Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-12
PAYMENT OF DAMAGES
cHA1oxs on ACCOUNT OF
CHANGES OF GRADE.


The regular monthly meeting of the
Northeast Washington CitiSens' Associa-
ton was held last evening In Northeast
Temple, 18th and III streets northeast.
President d. Fl. Tucker was in the chair.
As chairman of the committee on pro-
posed legislation President Tucker report
ed that bill had been introduced In the
Senate by Mr.. Gallinser. ut the request OF
the Commissioners. providing for the pay
ment Of damages on account OF changes
Of grade due to the construction of the
union station. These claims are to be set
tied through q commission of three men,
which shall be appointed by the Commits
sioners, and be given the authority to adj
minister oaths. summon witnesses, hear tes-
timony and allow claims. This, Mr. Tuck
or said. would do away with numerous In
dividual suits and consequent delay and
difficulty. He stated that the bill had
passed two readings In the Senate and had
been referred to the committee on the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
The chairman of the committee on pub
lie conveyances being absent, DIR. L. D.
Walter, q member of the committee. re-
ported that eight closed cars had been So.
cured on the Columbia line in place of as
many open ones He said he thought It
was an outrage that any open cars were
d
night. This introduced the general subject
OF street cars, the discussion Of which con-
sumed the largest part OF the evening.
Against Open Cars.
Much was said against the open car
service. President Tucker called attention
to q statement recently made by General
Harries, vice president of the Washington
Street Railway and Electric Company. In
which the general said that he had re-
ceived enough letters from persons In favor
Of the open cars to Offset those received
from persons against them. Mr.. Tucker
said he would like to see letters enough
east to Offset the 7SO names on petition
recently sent to the company. DR.. Starr
Parsons. chairman Of the sanitary COM
mittee, said people are catching colds from
the open air. service. Other members Of
the association called attention to the fact
that every one who rides on the II street
cars tries to huddle into the small closed
compartment at one end. and will nearly
always let several cars go by rather than
board one on which 1t will be necessary to
nit outside.
At length a resolution, offered by Secre-
tary sowerbutts. was unanimously adopted
to the effect that "the committee on legis-
lation be instructed to urge Congress to
pass bill prohibiting open cars on the
street railroads during the winter months y
Croes-Town Railway.
The same committee that introduced the
subject OF open cars brought to the atten-
ton of the meeting the proposed cross-rown
railway. President Tucker held the opinion
that the Old Dominion company means
business. He said he had conferred with
the president and some Of the directors of
the proposed line and they assured him of
their willingness to comply with sugges-
tons made by the Northeast Citizens AS
ISOLATION, especially In regard to extending
the line from M street in Georgetown all
the way to Florida avenue northeast, CIV
ing adequate connections to persons in the
northeastern section of the city.
1t was the general opinion Of the men,
bers that 1t would be best to adopt the
diplomatic tactics of the East Washington
Citizens Association. which have been to
favor generally the cross-town railway
scheme and at the same time keep out OF
any controversy over the definite location
of the tracks. A counter proposition to
the one now being considered by Congress
was mentioned by President Tucker as at
tracing attention Of members Of the East
Washington Association. This would pro-
vide for an extension of the line still
farther into the northeast. 1t was stated
last evening that DIR. GalIaudet of Kendall
Green is very much in favor of this plan
The northeast association did not, how
ever indorse the counter proposition at the
meeting last evening.
the new line was the adoption Of a resolu-
ton to the effect that the association ia
vors the Great Falls and Old Dominion
line building the railroad. and would lend
1t all assistance IN its power to carry out
its plans in a satisfactory manner, "pro-
vided the line be run all the way to Florida
avenue The resolution was adopted unan-
1mously and referred to the committee on
legislation to be carried into effect
Favor "Torrens Law"
1t was decided. on motion by Mr.. Ed
wards. to urge the Commissioners to make
a report on the measure which has been
before them for some time giving power to
the register of deeds to establish a title
to property once for all. with the object of
making the employment Of title insurance
companies and the like unnecessary. A law
similar to this is in force in many Of the
western states as well as some of those In
the east and 1t is believed to be universally
satisfactory. The ''Torrens law" it is COM
monty called. after the man who first in
troduced 1t. BY allowing the register Of
deeds such authority. it was claimed last
evening. controversies and clouds over prop.
erty that have been standing for years
might be removed after careful examine
ton.
President Tucker expressed himself as be-
ing very much surprised that title COM
panies generally were in favor of the meas
ure, which Is at present before Congress.
Attention was called to the alleged vast
difference In the rates of assessment Of
property Of low price in the northeast and
the higher priced property of the north
west. It was stated that the board of as
SCISSORS either did not know its duty or pur-
posely performed 1t imperfectly.
DR.. Walter as chairman Of the committee
on the police and fire departments. report
ed that the committee is in favor of the
proposed increase in the salaries of police
mon. 1--WE want good protection" he said.
land We should be willing to pay what 1t
Is worth" He stated policemen in the Dis
trict Of Columbia are more poorly paid than
those in almost any other city.