Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-11
NORTHEAST CITIZENS
Indulge in Criticism of District
Commissioners.
PAY OF PARK POLICEMEN
Declaration Thxt They Deserve Bet
ter Treatment.
BILLS PENDING IN CONGRESS
Discussion of Provisions of Child
Labor Law-Purchase of
Site for Park.
BILLS PENDING IN CONGRESS

the District Commissioners to prevent the
narrowing of sidewalks in the northeast
section last year. caused a surprise at a
meeting of the association last evening
when he attacked the Engineer Commits
sioner. After he had heard the reading
of the street schedule. which provides for
the narrowing of certain streets. DR.. Walter
Immediately moved that the executive COM
mittee be instructed to proceed against
the Commissioners for alleged contempt.
Our attorney is willing and anxious to
go before the court and ask that the Com
mssioners be cited for contempt"
Mr.. Frizzell and Mr.. Sowerbutts said
they thought there should be a change
made In the resolution. They were in SYM
pathy with Dr. Walter but they thought IT
might be well to adopt a different plan of
action. The resolution was changed so as
to provide that the executive committee
should consider the question and take any
necessary action
President Tucker, Mr.. Fleming, Mr. FrIz-
zell and others participated in the discus
sion of the resolution There was a gen.
eral complaint made against the Commits
SionerS for the efforts that are being made
to get authority to improve certain streets
with n width of thirty feet, and it was
pointed out that such a width is not suf-
ficient for touring automobiles, big furni-
ture vans and coal carts
authority to spend Money.
President Tucker stated that the Com
missioners are now trying to secure au-
thority to spend the $24,OO already avail
able in improving streets and making them
narrower. He favored going to Congress
and having the question of the width of
streets settled. Such a settlement, he
thought. would relieve the association and
the people generally and prevent a great
amount of trouble in the future
Mr.. Frizzell said he was in hearty SYM
pathy with the complaints that had been
made against the engineer department. He
said he had been treated with scant cour-
tesy by the engineer department and he
favored complete change there. Mr..
Frizzell directed attention to the change
that had been made in the grade of the
sidewalk in front of the courthouse and
said he would like to have somebody ex-
plain the reason for the change.
The amended resolution was adopted.
Pay of Park Policemen.
Mr.. S. Sowerbutts directed the attention
of the association to the question of an in
crease in salary for the park policemen by
presenting resolution heartily indorsing
the effort being made in Congress for that
purpose. 1t was set forth in the resolution
that the Increase asked-S1O a MONTH
should be granted in order to enable the
policemen designated to meet the increased
cost of living. 1t was also recited in the
resolution that the park policemen had
not been included in the increase granted
the members of the Metropolitan police
force.
Mr.. Sowerbutts made a strong argument
in favor of the increase.
In order for man to be eligible to fill
one of these positions" he stated ''he must
have spent six years in the military service
OF the United States and three years as a
non-commissioned officer"
I'm opposed to any of these army re-
re Nv
heartily favor giving the men the increase
they deserve"
Mr.. Sowerbutts told of the commendable
work performed by the park policemen, say
ing the fines imposed in cases in which they
make arrests are used for the benefit of the
Metropolitan police force. If a park police
man is incapacitated in the line of duty
there is no pension for him, he being.
dropped from the rolls.
He is no longer wanted Mr.. Sowerbutts
added, and he must get out
Mr.. Sowerbutts told of the respon sibilities
resting upon the park policeman. and Sd
the effort is to secure an increase of only
$40 a month. raising the pay from $50 to
SO. which IS less an the lowest class in
the Metropolitan police department.
The resolution was adopted. and copies
of 1t will be forwarded to the proper COM
mittees of both houses of congress
Bills Pending in Congress.
President Tucker, chairman of the COM
eral measures of interest pending in Con-
gress. He referred to the condition of the
child labor law and said the association ia
vors its passage. With the passage and en-
forcement of such a law. he stated, there
will be fewer boys employed on wagons.
The enactment and enforcement of such
law will mean that the truant officers will
be better able to enforce the provisions of
the compulsory education law
IF these boys are not permitted to work
upon wagons" the chairman stated, they
will want to go to school"
Nothing President Tucker explained, has
yet been done with the bill providing for
cross-town railway in East Washington.
Reference was also made to the bill recently
introduced, making provision for the cleo
ton of two delegates to Congress. The
question of congressional representation. he
stated, is an important one and action on 1t
should not be taken by the association I'M
less there was full attendance of members
Mr. Tucker also spoke of the question of
purchasing the old Graceiand cemetery for
a public park. 1t was stated that the House
had already passed bill for the purchase
of similar tract of land in Georgetown,
and Mr.. Frizzeil thought the time ripe to
make an effort to have Congress act favor
ably upon the proposition to establish
park for the people of Northeast Washing
ton.
Mr.. Tucker said he thought the property
could be purchased at this time TO better ad-
vantage than later. He added that he
thought it could be secured for S1J0.OO0.
Mr. Frizzell, chairman of the committee
on steam railroads. had no formal report to
make. but several railroad matters were
considered by the association. On motion
OF Mr.. J. Fleming the association passed
resolution indorsing the Commissioners for
the stand they have taken in the matter of
Kidding the city of the smoke nuisance In
support of the resolution Mr.. Fleming re-
marked that smoke from the locomotives Is
more of nuisance than is the smoke from
all the Industrial plants of the city.
As to Smoke Nuisance.
President Tucker said he thought the as
ISOLATION should do all In it's power to as
sst the Commissioners in getting rid of the
smoke nuisance. The question of having
the railroads use electric engines in the
city was discussed. Mr.. Fleming stating
that the objection made by the railroads to
the use of such engines being that too much
time is lost IN making the change. He sad
he did not take any stock In such an ex-
cuse, adding that he had noticed the
method in Baltimore and was hardly able
TO tell when the change was made.
Mr.. Hoisten complained against the con-
tnued use OF the old tracks of the Balti-
of Cfr nd