Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-04
COUNCILS ACTION ENDORSED.
Discussion Of Sidewalk Issue by
Evansville Citizens.
Special Correspondence of The Star.


Special Correspondence OF The Star
HYATTSVILLE, January B. 1907
A rousing citizens meeting was held at
the headquarters of the Hyattsville volun-
teer fire department here last evening TO
take action relative to the decision of
Judge George G.. Merrick rendered few
days since to the effect that the mayor and
common council have no legal right to lay
sidewalks in the town and assess the abut-
ting property owners with the entire cost
Mr.. Chas. H Welsh was chosen as presid-
ing officer and z. A. Fuller was made
secretary. Considerable enthusiasm was
manifested when several citizens in front
of whose property the sidewalks have been
laid declared that, notwithstanding the de-
cision of the court, they proposed TO pay
their assessment, regarding themselves
morally bound to do So Mr.. William Gu
tsta called the meeting to order and intro
duced the resolutions, which stated that:
1--WE heartily commend the mayor ana
common council for their action in taking
an appeal from Judge Merricks decision
in the pavement case" and setting forth
that 1.-The cost of the pavement on john
son avenue has embarrassed the town
treasury, appealing to all property owners
on that street to pay as promptly as pos
sible their respective shares of the cost OF
the improvement
contended that the town was compelled TO
take action as q matter Of self-defense.
There was no disposition to raise any
question calculated to foster feeling OF
i'll will or animosity among the citizens.
II the court of appeals sustained Judge
Merrick 1t would be a serious blow to the
town, and would, in his opinion, result in
depreciating property values in Hyatts-
vile.
Letters were read from Mr. Chas. e.
Vrooman and DR.. T. ]. Kemp. property
owners on Spencer and Schley avenues,
respectively, indorsing the meeting and its
object, and giving assurance that the pur-
poses had their hearty support.
Mr.. George NJ. Smith, a former resident
of Hyattsville, and one of those to bring
suit against the town to prevent the col
lection of the assessment against his prop
erty on Johnson avenue. declared that his
opposition was founded upon misunder-
standing of the facts in the case. He was
Of the opinion that the sidewalk would be
laid only upon the north side of the street,
but now that the improvement had been
placed also on the south side he Withdrew
all opposition and stood ready to pay his
assessment.
Mr.. c. Frank Carr, in front of whose
property the sidewalk is constructed, de-
clared that despite the courts decision, he
proposed to pay the amount of the assess
ment levied against his property.
Mr.. Guista expressed approval of the
sentiment expressed by Messrs. Smith and
w. w. MaIoney and VIM S. Holton, re-
GREETING their inability to be present.
Dr. c. A. Cara of West Hyattsville
was not certain of the objects OF the meet
ing, and Mayor Owens was called upon
for an explanation. He declared that the
council did not call the meeting, but was
very glad to know the feeling of the peo-
pie regarding the matter. The council had
hurriedly ordered the case to be appealed.
knowing that delay would embarrass the