number of members of
committees from twenty-five to five and
requiring the payment Of years dues
when applications for membership in the
association are acted upon. The desir-
ability of having the proposed highway
bridge built on ornamental lines was also
discussed and resolution to that effect
vas adopted and will be laid before the
Secretary Of War by committee from the
association. The association was called
to order by Mr.. George w. Oyster, second
vice president. Mr.. Barry Buckley acted as
secretary.
The first business presented was report
from Mr.. Conrad Syme, chairman of
special committee appointed by the execu-
tive to review the constitution and bylaws
of the association. and recommend any
changes that would be advisable before
reprint of the pamphlet was ordered. He
reported that after a very careful review
only two ways had been determined upon
to improve it. One was an amendment
providing that no application for member
ship in the association should be consid-
cred unless it is accompanied by So the
amount of dues required for one year. He
said the association by adopting such a
plan would follow the practice of the Board
of Trade and most other associations. The
other proposition was to cut down the
membership Of committees from twenty
five to five.
1T has been our experience" said Mr..
Syme, that ever since our constitution
was adopted it has been impossible to get
the chairmen of the thirty committees to
name twenty-five members. Among those
committees that have been appointed there
have been many Implications, SO that such
large committee membership has been
shown to be impractical
Provisions of Constitution.
Mr.. Syme explained that under the pro-
visions of the constitution his report should
be referred to committee to be appointed
by the president Of the association. who
should make report on it within five days
The Secretary could then announce the pro-
posed changes to be considered at the next
meeting. Although this plan would have
thrown the proposed change of the const-
tuition over to the next meeting DISPOSE
ton was manifested in favor of discussing
it at once. Mr.. Magruder favored the read
ing of the entire constitution to see If there
should not be some other changes. Mr.. M
Dyrenforth, who said he helped to frame
the constitution, expressed the belief that
it could be improved. After considerable
discussion the matter was disposed of by al
lowing the proposed amendments to be re-
ferred to a committee for report so that
they may be acted on by the association at
it's next meeting. -.
Mr.. P H. Heiskell announced that the
speedway in Potomac Park would be ready
for use by July ].
The proposition Of the Brightwood Citi
zens' Association for the formation of
special citizens committee within the Bust
ness Mems Association, to be composed of
presidents of citizens associations, in order
to harmonic the efforts of various sections
OF the city in securing appropriations from
tee composed of Messrs. Louis P Shoe
maker Clayton Emig and B. T. Janney.
After considerable discussion the report of
the committee favoring the appointment of
such committee was adopted.
Mr.. Dyrenforth proposed that a special
statement be issued by the Business Mems
Association, showing what 1t has accom-
plished for the merchants and others of the
city in the form of legislation to protect
merchants against shop filters. boarding
house keepers against dead beats, and in
securing a reduction in the price of electric
lighting. Mr.. v Baldwin Johnson thought
such matters should be attended to in the
annual report Of the president of the assoc
citation and the motion was lost.
The Highway Bridge.
Secretary Buckley explained the disap-
pointment Of the association in finding that
the plans now being considered for a high
way bridge across the Potomac river are
for bridge that will not be an ornament
to the beautiful river it is to span and far
from being in conformity with the plans for
the Identification of the city by the park
commission. He spoke of the disappoint-
ment over the type of bridge the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company had been permit
ted to erect across the river, and said it
was understood that Mr.. Burnham wished
to see the highway bridge conform to the
railroad structure.
resolution was finally adopted authoriz-
ing the appointment of committee to
present to the Secretary Of War the resolu-