Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-11
"WH|SPERERS" HIT
. IN GRADE FIGHT
KenSington Mayor Replies to
D.. Enemies in Crossing
Controversy.
BY WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY,
stan Correspondent Of The Star.

ering a severe blow at those who have
participated in an alleged SlanderouS
whispering campaign against the mayor
and at least one member of the town
council, in connection with the discus
sion incident to the elimination of the
railroad Embarrassing here, Mayor
Lucien B. Ernest. in his report, at the
annual meeting of the townspeople, held
In the Masonic Hall last night, charged
that mot only those who cast aSpersions
upon the sincerity of the members of
the council are guilty of bad citizen
ship, but those who repeat such SLAM
uerous talk for the edif1cation of others
are equally guilty"
While large part of Mayor ErneSt's
report was given over to the discussion
of the history of the efforts to obtain
the elimination of the dangerous cross
ing, and the greater part of the time con-
Slmed by the meeting was on the pro-
posed location Of the project to elimi
nate the crossing, the charge of the
mayor seemed to keep the display of
any heat out of 1t. Only once did a
speaker attempt to renew charges to
the effect that real estate interests were
prompting an overhead crossing project,
but the mayor promptly sQuelched this
point, and he stopped certain others
when they got of the direct matter of
discussing the advantages of certain
methods Of meeting the situation.
Regrets Political Aspect.
He expressed considerable regret that
the matter had been thrown in the
political ring, but firmly stated that the
town council has been most active in
what it originally established as a prin-
ciple, and that was the elimination of
the grade crossing. Pointing out that
obviously every one could not be pleased
in the matter, he urged all citizens to
unite in order to bring the matter to
focus He did say that as a result of
numerous conferences in the matter a
definite recommendation was made that
the overhead bridge was the most deSir-
able solution of the problem.
The meeting was called primarily for
the selection of candidates for the two
vacancies in the town council to be Gre
Ated on June 80 by the expiration of
the terms of the incumbents. These
two, Archer MCDOWELL and Frederick
Brown, were renominated, and their
Beats will be contested by Jack Scriv-
'ener and c. r. Hughes. who also were
nominated. The elections will be held
on June 3.
Mayor Ernest, also in his report. re-
viewed the history OF improvements of
the town. and said that it is believed
that the next major program should be
The improvement of the sidewalks This
will be made possible by the action of
the Legislature earlier in the year in in
creasing the borrowing capacity of the
town from to az per cent of the as
Sessed valuation. However. he said that
it is proposed to make this a voluntary
Improvement program, and announced
that full hearings will be given all prop
erty owners before any decision as to
such improvements are ordered. He
also announced that a program had
been mapped out, in conjunction with
the State forestry department. for the
trimming and cutting of trees on the
public highways, which will have to be
done gradually on account of the ex-
pense.
Praises WOmen's Work.
He praised the work of the women's
civic organizations and the Parent |
Teachers Association for their interest
in town matters, but added that there
was room for citizens association
where all factions could air their views
and urged that steps be taken to organ
ize such an association. He also praised
the work Of the Kensington Fire De-
partment.
Then launching directly into the
grade crossing matter, he said, there
have been criticisms directed toward the
mayor and council which are entirely
WAbAAOuJ 4OOAlOdI1OlI. \ NOuL0
content myself with a simple statement
of the progress which has been made in
this important matter. However, shall
in justice to the council, be forced to
dwell briefly upon certain matters,
which, ordinarily, would not mention.
For instance, statements have been
made rejecting in an unfair manner
not only upon the mayor, but upon at
least one member of the council, the
fs1foVanRA hoin0 0iUnV1 That r.
tuated in our judgment not by desire
to serve KenSington earnestly and faith
fully, but by other less worthy motives"
1t was at this point that he made mis-
charge of unfair citizenship against
those who participated in the alleged
slanderous remarks.
In its earliest consideration of this
important public work." he said, "the
council adopted the policy of advocating
the elimination Of the present crossing
would like to emphasize that rs being
the first principle considered-the elm
nation Of the present dangerous spot.
The second consideration was the
establishment Of the new crossing The
council has constantly endeavored to
ter, believing that the elimination OF
the danger zone was the most impor-
tant consideration"
reviews OFaoe WORK.
In reviewing the history of the ef-
forts to obtain the elimination of the
grade crossing, Mayor Ernest told of
surveys made by an engineer of the
State Roads Commission, and said that
it Is noteworthy that that official in
his preliminary inspection criticized the
establishment of a So-called big under
pass, and ventured the thought that
the most practicable route would be by
means of an overhead bridge He also
pointed out that the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion did not look with favor upon the
proposed underpass and he added that
as q result of the expert advice gained
from the several sources the opinion
was definitely gathered by members
of the council that the underpass
was not practicable method Of eStab-
fishing new crossing. This opinion,
he continued. was intensified when A.
G. Warthen OF Kensington appeared be-
lore the council and criticized the pro-
posed underpass, and suggested an
overhead bridge at Lincoln avenue by
way CT Connecticut and Howard
avenues.
During the year 1928" he continued,
history was also written in connection
with the underpaSS which Is not con-
tatned in the correspondence I refer
to the political break between the
State Senator from Montgomery County
and the delegation in the House Of
Delegates from Montgomery County.
This break occurred some time during
the early part of the year, and as a
result OF which the KenSington grade
crossing elimination was promptly
pitched into the political arena and
made a fod6 ball of the contestants.
This phase a 4 was discussed in the
council on more than one occasion
with a view to taking the matter out