The Washington herald., 1909-03-24

Trace last night. held in the red parlor
at the Willard. ten reports OF commit
tees were acted upon. three others were
postponed 10 a future meeting and a
resolution adopted favoring the proposed
change In the date OF inauguration
Considerable discussion sprung up on
some OF the reports and the meeting was
a very spirited one from beginning 70
end
Upon request the report on river and
harbor Improvement was taken uD first
as NJ l. Weller chairman. had another
meeting 10 attend. This report dealt
largely with the proposed improvement
Of the Anacostia River. and discussed
principally the ownership OF che lands
upon the water front
The report OF the special harbor COM
mission 10 the Chief OF Engineers was
quoted quite freely in the report, and
some Of IT'S statements relating TO
"squatter ownership" Of the Waterfront
lands was severely criticised.
RidieuIes sqnatter Ownership.
M Weller declared that there was no
squaiter ownership Of land there. he
said il was all listed on the District tax
books and the municipal government re-
ceived the taxes and had done so FOR
more than a hundred years. Mr. Weller
contended that II any lands have owner
ship OF record the lands fronting upon
the waterfront Of the Anacostia River
and a portion % the Potomac have. and
he resented the attack upon the title q"
this property implied and expressed in the
report OF the Commission which had been
forwarded 10 and read in Congress
Afr. Weller was Of The opinion that
the publication of this report amounted
10 a libel OF title" and as such he
called upon the Board OF Trade 70 con-
demn IT,
Several members took exceptions 70
portions OF the report. sought 70 qualify
some OF the statements made and 20
strike out others
Nh Weller held 20 his guns and the
motion 20 cut out some OF his criticisms
cf the government report was lost. anG
the report adopted IN Its entirety.
Building Report Amended.
TIE second report considered was that
upon public buildings. which in the eb-
sence or George Gibson. vice chairman
Of the committee, was presented by
Charles f Langley. secretary. This re-
port also came in for a good deal Of
hedgelng. a paragraph referring 10 the
erection Of the proposed workhouse
buildings was stricken out entire. as was
another referring favoraDly 70 the build
ing OF an armorv for the District Ma
- 49, II.
Sixth street railroad station on the Mall
The objection TO th's recommendation
was that the Board OF Trade could not
afford 20 go or record as favoring the
occupancy Of ground for the purpose
named. which had so recently been va
Gated az much expense 10 deliver the
park from incumberance 20 its natural
beauty.
Other references in the report. which
seemed 20 cast reelection upon the integ-
riry OF buildings used by the government
as Offices, was also ruthiessly cut out.
Would Retain Street Name.
The report on streets and avenues, pre-
sented by William b Henderson, chair
man. provoked the most animated dis
cussion Of the evening. Among other rec
concentrations this report contained one:
THAT the name Of Sixteenth street be
changed to the Avenue OF the Presi-
dents"
The arguments advanced in the report
and by Mr.. Henderson on the floor were
that the street had become one Of the
glories OF the city. that il was set apart.
so TO speak. 10 fine residences, that Il
was the only street that runs in a con-
tinUous line from end to end through the
city
Various objections were urged against
the adoption OF this recommendation. one
was made by W. Mosby Williams. solely
on principle that II was not well TO
break In upon the continuity and sim
plicity Of the original plan OF the city.
At that time. Il was said. thirteen ave
nues were named 70 stand for the orig
inal States OF the Union. and Mr.. Will
Jams did not want any more. He depre-
Gated the action Of Congress in trans
ferring the name Georgia avenue from
the street IN Southeast Washington 10
what was once known as BrightwOod
avenue
Dr. Pardon and others objected upon
the ground that Sixteenth street was as