The Washington herald., 1910-09-03
CITIZENS IN DARK
DEMAND HEARING
ContInued from Page one.

lighting question should be taken up as
brand-new problem. and It would not
be bad idea to work out an entirely
new system as working plan.
MY idea is to consider these 437 lights
that have been turned off as II they never
existed. and then to replace them where
they viii do the most good"
w. w Price, chairman OF the joint
committee Of the nine suburban citizens
associations concerned, suggested to the
Commissioners that each organization be
allowed to send one delegate to the hear
ing on September 8. The proposal was
accepted The joint committee will also
invite citizens living in town to appear
and viii welcome protests from automo-
bilists.
Thinks Mistake Was Made.
1T certainly appears to me that the
/ Commissioners have made a mistake this
time" said Chairman Price yesterday
| Just after he had arranged for the hear
ing. Il believe those gentlemen think
they are working for the best good Of the
city, but. unknowingly, they are working
hardship on a good many innocent by
standers.' and I think they viii not be
long in realizing It. Things are not even
started, and yet a widespread protest
has reached the District Building and,
believe me. more is coming"
The Commissioners declared again yes
terday that there Is not enough traffic
on the roads and suburban streets to
continue lighting. when Capt. Markham
Engineer Commissioner is hard up for
money in his department
Branch avenue, Suitland road. Naylor
road. Ridge road, Sargent road, and Bun
ker Hill road are the thoroughfares most
affected. Capt Markham said in regard to
these roads that It is logical that the
Commissioners should prefer perfectly
lighted city streets TO brilliant boule-
wards in the country. especially when
the illumination stops abruptly as soon
as the District line is reached.
Differ as to Right.
Maryland doesn't furnish illumination
for its rural roads; so those at the Dis
trlct Building think the District should
not. But scores Of families live along
the same roads, or at the other end OF
them, and even those who do not agree
that an Injustice has been done, admit
in almost every case there IS another
way to get to town from the sections
now In darkness.
Mounted policemen outside the limits
OF the city are afraid TO come out with
plain spoken criticisms Of their super
iors. it is said. but are unanimous in
declaring the Commissioners ere max
ing a dangerous experiment
1T makes II a pipe for burglars out
this way" said one mounted policeman
who has an outlying beat I'VE have
so much territory to cover. anyway, that
the Illumination is a great help AS it
is. there are half a dozen suburbs that
can now be reached from the city By
perfectly dark roads.
''On any OF these roads three or four
men. bent on mischief. could slip by US
mounted fellows and do burglary all they
pleased, while we are at the other end
OF our territory. There IS going to be
trouble out this way II that order Is
carried out.
Another thing is the way automobilists
can get by US. You see It is a oinch for
a party OF Joy riders TO turn out their
rear light. which shows up the license
number. and speed all they want TO.
When the roads are lighted we can ride
behind for fifty yards and catch a num-
Der every time"
Plan for Change Criticised.
There has been considerable criticism
OF the way the order TO discontinue lights
was kept under cover at the District
Building. The facts came out through a
police report. and members OF the citl-
zens' associations. some OF whom will be
) on hand at the hearing are wanting TO
know why the papers didn't know 1t from
the authorities upstairs
There was absolutely no attempt 70
hide the fact that lighting on certain
roads was going 20 be discontinued" said
Capt. Markham when asked about It yes
terday. II the public did not get it, II is
the fault OF the reporters, because they
all know business isn't carried on IN the
dark down here, even II some OF our sub
urban friends haven't all the illumination
they want"
The Commissioners say they have on
hand numerous police reports showing
lights are absolutely necessary in thickly
populated districts inside the city limits
They say that It will cost 5000 a year tc
e furnish this illumination. and that lights
have 10 be turned out some place 20 make
up the difference, at least in part