Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-11
Rs has happened was necessary to arouse
her business men from their lethargy.
Modern Lines to Be Adopted.

Modern Lines to Be Adopted.
Plans for the speedy rehabilitation of the
fire devastated area along modern lines are
already under way. They had their incep-
ton at a gathering of capitalists. firanciers
and merchants Tuesday night at the home
of Vim. KeySer, president of the Baltimore
Copper Cmelting and Rolling Co. HOO Cal
vert street. Aroused the importance OF
doing something. rather than waning over
the disaster these gentlemen formulated
number of plans embodying what they
thought should be done by the city iii the
burned area. These plans were submitted
to Mayor McLane yesterday by a committee
of these gentlemen. He heartily approved
the suggestions With the plans were the
names of a number of prominent men whom
the gentlemen urged ne appointed on COM
mittees TO take under consideration the rec
concentrations. The names given were only
in the nature of suggestions. The MAYOR
being left entirely at his own discretion as
to the composition of the committees 1t
is expected Mayor McLane will name the
personnel of the committees either TO-DAY
or tomorrow. Their appointment Will, II Is
expected, put upon systematic basis the
whole scheme OF reha Utilization of the ruined
area.
Would Widen Streets.
Among the suggestions contained in the
plans as formulated by these gentlemen
are: Widening of St. Paul and Light
streets from Lexington to Pratt street;
widening of Hopkins place; widening of
Pratt street along the wharf, and the
elimination of several small streets, as
Sharp street alley, McC,ellans alley ana
others in the area. The subject of widen
ing Baltimore street from Liberty street
down to Jones Falls. and also tie widening
of Fayette street from Liberty to Calvert
is touched upon in the plans. Quite num-
Der of other improvements are discussed,
including the restriction of car tracks to
al n
Most of other matters. relating to beauu-
flying the INTELLECTUALLY and other
wise, are included in the plans.
Nearly all the gentlemen present at Mr..
Keyser's home are members of the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Association, of
which e. Stanley Gary is president.
Must Be UP and Doing.
In speaking OF the duty of business men
in the present crisis Mr.. Gary said: "Busi-
ness men generally are rapidly recovering
from the stunning blow of the conflagra-
ton. They realize that they must be up
and doing, if they wish to keep their trade
advantages from being DETECTED to other
cities. Every merchant in the devastated
area is now busting to get himself into
shape to stem the tide against this, the loss
of the spring trade of course. being in
evitable, but there are already such evil
dences OF reclprocation as to encourage all
in the hope of an early restoration of every
branch of trade, and in the not very dis
tant future the entire rebuilding of the
destroyed district.
Care in Reconstruction
Buildings should not go up in haphazard
fashion. What we are now to build is to
last century and more. There will be
plenty of money for building operations.
The Insurance companies are willing now
to advance 30 per cent of the loss to those
whose loss was total leaving the remainder
for adjustment later. Northern capitalists
will be only too eager to furnish capital for
building operations. In fact. L look for
keen competition over the sites. Co-opera-
ton of business men with the municipal
authorities outlined in the plans tenta-
lively formulated by the group of capital
lists. fnancierS and merchants, and sub
mitted to Mayor McLane, is the way to
put upon systematic basis the work of
rehabilitating the devastated area"
Riggs Goes to Annapolis.
Brig. Gen. Riggs left for Annapolis on
the 1918 train this morning to answer
summons of legislature. His appearance
indicates an EXTREMITY warm time in the
capital when he arrives.
He was informed late last night by At
torney General Bryan that the legislature
had no authority to order his appearance
In the senate or house. and that he did not
have to obey the summons unless he felt
so disposed The head of the state militia,
however. declared he was disposed to go to
inform some of the members of the legis-
lature what he thought of their action.
Gen. Riggs at Annapolis.
Special Dispatch The Evening Star
STATE HOUSE. Annapolis Nd, February
1.-Gen Lawrason Riggs. in command at
Baltimore, appeared before the house at
noon today in response to the resolution
summonlng him to answer certain
charges accusing him of discourtesy to
members OF the general assembly and
others who had passes admitting them
to the burnt district
General Riggs gave in explanation of
MS action that he had no knowledge of
the passes issued in accordance with the
resolution passed by the house. That
he had not known such an order had
been passed. He said he was acting un-
der orders OF the board of police COM
missioners and other city authorities
and presented statements sustaining his
City Solicitor Edgar Allen Poe, President
George NJ. UpshUr of the police board,
and others.
While making his explanation Gen.
Riggs occupied a place at the left of the
speaker on the platform.
Asked Numerous Questions.
Mr.. Pairo and other members of the
house asked the general numerous ques-
lions They wanted to know if Governor
Warheld had been present at the confer
ence when 1T was decided to recall all
passes The reply stated that he was. Ac-
cusations of partiality in the issuance of
passes We're made. and Mr. Johnston moved
to rescind the action of the house stat
ing that General Riggs explanation ha1
been satisfactory.
Diverse Opinion on Explanation.
Mr.. Linthicum and others said the ex-
plantation was satisfactory and advocated
that the action of the house yesterday
be rescinded
Mr.. Stump moved TO lay the motion to
rescind on the table saying that the eX-
PLANTATION of General Riggs was not sa It's
factory and demanded a roll call on his
motion.
The motion to table was rejected by a
vote of 80 to 80
Speaker Everhart, in explaining his vote,
said that members of the legislature had
seen some of the soldiers drunk and be-
having in disorderly manner, going
through the streets of Baltimore with dis
reputable women. He cited other offenses
committed by tie soldiers and called upon
Gen Riggs to improve the discipline of his
troops. He exonerated the general from
fault, but intimated that he had better not
do 1t again. He voted against tabling the
resolution.