Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-03
ORDER RIGID INQUIRY
LOT OWNERS IN LOCAL GENIE
Terry DISCUSS CHARGES.

A thorough investigation of the affairs
of the Congressional cemetery will be
made by committee OF the lot holders.
This action was determined at meeting
held In Naval Lodge Hall. 4th street and
Pennsylvania avenue southeast, last night,
such course being taken for the purpose
or bringing properly before the meeting
series of charges made by Judson r. Gull.
1t seems that ever since its establishment
In 1907 the Congressional cemetery has
been under the control of the vestry OF
the Washington parish, otherwise the
Navy Yard Christ Church. and the allega-
ton against the management was that
funds belonging to the cemetery were ap-
piled to church uses.
Alexander Mckenzie, who made the mo-
ton for the appointment Of a committee. in
that the vestry of Christ Church long
time ago voted that S1.4o0 annually was
fair sum to charge against the cemetery
for the services of the vestry In managing
the cemetery. ut is claimed" Mr.. Nc
Kenzie added. that more than this amount
is taken from the income from the GEM
etery trust fund for church uses. and that
money realized from lot sales. from pay
ment for the care of individual lots, and
from other sources, instead of being APP
piled to the trust fund, is given over to
the maintenance of Christ Church"
Bill Before Congress.
The meeting last night was called for
the consideration of bill referred to the
House committee on the District of Co
lumba granting to the yestry of Washing
ton parish permission to sell parts of GER
tain streets now inclosed and included in
Congressional cemetery. for burial sites.
The motion by George c. Henning, presi-
dent of the Traders Bank. and chairman
of the meeting. that a committee be APP
pointed to consider the bin and make
arb OF fha rNann faer gnr nfprhf a
signal for the sweeping and sensational
charges against the management.
Judson t. Gull. in speaking of the bill,
stated that In his opinion the bill was too
narrow and restricted. Many times. he
said, he had heard harsh criticism against
the yestry, and thorough investigation by
those interested should be made Mr.. Gull
claimed that his charges were based upon
information received from former members
of the vestry. AS the owner of some lots
In that cemetery. he said he was in posi-
ton to say that they were never kept In
the condition which they should be.
Further, Mr.. Gull said nearly all the time
there was no way of reaching the different
lots-due to the nonentity of roads-except
by walking through long grass. which was
never cut until it would make good hay.
Then when 1t was cut 1t would be allowed
to lie on the ground until 1t made good hay,
and then sold, not for the benefit of the
cemetery but for the vestry of the church
Some serious charges were made when the
speaker claimed that the vestry had SOLD
ground not belonging to them, thereby
being compelled to purchase 1t later. Sites
containing bodies had been resold-
Purpose of the Measure.
The purpose of the bill before Congress.
Mr. Gull said, was to supply the vestry with
more land to sell for the maintenance OF
Christ Church. Over $2,I00 of an income
derived from a trust fund OF $4,000 be-
longing to the cemetery had been used in
this way
With one exception other speakers were
In favor of taking steps to discontinue the
present management.
The committee named upon MI. Mchen-
z;e's motion were: Judson T. Gull, John
n Shelton, William H. Dennis, T. Edward
(1ark and J. W. Tolson. The meeting ad-
iourned to meet again at the call OF the
chairman.