The Washington times., 1908-01-09
MORROW ROASTED
FOR HIS ANSWER
TO THE CITIZENS
Southeast Residents Say
His Action Is Insult
to Section.
Association FavorS Call
ing on the President
to Settle Dispute.

to Settle Dispute.
Engineer Commissioner Morrow was
severely criticised last night at the
January meeting of the Southeas st
Washington Citizens Association, in
shelton's Hall, Pennsylvania avenue and
Third street southeast.
The caustic criticisms made of Cap
tain Morrow as a public official. an
army officer. and personally, were not
In the heat CT temper, but calm and de-
termined in resentment OF his recent
alleged cEiti ,ism of the association that
II had asked FOR improvements in the
southeast section that would require tbs
expenditure Of s25.O00OOO
His Letter Read.
letter from Captain Morrow TO the
association. in response to a letter from
the executive committee asking for an
explanation Of his reported criticism Of
the association alleged 10 have been
made before the Northwest Suburban
Citizens Association, vas read. 1t re-
ceived the closest attention of the
members. At the conclusion Of the let
ter silence fell Gu the members; each
man looked at tha chair in mute appeal
Then like z thunderboIt from q clear
sky, Henry c. Emmerick was on his
feet and started the debate. which
waXed warm as it progressed.
Morrow is of his base" declared Mr.
Emmerick. His letter means nothing
It is an insult TO the dignity of our
manhood and clearly avoids answering
lue question We put 10 him. He neither
auiTms nor denies that ne cid make the
criticisms Of this association which he
has been reported IN pEDlic print 70
have made. His letter j. a fine example
OF the methods OF diplomats who use a
Hood or words that mean nothing TO
avoid answering blunt proposition.
II we could have expended in the
southeast the money that Is annually
Wastes by the engineering department
we WoMd have the most beautiful sec
ton OF the City Beautiful. with every
modem municipal inprov mert known
10 city governments.
BIunders Frequent.
"The plumbers that the engineering
department make are frequent, costly
and can be pointed out without trouble.
Only recently & gang OF men and engi-
ueeTs came 10 this section OF the city
10 lay a water maiu-alI planned by a
blue print map-wheTe there was q
tunnel. The location Of Engine Com
pary No. IS Is an example Of the in
OF the engineering department.
That engine mouse Is away OF grade
and when the company returns from a
fire the neighbOTs have 10 turn OUT 10
help get the engine back in the house,
That this section is deliberately dis
against IN favor Of the
section can be pointed
)ut in miles Of mud roads in the south
east section. the home Of the working
men and poor people, %hile streets in
The northwest section, over which teams
seldom ever pass, have been paved with
Inacadam, block, and finally sheet as
phalt, three tunes in less than three
W. D. CulIeen said that Captain Nor
row had failed to answer the assOCia-
lions question; that he did not under
stand that the association meant bust
ness when IL put the question 10 him,
that he had failed TO reply to the peril
lenI inquiry of tie body of representa-
tive citizens, and that his letter simply
meant nothing and was an insult TO the
Of the association. He moved
that the executive committee take the
matter UD with Captain Morrow again
and ask for an admission or denial in
plain language whether he did or did
not make the criticisms Of the members
May Cause Enmity.
This proposition caused Ezra Gould to
suggest that probably It would be un-
wise to further prosecute the fight with
Morrow, as it would re
suit. in his opinion, in causing the
section to WI the enmity Of
he Commissioner and prejudice him in
giving improvements 70 that section.
A. Van Rueth responded to that prop
osition by saying: commissioner Nor
row as an army officer does not pos-
sess the right to take advantage of
his position as Engineer Commissioner
10 make criticisms OF citizens He is
4 creature and servant of the people
and Is responsible to them. IF this mat
ter is taken to the President, which I
favor, I believe the President would
either order his removal as Commits
5ioner or reprimand him for what he
has said Of this association"
Feels Above Citizens.
Lemuel Fugitt follow ed along the
same line, saying:
"'The army training Of Captain Nor
row makes him eel that he Is greater
than the citizen whose servant he IS.
and who paws the taxes that keep up
the army. Of which he is member
making It possible for him to hold
sinecuTe for life during good behavior
IN a service of ease ard luxury and au-
,hority. It is one of the great objec-
tions to the un-American form Of gov
srnnlent that administers justice in
affairs in the District of Co
Umbia that puts such men as Morrow
and other army officers in office who
have no regard for the rights of AmerI-
can citizenship
Bernard Seiboid said Captain Morrow
overlooked the fact that the people ars
he employers SUd that MoTroW's ac-
lion was an insu to the citizens Of the
District.
Me--ow's Letter.
Captain Mor1ow's letter follows:
"''December &C. 1907
Il have your letter of December II
and IN reply thereto / will state that
in ny remarks to the Northwest Sub
urban Citizens Association, to which
YOU refer. and which were only briefly
-eferT &c to- in the press. I endeavored
10 poi 1t out 40 the association that they
would be of assistance to the Commits
sioners in the work of administration
Of District affairs by inviting atten-
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