Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-28
Open Guns on Willow Tree
Alley Condemnation.
CHARGE GROSS INJUSTICE
Property Holders Fail to See Where
They Will Benefit.
WILL APPEAL TO COURTS
Supreme Tribunal of District to Be
Asked to Sustain Objections
Against Changes.

Denouncing as "gross injustice" the
recent verdict Of a jury In condemning
Willow Tree alley as a site for a pay
ground. property owners and taxpayers
Of Southwest Washington. at a meeting
last night in st. Dominic's Hall. adopt
ed resolution strongly protesting
against the jury's decisions and ex-
pressing their determination to fight
it in the courts. They object strenu-
ously to any changes from the present
conditions. The resolution was drawn
up by Martin Wiegand. who was made
chairman OF the meeting; John 7.
Wright. who was made secretary, Ru-
dolph Saur and John Quinn.
One of the chief complaints voiced at
the meeting last night was that there
was not a single representative of their
section of the city on the jury which
condemned the land in question. After
the land was condemned certain
amount was assessed against owners of
property In the immediate vicinity as
benefits; and those present last night
unanimously declared that they failed to
see just how they were to benefit from
many Of the owners of property We're un-
able to pay more than the present tax.
and that the benefit assessment
amounts to little more than making them
forfeit the property for delinquent taxes.
See Loss Of Business.
Several took the position that driving
the residents OF the alley away would so
decrease the business of the small stores
in the vicinity that the owners of the
storerooms could not get the same rent
from the stores, because they depended
on the business Of the residents of VIII
low Tree alley. and that consequently
their property will be reduced in value,
rather than increased.
Martin Weigand. one OF the leaders In
the movement TO have the findings OF the
jury overturned. was bitter in his de-
nunciations of the findings.
1T Is the grossest injustice / ever heard
Of" he declared. I'VE were not repre-
scented on the condemnation jury. and
knew nothing of the condemnation until
after it had occurred. We will appeal the
trict Of Columbia, when the court meets
Monday.
Citizens Desire Justice.
TT isn't only the question of the money
involved. Many of US are willing to spend
the extra amount assessed against US in
securing justice for all of us who are
affected by the ruling"
Through the agitation Of "well-meaning
but theoretical advocates of civil better
ment," the resolution declares. Congress-
was induced to legislate for the aboli-
ton of the alley as a place Of residence.
The resolution makes clear that the citi-
zens of that section Of the city do not op-
pose public improvement, but give them
their public-spirited support il they can
be secured without injustice to any citi-
zen.
In the resolution one OF the complaints
Is that the assessments on the property
concerned have not been equally made. a
few bearing the burden. and the rest get
ting off free. One citizen declares his
property will be taken away from him
by the government at a lower figure than
he paid for it a short time ago. The
resolution says 1t is not believed that
Congress was aware of injustice being
done when the bill was put before ii.
only one side of the question having been
presented.
And we further declare that in the
effort to secure just treatment the reso-
luton concludes. I'VE will resort to every
proper and legal means believing that an
honest. intelligent and impartial public
sentiment will sustain our position. and
We are determined to defend our rights. .
Chairman Weigand announced that an
other meeting would be called in the
near future.