Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-11
VIGOROUS CRITICISM
Mount Pleasant Citizens in
Belligerent Mood.
BITTER DISCUSSION
COL. STOCKING LEADS AND COL.
TOWNSEND FOLLOWS.
Congress and the Present Form of Dis
trict Government Hauled Over
the Goals.

A vigorous criticism of Congress and
of the present form of government of the
District of Columbia added zest to the pro-
ceedings of the Mount Pleasant Citizens
Association, at the meeting held last even
ing at the Hotel Stratford. The meeting
was not particularly notable from the
standpoint of attendance but the spirit of
enthusiasm which developed before the
close of the session was far beyond that
ordinarily displayed at gatherings of
similar character
There was a faint muttering of the storm
at the very beginning of the session, when
the acting secretary read letter received
from Cen George H. Harries, vice pres-
dent of the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company The communication from
Vice President Harries was to the effect
that 1.-THE resolution of the Mt Pleasant
Citizens Association relative to service on
the line of the Brightwood Railway Com
pany has been received The Brightwood
Citizens Association has every reason for
feeling grateful to the Nit. Pleasant C1u-
zers Association in the support pledged"
Immediately after the secretary finished
the reading of the letter the voices of the
members of the ASSOCIATION were raised in
protest against its tone. Exceptions were
taken to the communication on the ground
that it was insulting.
After several members of the association
had expressed themselves to this effect the
letter was laid on the table, to be referred
to again later in the proceedings under
similar characterization.
The regular order of business was then
taken up, but it plainly evident that
the air was charged with spirit of pro-
test, and feeling of expectancy character
lied the proceedings.
Congress Criticised.
An avalanche of words was precipitated
by the presentation of a resolution at the
request of Louis P. Shoemaker relative
| to the action of the congressional commit
| tees in declining to grant hearings on Dis
| trict matters to the representatives of the
| citizens associations. The resolution was
| to the effect that since it is believed the
| public hearings which have been heretofore
| granted the representatives of the different
| citizens associations by the District of
| Columbia committees of the House and
| Senate have resulted greatly Ito the ad-
| vantage of the people of the District, and
| facilitated the work of the two committees
! in their effort to deal judfciouSly with local
| affairs that the Mount Pleasant Citizens
| Association learns with regret that its
| president and the presidents of the various
| other citizens associations of the District
| cannot have hearing at this session be-
fore the House District of Columbia COM
| mittee upon general public matters per-
| tanning to our section. To be denied this
| advantage of direct representation of the
| land owners and taxpayers before the COM
mittee will certainly operate as a great
| disadvantage. particularly in view of the
| non-reDresentative character of our form
| of government" ~
Acting Secretary Watson read the reso-
| luton, and it's contents was formally de-
clared to be subject for discussion by the
usual motion for it's abortion.
Col. Stockings Grievance.
Col. E. b. Stocking then arose, and in
the beginning proceeded to take a fall out
of the newspapers of the city.
IT can't say all that I want to say on this
! matter" he began, calmly.
wouldn't it be published?' smilngly
asked a member of the association.
| mo, 1t would not" replied Col. Stocking.
II have so little confidence that the wrongs
of the people of the District would be
| shown up by the press of the city that / do
not expect anything 1 say to be pub
| lished.''
The speaker then turned his remarks
! toward Congress.
1.-The Congress of the United States" he
| began, has taken the stripes of our flag
and fashioned for the people of the District
the garb of the serf. Congress has estab-
| lished over the people of the District the
same sort of a government that George the
Third established over my ancestors in the
| early American colonies. And now that
body upon the hill has denied US the right