Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-21
OPPOSITION IS MADE
TO REMAINING STREETS
Senate District Committee
Against Changes Unless ].
Sanctioned by Congress.

The Senate District committee has gone
on record as being strongly opposed to
the District Commissioners making
changes in the names of the streets and
avenues Of Washington without first OBJ
tanning the sanction of Congress. In a
report adopted by the committee on bill
restoring the name of Oregon avenue to
that street between New Hampshire ave-
nue. and 18th street. just north Of s
street, which had been changed to Swami
street by order Of the Commissioners, the
committee says:
1T will be seen from this letter (from
the Commissioners that prior to Febru-
airy Is. 1904, the naming of streets in the
District Of Columbia was done without
any established system. and it is to be
presumed that the theory was that the
matter was in the hands Of Congress.
This view is strengthened by the fact
that on that date law was passed au-
thorizing the Commissioners to adopt a
system of naming streets for that part
of the District of Columbia lying beyond
the so-called boundary line. and since
that time that authority has been eX-
ercised by the Commissioners. AS sug-
gested by the Commissioners in their let
ter of December 10, 1911, Congress in
1898 granted authority to the Commits
SlOHeES TO CnanSe the name OF any street
where two bore the same name.
Changed Name of Oregon Avenue.
1.-THE highway extending from New
Hampshire avenue to 18th street had
been known and designated as Oregon
avenue for more than forty years, but it
appears that four or five years ago the
name of Oregon avenue was given the
contemplated highway running from
North Capitol street to Rock Creek Park.
distance Of more than a mile and a
half. Recently the Commissioners took
advantage of the law of 1898. and drOpned
the name of Oregon avenue between
New Hampshire avenue and 18th street
and consolidated 1t with Cedar place,
Pierce place and Swami street. giving the
highway the name of Swami street
Assuming that the Commissioners had
authority under the act of 1898 to change
the name Of Oregon avenue, there does
not seem to be any authority in law for
their action in extending that street by
the elimination of the names of Oregon
avenue, Cedar place and Pierce place
and adding them to Swami street 1t will
be noted that the Commissioners say
that. having changed the name of Oregon
avenue. their power has been exhausted
and the only remedy is In Congress.
While that is technically true, 1t is
to be observed that according to the view
held by the Commissioners, it is only
necessary for them to give a name to
street outside of the boundary line, and
then change the name of the latter, which
they could not do except by their own
action In duplicating the name.
Propriety Is Questionable.
The propriety Of doing this, in the
minds of your committee, is questionable
to say the least, and your committee
trusts that 1t will be, not exercised in the
future without the consent of Congress.
1t Is proper to say that the duplication
of the name in this case was made by a
former board of Commissioners, and not
by the present board
Following the line of the report. the
committee recommends the passage of
the following bill:
THAT the name of Oregon avenue be
restored to the street lying between New
Hampshire avenue and 18th street north
west, in the District of Columbia, and
said avenue shall be extended SO as to
include Cedar place. and shall hereafter
be known and designated as Oregon ave-
nue.. Provided, that the name Of the
highway leading from North Capitol
street to Rock Creek Park, now known
as Oregon avenue, shall hereafter be
known and designated as Concord street..
In suggesting the name Concord
street. for the present Oregon avenue
the committee pays tribute to it's chair
man, Senator Gallinger. for Concord Is
the name Of Mr.. Gallinger's home city.
In view of all that Mr.. Gallinger has
done in behalf of the District during his
long service. as head of the District COM
mittee and as chairman of the subcom
mittee on District appropriations, it is
not believed there will be am opposition
to this compliment.
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