Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-27
SENTIMENT AT BALTIMORE FOR
BEGINNING REBUILDING.
Citizens Committee Anxious for Adop-
ton Of Its Plans-Mayor Says
Build at Risk.

President E. Stanley Gary Of the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Association,
and chairman of the subcommittee on
finance of the emergency committee, said
to The Star correspondent today: This
delay is dangerous. 1t Is not time Tor
continuous discussion of plans. What Is
needed is action.
''The work of rebuilding should be started
at once. l appreciate that Mayor McLane
is following a conservative course. yet l
think affairs could be handled more ex-
peditiously IN regard to the adoption or
rejection. of the plan of improvement
recommended by the committee.
1.-THE delay is also gripping business, and
there can be no general rejuvenatfon until
building operations are under way. and 1t
will not be possible to start work until the
plan of improvements to be made have
been decided upon.
"Our merchants are ready to rebuild. but
can do nothing until the city officials act.
Matters Thoroughly Considered.
"An the improvements recommended
were thoroughly considered by the COM
mittee from every point of view, and we
public sentiment. Nearly all members of
the committee own property in the burned
district. and are greatly concerned In the
proposed improvements
Chairman Richard M. Venable of the sub
committee on legislation, in discussing the
situation today, said: The committee feels
that the recommendations as to improve
ments should be carried out by the city off,
Gals In substantially the form handed in.
Every phase was thoroughly discussed
'There ought to be no delay about max
ing these improvements. All the machinery
for beginning the work should be set in
motion at once
Former Mayor F. C. Latrobe, who is also
a member of the emergency committee,
said: There ought not be a flood of talk
over the committees plans. This delay in
Hing b1t g m
and what recommendations are to be re-
jected is checking the rehabilitation of the
burned district and is retarding the expan-
sion of business. What the business COM
munity and people in general demand is
action, and quick action, too
Cannot Blame Committee.
Joseph R. Foard another member of the
committee said: Whatever blame attaches
for failure to begin the work of rebuilding
it cannot be laid at the door of the commit
tee. We decided upon a plan of improve
ment as expeditiously as possible and con-
sdered the situation from all points of
view.
.'The plans are now with Mayor McLane
and have been for week If the municipal
officials intend to modify the suggested
improvements it should be done at once and
legislation enacted to put the plans into
execution without further delay.
'Mercants who want to rebuild don't
know whether they can occupy their former
sites until iC is decided what streets shall
be redeemed Delay now is doing great
HARM
United States District Attorney Rose, an
other member of the committee. said: This
is one of the occasions when 1t Is more
dangerous to take time to make up your
mind than it is to make up your mind
wrong. In considering the recommended
tions of the committee, the city officials are
perfectly right in believing that unless
great care and elaboration are employed
in settling what improvements shall be
made serious mistakes may occur.
Postponing Decision More Serious.
"There is only one other mistake which
poning decision
These views reflect the sentiments pre-
vailng among the builders and architects.
President John J. Kelly of the National
Building Supply Company said: ut is i'm
possible to give an idea as to when build
ing operations will be begun, or to
when the architects will get orders for
plans. The whole situation is tied up and
we must wait until the city officials get
ready to take action
plans for new buildings will be even
thought off, said Builder j. p. Lafferty.
1.-THE merchants. the architects and the
builders are all at sea. We are all waiting
perative, If the city is to hold it's prestige
as great commercial CENTER
1T looks to me as though everything
was being held up by the city officials at
the very time when hustle is needed" said
Builder Walter e. Burnhan. "The COM
mercial trade Of the city is being endan-
gered.
Loss to Labor Enormous.
'The loss to labor is enormous and to
builders and contractors even greater.
Why, there are many builders who are
paying their men every Saturday night
without their having done a stroke of work.
and they are doing this. not only to hold
the men. but to prevent actual suffering.
We are losing thousands of dollars every
week by this delay"
The act to enable the city to float a
loan of $4,000, 900 will be introduced in the
legislature next Monday, as was forecast
exclusively In these dispatches to The Star
last Monday.
City Solicitor Bruce today completed his
examination of the act, and has approved
it. Mayor McLane in discussing the bill
today said to The Star correspondent:
Provisions Of the Loan.
1.-THE Sc, 0OO.O 600 loan Is to cover the cost
of improvements in the destroyed district
1t will be regular loan foated In the
usual way We could not secure a loan
otherwise, even II we so desired. 1t fs
generally believed that the improvements
contemplated will cost that amount, but
IL 1t Is found that the entire amount will
the amount needed"
The mayor also stated that he had d.
rected Building Inspector Preston to grant
all permits applied for.
"Owners of property can go ahead with
the construction Of buildings at their own
risk" he said. IF they build on ground
that the city shall later condemn they, of
course, viii have to suffer whatever loss