Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-02
FOR MUNICIPAL COURT
NORTHWEST SUBURBAN CITIZENS
ADDRESSED BY JUSTICE WEBB.

A discussion of the proposed municipal
court for the District of Columbia was the
feature of the regular monthly meeting of
the Citizens Northwest Suburban Associa-
ton held last evening in Masonic Hall,
Tenleytown. with President c. c. Lancas-
ter in the chair and Secretary Galen l.. TAFT
fulfilling the duties of his Office Justice of
the Peace Henry Randall Webb was the
guest of the association, and delivered an
address on the subject of a municipal court.
Resolutions bearing on the local street car
situation, the price of gas and the retention
of Col Biddle as Engineer Commissioner OF
the District were considered and adopted,
and, in the way of levity. the title of colonel
was formally conferred on President Lam
caster and on Secretary TAFT. After ad-
Journment an elaborate supper was served.
Immediately after the meeting had been
called to order letters from Commissioners
Macfarfand and West were read. The
writer's conveyed their thanks for resolu-
lions complimentary to them, previously
adopted by the association Mr.. Horace
Jones. chairman of the committee On coun-
ty roads. reported that Rock Creek Ford
road Is now being widened Mr. Jones Of
fered a resolution urging a united effort to
the end that the street service be I'M
proved A letter. asking cooperation, from
the secretary of the mass meeting held the
26th of last month at Brentwood was
resolutions adopted at the Brentwood meet
ing. Mr. JONES' resolution was accepted.
Compliment for Col Biddle.
Secretary TAFT framed and presented the
resolution in reference to Engineer Com
missioner Biddle. 1t set forth that as the
latter has had charge of public works Of
greater magnitude than any Engineer Com
missioner In the history of the District Of
Columbia-the erection of the new munich
pal building, the construction of the Union
station and the railroad terminals. the in
stallation of a system of suburban sewers
and the completion of the avenue system of
Washington, including the extension or I'M
provement of Massachusetts avenue, 10th
street and Connecticut avenue-and by his
intelligent and energetic supervision Of
these great public projects and the faithful
and efficient prosecution of the general du-
ties of his position, he has earned the re-
spect, admiration and gratitude of the peo-
pie of the District of Columbia the assoc
citation expresses its appreciation of the re-
appointment of Col. Biddle Engineer
Commissioner"
A copy of the resolution will be presented
TO Col Bfddle. with the best wishes of the
members of the association.
President Lancaster offered a resolution
reciting that the association, being salts
red That the people of the District Of CO.
De furnished gas at cents
per thousand feet. believing that the pres
ent price of gas is exorbitant and a heavy
burden upon the taxpayers, and that the
demand meets with the approval of the
whole people of the District protests
against the present high rate charged for
the gas furnished the people of Washing
ton, and demands q reduction to 10 cents
per thousand feet. If this will not be fur
nlshed by the gas company within the next
ninety days according to the resolution
the association will appeal to Congress to
reduce the price of gas or acquire possess
sion of the gas company's property bv con-
domination proceedings for the benefit of the
public.
Copies of the resolution will be furnished
the gas company, the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia and the committees of
the Senate and House on the District of
Columbia.
The presiding officer In spirited adj
dress, urged the members of the association
to greater activity and to take steps to add
to the interest of the meetings.
The Justices Courts.
Jusice Of the Peace Webb was then In
troduced. He explained In detail the du-
ties of the local justices of the peace. and
gave a summary of his recently published
article on the subject. Mr.. Webb holds
that after three years of trial the present
system of having certain cases tried by ten
justices of the peace, each having sep
arate and distinct Office situated In e, diff
ferent part of the city. Is not only clumsy,
but, even with the experiment of paying the
justices only two-thirds of their legal SAL
aries, needlessly expensive. Mr.. Webb Is
strongly in favor OF the substitution of a
municipal court for the justice of the peace
system.
The address was followed by discussion
in which DR.. Chappell, Mr.. Herbert Smith,
Mr.. 8. McComas Hawken. Mr.. James TAFT
and President Lancaster participated A
fdyOrlnR a
municipal court, held over from the Novem-
Der meeting of the association, was finally
laid on the table until the meeting next
month. Adjournment was then taken.