The Washington times., 1915-01-20
PROHIBITION SPLITS .
PETWORTH CITIZENS
Resolution Commencing Sena.
tor Sheppard Tabled After
Heated Discussion.

Vigorous opposition to resolutions
commenting Senator Morris Sheppard
Tor his efforts to make the District
dry" was voiced last night at the
meeting of the Petworth Citizens AS
ISOLATION at the First United Presby-
terian Church. Randolph street and
New Hampshire avenue northwest.
After brief but heated discussion. the
meeting deferred action on the resolu-
tions until February lG.
Requests for numerous improvements
In Petworth. including the widening OF
Varnum street i'm accordance with the
contemplated Mcmillan park plan. and
the Improvement of Libby park, were
ordered sent to the District Commits
sioners. An address on the values of
tho single tax plan by Jackson II. Raj
ston. and an explanation by l.. w.
Oyster Of two maps showing the DIFF
ference in taxation in Petworth If the
single tax should prevail, followed the
transaction of business.
The Sheppard resolution was intro
duced By Jesse l.. Suter. 1t follows:
Resolved. That we commend the Hon.
Norris Sheppard, United States Sena-
tor from Texas, for his efforts to make
the whole District OF Columbia as de-
sirable a place of residence as fet-
worth by the passage Of the so-called
prohibition in the District
Calls Tactics Vicious.
"Whilc we are commencing Senator
Sheppard" declared f. A. Fernald, I'VE
should also Commend his tactics as
most vicious. Through such reprehen-
sible practices as lacking onto legiti-
mate measures new legislation every
community in the country has suffered.
and ! most certainly oppose the resolu-
ton,
c. J. James. who presided. Immediate
ly rel nquished the chair to oppose the
resolution.
Il am unalterably opposed to reso-
luton of this kind" he said. ''Sena-
tor Sheppard comes from d state that
deemed cXpedient there. and yet he
comes to Congress and attempts to
shove something down the throats OF
the people of the District without Civ
in the matter. | think it is cowardly
10 come to the Capital and take the
helpless people by the throat and poke
down something they do not want. The
] am glad of it. ! hope we leave we'll
enough alone and vote down this reso-
ton. too"
''If it had not been for a rider to a
District appropriation bill. the Excise
Board would not have been empowered
10 reduce the saloons of Washington to
a0o," declared f.. w. Oyster, who spoke
in behalf of the resolution. II am in
Sheppard, although ! regret that the
matter has been brought up tonight
His procedure. however, has been regu-
lar. and in my opinion it is perfectly
legitimate to amend District bills.
which not only are appropriation meas
ures. but legislation calculated to i'm
prove the civic conditions of the Capt.
Question Deferred.
c. T. Richardson ended the discussion
by moving that the question be defer
red until the February meeting, and
that the secretary be instructed to no
tify the full membership of the asso-
citation to attend. The motion, second
ed by Mr.. Fernald, was passed.
The resurfacing of Rock Creek
Church road from Fifth street to
Eagle Gate of the United States Sol
diers' Homo, and installation of catch
basins in Taylor and Shepherd streets.
were recommended necessary i'm
proponents. Repairs to numerous side
walks in the section are to be sought
at the expense Of the District on the
grounds that, ''inasmuch as the Dis
trict assumes the sole right to make
specifications for sidewalks and TO ac-
Cept or reject the work. 1t should also
take the responsibility for those that
prove defective and repair them at its
sole expense"
The widening of Varnum street and
the improvement of Libby Park is
sought in resolutions drafted by the
executive committee Of the association
and unanimously passed. Copies of the
request will be submitted to the Dis
trict Commissioners and to Col. w. w.
Harts, engineer in charge Of public
buildings and grounds.
Street Car Schedule Approved.
The schedule submitted to the Public
Utilities Commission by the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company for
the Georgia avenue line was approved
as providing adequate service TO the
community. Objection to delays at the
pit" near Florida avenue were met
with the suggestion that the street car
Compaliy intended soon to extend the
underground power to Brightwood.
1t was announced that Superintendent
j.. l.. Thurston, Of the District public
schools. will address tn" Petworth
Home and School Association at its
meeting in the school February s. and
that A. Il. Phillips, District superin-
tendent of sewers would deliver an
illustrated lecture before the citizens
association at the February meeting.
In discussing the merits of the single
tax system. Jackson II. Ralston de-
rlarca that it was impossible to cuualiZc
taxes if personal property was to be
assessed He said a system of taxation
that would assess only land values
would remedy the taxation evils of