Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-19
DESIRE TO BE HEARD
VIEWS OF BRIaHTwooD cITI-
zENs ASSOCIATION MEMBERS.
Think Commissioners Should Grant
Public Hearings on All Matters
Affecting the People.

The District Commissioners were criti-
cised last evening at meeting of the
Brightwood Citizens Association for rec
ommending bills to Congress without giving
residents of the District an opportunity of
expressing their views thereon. The meet
ing was called to order at s o'clock in
Brightwood Hotel by President Louis p.
Shoemaker. and in the absepce of the sec
rotary Mr.. William o. Ray recorded the
minutes. The guests of the association
were Col E. B. Townsend, president of the
Mt Pleasant Citizens Association: c. c.
Lancaster, president Citizens Northwest
Suburban Association; Judge C. s. Bundy.
president Of the Columbia Heights Citizens.
Association; Mr.. William F. GUIDE. president
OF the Petworth Citizens Association; Col.
John s. McEroy. G. A. R.: DR.. Preston
Miller; Mr.. Ben Holman, disbursng officer
Post Office Department: Mr.. Howell Jones
of Kansas and Mr. Samuel j. Masters
1t was announced that the Commissioners
nave frequently reported upon various bills
of a general and local character affecting
the material interests Of the people OF the
District without giving the latter an op-
portunity to be heard. The view seemed
to be that the Commissioners should not
make recommendations on bills affecting
public interests without consulting the peo-
pie.
resolution was unanimously adopted
protesting against the practice of the Com
missioners in making recommendations on
various bills referred to them for report
without first giving notice to the public of
the locality especially affected, in order
that they might have an opportunity and
the right to appear and express their views.
The resolution set forth that by reason OF
the present form of government the right
was just and proper one. of which the
residents should not be deprived, and that
the Commissioners should not take final
action without first consulting the people
affected thereby.
Increased Sewerage Facilities.
DR.. George B. Heinecke, presented let
ter calling attention of the association to
the necessity for increased sewerage facili-
ties In the Brightwood section Many Of
the people, he said, were not able to OBJ
serve sanitary laws and regulations be-
cause of the absence of sewers DIR. Helm
ecke advocated an Increase Of sewers es-
pecially west of Brightwood avenue owing
to the rapid building up of that section.
The public schools were discussed and a
resolution on that subject presented by
Judge Bundy was adopted. The resolution
set forth that while the association was
heartily In favor of the amendments to the
act which provides for an increase of
teachers and salaries it was opposed to
the amendment tranferring the power to
appoint the school board from the District
Commissioners to the judges Of the Dis
trict Supreme Court Judge Bundy was
opposed to any change that might disturb
existing relations
Others who opposed any change In the
present system were Mr.. c. c. Lancaster
Prof. Ireland. Mr.. L. c. White, formerly a
school teacher. and President Shoemaker
A resolution was presented by Mr.. John
Saul, expressing regret because Of the pres
ent illness of Mr.. John G. Keene, secretary
of the association. and rendering sympathy
to his family.
Memorial Day Committee.
The President of the association was
authorized to appoint the usual committee
to cooperate with the committee Of the
Grand Army of the Republic, in connection
with the celebration May 30 at Battle
Ground cemetery. North Brightwood and
the decoration of graves there.
The subject of street extensions was dis
cussed by Mr. Wilton j. Lambert, and a
resolution was presented by him denounc-
ing the pending legislation in Congress hav-
Ing for It's object the payment for future
street extensions entirely from the bene-
fits required to be assessed upon property
In the vicinity of the streets to be extended
as unfair and unjust to the property own
ers of the District. Mr.. Lambert reviewed
briefly the history of the District since the
passage of the law of 1873. His remarks
were loudly applauded.
Col. John s. McElroy was present as a
representative Of the G. A. r., having
been appointed chairman of the committee
on arrangements for the celebration on
Decoration day at Battle Ground cemetery.
Col. McElroy made a short address ex-
pressing appreciation of the action taken
by the association and the assistance rem
dered annually. He announced that Sena-
tor Long would be the orator of the day.
After short addresses by Mr.. Holman,
Mr.. l.. c. White and Mr.. Guide a buffet
lunch was served and the association ad-
81 c., ,fxr