Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-12
THE NATIONS CAPITAL
BRIGHTwooD ASSOCIATION DIS
CUSSEs IMPROVEMENTS.
Resolutions Calling Upon Congress to
Observe Compact Of 1875
The Addresses.

A meeting of the Brightwood Citizens
Association was held last evening in the
Brightwood Hotel Louis P. Shoemaker.
president of the organization, presided
and Mr.. John c. Keene served as secre-
tary.
In his opening address Mr. Shoemaker.
for the information of several invited
guests who are strangers in the city, de-
scribed the form of government for the
District of Columbia. He said he was not
exerting himself to effect change In the
form of government, but desired to work
out results in behalf of the people under
existing conditions. unsatisfactory as
they are in many respects. He particu-
larly referred to the policy enforced by
Congress of making large, costly and eX-
traordinary improvements from current
revenues, and said the only proper course
all other municipalities in this respect,
to decrease rather than increase taxation
here by providing a bond issue. and
thereby placing a proper burden upon fu-
ture generations.
Mr. Shoemaker also referred to the i'm
portance of a campaign on the part of
the people among the various representa-
tives in Congress through the medium of
their constituents in the states. He said.
In his opinion. there is no question that
the people of the country desire to see
Washington made all that it ought to be.
and that they were willing this should
be done largely at national expense.
Resolutions Adopted.
Mr. Jacob Xander introduced a resolution
to the effect that the attention of the
Brightwood Railway Company shall be d.
rected to the crowded condition of the cars
at all hours. compelling many people to
stand; to the desire of the members Of the
association for through service, such as the
people of Brookland and Anacostia enjoy.
and such as is generally afforded in other
cities: to the unsatisfactory condition of
the transfer stations at the District line,
Takoma, Richmond street and Takoma
junction. to the unsatisfactory, inadequate
and dangerous transfer facilities at the
south end of the Brightwood line at it's
connection Of the 9th street line.
Mr.. A. E. Mclaughlin offered a resolu-
ton requesting the Commissioners to open
street leading from Brightwood avenue to
10th street and Rock Greek Park. according
to the street extension plan, which street
will take the place of the present Military
road
Mr.. John G. Keene offered a resolution re-
citing the injury sustained by Mr.. George
w. Osborne of the police department. stat
ing that it was serious In character and
endangered his life. He asked that the asso-
citation pledge its best endeavors to alleviate
Mr.. Osborne and his family in their
distress.
Mr.. o. H. Herlocker offered resolution
referring to the dangerous condition of
Brightwood avenue. not only because of the
unfinished condition, but because 1t is in
adequately lighted reciting the feat that
since the last meeting of the associate
there had been two serious accidents on the
road. by collisions of electric cars and
teams which not only DESTROYED private
property. but endangered human life
Mr. W. r. Mackrille asked that the asso-
citation cause to be issued. a directory of the
residents Of Brightwood and vicinity to be
placed in the Brightwood Hotel or the en-
CINE house for the benefit Of those who may
not be familiar with the people who reside
in that section.
Opening Of Streets.
Mr.. A. E. Mclaughlin introduced a reso-
luton urging upon the Commissioners the
Importance of opening 18th and 14th streets
north of Piney branch. It recites that ar
guments have been advanced from year to
year by the association, and that now at
this late day the Commissioners should rec
ognize the Importance OF these streets to
the community. and, of their own volition.
urge their extension before Congress. One
OF the strong features of the resolution was
that not a single highway for the extension
or development of the city north of Piney
branch has been established in the last sew
enty-fve or one hundred years.
Mr.. Sam J. Masters introduced a resolu-
ton which deplored the fact that Congress
was not living up to its compact made with
the citizens in 1878, and that, as a result,
the local taxpayer is being overburdened.
He believed the new committees of the
House and Senate would correct this inius-
tice, and that the practice of meeting large
and extraordinary expenses from current
revenues would be discontinued. These res
olutions were all unanimously adopted.
The Addresses.
Members of the association were then ad-
dressed by Mr.. Thomas Blagden, Col. BENZ.
Holman and Col E. B. Townsend
The principal address of the evening
Was made by Judge w. P. McCreary of Ne
braska. who is at present visiting Wash
ington on business. Judge McCreary spoke
at length of the country at large and par
ticularly of Washington. He described ex-
periences Of people of Nebraska in the
earlier days, and referred to it's prosperity
In the past ten years, particularly abiding
to its large number of school houses and
churches. as well as it's business enter
prises. He spoke of his warm feeling for
Washington as capital city of the coun-
try, and said 1t was his desire that II should
be made in every way beautiful at the ex-
pense of the nation. and that he proposed
to use influence with his members Of
Congress to accomplish this result as sug-
gested by Mr.. Shoemaker. AS a citizen of
the United States he said he was opposed
to any unfair burden being imposed upon
the local taxpayers. and he believed that
he voiced the sentiment of the people of
the country, generally speaking, and he was
surprised to learn that the United States
government was not living up to it's COM
pact made in 1878. and further surprised to
know of the unbusinesslike policy of at
tempting to pay fgom current revenues the
cost of large and extraordinary improve
ments: established to great extent for the
benefit of future generations.
Judge McCreary said his city of 15O
Inhabitants in Nebraska issued bonds for
the school houses, for the water works and
Tor the sewerage system, and that he be-
lieved this practice was universal tbrouph-
out the country, and certainly ought to be
enforced here.
He concluded by saying: IT am proud of
my country, OF my state. OF my county. Of
the town in which I live and of Wasb;p o.
ton, my capital city, in which 1 am deeply
interested" P-'