Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-13
CITIZENS COMMEND
STAR FOR CAMPAIGN
Northeast Residents Appreciate Ef-
forts Of Paper for Law to Check
Junk Thieves.
Ask Prompt Repair Of Grade Cross
ing Gate-Suggest Further Reduc-
ton in Telephone Rates.

Evan H Tucker, president Of North
east Washington Citizens Association,
at meeting Of that organization last
night in Northeast Temple, said The
Star is entitled to the commentator of
the association and property owners
generally for its campaign of publicity
conducted for the purpose of getting a
law to protect vacant houses from the
work Of vandals.
LAS a result of that campaign" he
stated, Congress has taken one long
step in the right direction in making
provision in the District bill for revo-
cation of licenses of junk and second
hand dealers under certain conditions.
THE bill is not just what we had
hoped for" he added. but it is a good
entering wedge"
Language Of Bill.
Secretary Roscoe Jenkins read the
bill. which provides:
Hereafter when any piping or other
household fixtures or secondhand
goods of any description whatever have
beSi otoieH anu SO!u " d utdicl III
or secondhand dealer, in the District
of Columbia, under such circum stances
that the Commissioners. after hearing
granted. are satisfied that said dealer
should have had reasonable ground to
believe. or could have ascertained by
reasonable inquiry or investigation,
that the goods were stolen, and that the
dealer did not make reasonable inquiry
or investigation as to the title of the
seller before making the purchase. the
Commissioners are authorized and d.
rected to revoke the license of said
dealer; and this action shall not be a
bar to criminal prosecution for receiv-
ing stolen goods"
Many boys and men. said Mr.. Tucker.
visit houses and do $50 or more dam
DIR. L. D. Walter said he heartily
agreed with President Tucker. and he
thought the law provided for in the
District bill was brought about by the
campaign conducted by The Star.
DIR. Walter said he wanted to call at
tention to the dep1orable grade cross
ing accident that happened at Benning
yesterday morning. The killing OF two
horses and the narrow escape OF the
driver he said. probably was due to
the act that the east gate at the cross
ing was out of order.
1T has been disabled for at least
three weeks to my personal knowi-
edge" declared DR.. Walter. "and
caught in front of trains when the one
gate is down and the team rs APP
preaching from the east.
Urges Association to Act.
President Tucker said the accident
was matter that called for action on
part of the association.
This association was first organized
aSSncia tinn "
said President Tucker. land its mem
such danger spots"
"Now it is said that delay in elimi-
mating this last grade crossing is due
to the increased cost of material" said
Dr. Walter. TOO bad the government
cannot pay higher prices as well as in
dividuals."
on motion of DR.. Walter. the associa-
ton voted to request the District Com
missioners to explain why the railroad
company has been permitted to main
tain broken gate on the crossing for
so long a period. to the danger of driv-
ers of teams and automobiles.
w. S. Branson. chairman of special
committee on gas supply, submitted a
report on the question of gas pressure
He read from report of the public
utilities commission to show that dur
ing the months of November and De-
d
bers of the association complained OF
excessive gas bills. the maximum gas
pressure in the southeast section was
6.3 and ga inches, respectively.
The maximum pressure permitted by
law is six inches" he stated, and 1t
was only at the southeast station that
an excess was shown"
Suggests Installation of Booster.
Mr. Bransom said he supposed the ex-
ira pressure was put on to get the
supply to the people of Anacostia. but
he could see no reason why the peo-
pie of the eastern section should have
to pay for the extra pressure. There
was time when the company had
booster in Petworth. he said. but
use of that has been abandoned. Use
of a booster in the eastern section, he
said, would assist in getting the sup
ply to Anacostia without extra cost to
the people in the city.
A resolution thanking the public utili-
ties commission for the interest dis
played in the question and asking that
pressure tests be made daily between
6 and pm. was offered by Mr.. Bran
SOM The resolution was adopted.
Roscoe Jenkins, chairman of the COM
mittee on public utilities, presented a
resolution, which was adopted. request
ing the public utilities commission to
reconsider the matter of an unlimited
telephone service rate to the bushes SIS
community with view to esta blishins
a rate that will not be discriminatory,
reciting that such a rate already ap-
plies to residential service.
Commission Declines to Act.
Mr.. Jenkins said he had received a