The Washington herald., 1907-11-12
GRAFT CHARGE MADE
Northeast Citizens President
Accuses Officials.
INFLUENCE TO SELL SITES
Mr.. Tucker Declares He Has knOTI-
edge OF One Instance Where Of
ficiaIs Made Profit Through SaIes-
DIR. Walter Denies Statements Re-
gnrding Street Widening.

That graft exists in the purchasing OF
the majority of public building sites by
the United States government. is the
opinion of Evan II. Tucker president of
the Northeast Washington Citizens Asso-
citation, according 20 statements made by
him last night at the meeting or the
association at Northeast Temple.
MANY rumors are abroad relative 20
graft in the purchase OF building sites
by the government" said Mr.. Tucker,
but 1 personally know Of one instance
where property was purchased for a
building site because Of the influence of
certain officials who owned lots which
would be condemned and for which they
would receive a large price.
No building has ever been erected on
this site because it is not a suitable loca-
ton for a public building. and. in my
opinion, no building will ever be erected
on it. Building sites should be chosen
by the government irrespective Of Off
cial influence and at locations convenient
for such buildings"
The question arose when S. Sowerbutts.
secretary OF the association. read a pro-
posed resolution which referred 20 tine
future location of public buildings. The
resolution recommended the preservation
Of the Mall and other reservations for
park purposes and opposed the erection
OF any more public buildings on any OF
said reservations. 1t recommended that
the government own a sufficient number
of suitable buildings in the District for
the proper conduct of government busi-
ness thereby saving d large sum OF
money each year expended in rent
The resolution concluded as follows:
Therefore. be il resolved. That We, the
Northeast Washington Citizens Associa-
tion. indOrse the proposition for the ac-
quisitiOn by the United States govern
ment Of all the land lying between the
Botanic Gardens. Fifteenth street. Penn
sylvania avenue. and B street north
The resolution was unanimously ADOPTED
DR.. Walter Denies Statement.
The contents of letter from William
Tindan. secretary to the Commissioners
and written on behalf OF that body. were
vigorously denied by DR.. L. G. Walter
The letter, which was written in answer
TO AZ inquiry made by the association.
stated that the roadway Of II street. be-
! tween Twelfth and Thirteenth streets
northeast. had not been narrowed eigh-
teen inches. The only change in the posi-
ton Of the curb the letter stated. which
was made in working on this street was a
small change in alignment where the curb
was found 10 have deviated from the
actual line on which II was originally laid
out
DR.. Walter denied the statements made
by the Commissioners. and said that he
would personally show the Commissioners
their mistake II they would visit the
street in his company. The matter was
shelved, pending the securing Of the ne
cessary affidavits by Or. Walter
\ petition presented TO the organization
for consideration by J. VI. Wood. secre-
tary Of the East End Suburban Citizens
Association, which opposed the building
Of railroad terminal az the intersection
OF the Benning and Blandensburg roads,
was unanimously adopted.
The committee on arrangements for the
coming g|entertaiEment Of the organization.
TO be held in celebration Of the abolition
Of grade crossings. made their report IL
was decided TO hold the celebration I'm the
large hall at Northeast Temple Tues
day. November 10, at o'clock