Evening star., 1904-12-15
MERGER DISCUSSED
CONSOLIDATION OF CITIZENS AS
soCIATIoNs UNDER WAY.
Meeting of MT. Pleasant Body Last
Evening-Increase Of Police
Pay Indorsed.

The question of consolidating the Column
bia Heights. Lanier Heights and Meridian
Hill and Mount Pleasant Cftlzens Asso-
cia lions formed the subject for c0nsiderabie
discussion at the regular monthly meeting
of the latter association, held In the otrdt-
ford last evening. The association trans
acted a large amount of business anu
adopted numerous resolutions. urging local
improvements or commencing the action
of the local officials in District matters
The meeting was presided over by Col.
E. B. Townsend president. Mr.. A b. Chat-
field chairman of the committee on schools,
presented resolution, which was adopted
indorsng the action, of the superintendent
of schools and the board of education IN
recommending the purchase OF grouno IN
Mount Pleasant for normal school, anu
urging Congress to enact such Legislation;
Another resolution offered by Mr. Chatnelo
was also adopted. This In substance COM
mended as just and proper the action or
the Commissioners in including IN the
estimates of appropriations for the next
fiscal year an amount sufficient to cover
substantial percentage Of increase in the
salaries of teachers and officers connected
with the public schools Of the District OF
Columbia.
Resolution Of Endorsement.
Mr. George H. Raby. chairman of the po-
lice committee introduced resolution In
dorsing the reclassifcation and increase In
the pay of the members of the local police
force as recommended by Maj. Sylvester
Private Smith, president of the Policemen's
Association was present, and spoke briefly
in support of the resolution. He declared
that the charge that the association had
been organized to dictate to the superior
officers of the department was false. It's
purpose, as set forth I'm the preamble of its
constitution. he said. is the social. moral
and material benefit of the department. The
present pay of pilce privates Is $500 and
81 ,OS0 a year, but it is said to take nine or
ten years to gain promotion to the 81 .0SO
class. The new classes proposed are to be
paid $500, 81 ESQ and $1,000, with promotions
at the end of the second and fifth years OF
service.
Mr. Smith announced that the association
had first secured the consent OF COmm1S-
sioner West for it's representatives to ap-
pear before the various associations to Sc
cure Endorsements of their request.
The resolution favoring the increase IN
pay for policemen was adopted
Mr. A A Frey, chairman of the commit
tee on telephone and telegraph, informed
the association that the telephone service
on the heights has heen improved He in
troduced resolution. which was adopted,
asking for the erection of additional lamps
on Howard avenue between 18th and Mt.
Pleasant streets.
Piney Branch Bridge.
introduced by Mr. Louis P. Shoemaker and
Mr. Mclaughlin. indorsing the action of
the Commissioners in recommending an ap-
preparation of $5O,O0O for the proposed new
Piney Branch bridge across Rock creek,
and indorsing the bill introduced in the
House appropriating 100000 to improve
and grade 18th street beyond Piney branch.
Mr.. Hillyer, representing the Columbia
Heights Association, read petitions which
were indorsed last week by his association.
requesting the Commissioners to rename
the continuous thoroughfare connecting
Soldiers Home Park and Rock Creek Park,
and known by three nameS-Whitney ave-
nue., Park street and Lowell street. The
new name proposed is Park avenue. This
street would be named Irving street under
the Commissioners proposed plan of no.
menclature. but 1T was argued last night
the street, not being straight east and
west thoroughfare. was exception, and
could be omitted from the general scheme.
A resolution reiterating the position of the
Mount Pleasant Association, which it was
stated first urged the change in name last
spring, was adopted
District Finances.
The present state of the District finances
was discussed quite thoroughly upon the
presentation by Mr.. Shoemaker of a resolu-
ton indorsing the proposition of the Com
misSioners that Congress advance $40, 0,0O0.-
600 to the District, to be used in making
permanent improvements. and to be repaid
during term of twenty years. The MEM
bers OF the association seemed unanimous
in the opinion that Congress ought to adopt
this plan for the financing of the many
projects of permanent Improvement and the
resolutions were adopted.
The association delegated Mr. Shoemaker
as its representative to arrange for a meet
ing of the committees of the Columbia
Heights. Lanier Heights and Mount Pleas
ant Citizens Associations, for the purpose
of determining on some plan of amalgama-
ton. The opinion expressed by the MEM
bers of the association at the meeting last
night was to the effect that it will likely be
some time before the consolidation of the
associations is effected
During the discussion of this subject Mr..
E. B. Stocking deplored the disbandment of
the committee of 100 citizens which existed
number of years ago and he declared that
in the near future he might propose the or