Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-05-27
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Defeat Of the Water Works Apprcpria

tion.-1he action CT the House, yesterday, in
rejecting the appropriation for the continuance
of the District of Columbia Water Works, has
cast gloom over our fellow citizens generally,
such as we never before saw upon them. As
much as they dislike the disappointment in
volved in the failure of the enterprise which
they have most at heart, they feel it most, e.
cause Of the proof it conveys that in legislating
1pon District affairs, notwithstanding the fac;
that they are within reach Of corr eet informa-
ton, majority-deceived by SIMS er cries OF
economy and charges Of Encouragement mere
ly made up for the occasion, to compass the
ends Of spectators without principle charac-
ter, or means-will, at times, jump to conclu-
sions fraught with great Injury to the public
service, and serious damage to those who call
the District of Columbia their home. We need
noIname tee parties through whose misrep-
reservations OF the truth, in order that they
may force the substitution of scheme to put
money into their own pockets, under the pre-
tenee of supplying Washington with water ct
. cheaper rate than by the Governments
plan, the appropriation has been defeated
Living from hand to mouth around Washing
ton, for years past, begging and schelning to
get interested in every Government work
initiated here, aud east aside, in all cases, aud
| by all administrations, "a incompetent and
| untrustworthy, their names have been in
| everyb0dy's mouth here, at every succeeding
| session, of late years, as notorious eaIpers to
| members of Congress against something OF
other in all works conducted BY the Govern
ment in and around Washington. Such peo-
| pie have set the ball in motion, baitip it With
d story saying that they have a scheme to save
public money-of course, by passing a consd-
cradle share Of it through the seive of their
own SO philosophical pockets. We have few
more words for them their calling for years
has deservedly rendered thcm odious in com
munity whom it has been their especial labor
| to iDjure, because ii has frOwned upon thei1
| every effort to plumber the National Treasury
| upon specious pretex,s. That il, when any
| enc Of them has been seeking to tasten him
self upon the Treasury, Washington public
| opinion has invariably so spoken out, as at
once to dash all his hopes. Never theless, s.,
long as honorable members Of Congress will
listen to irresponsible charges and suggestions
from irresponsible parties, so long will We con.
tinue to have among us such 'lohby operai ors :,
The only remedy against the efforts of such
| people, hereafter, is for the community, with
one accord, to treat them as notorious enemies
of the future Of the District Of Columbia, who
profess to be identified with it for sinister end
| shouk1 be treated
! Bogus.-Yesterday morning, after the House
met, there was delivered to each mem Der, al
his seat a copy of tho following letter or paper
in print, viz: .|.-
| To tie Mem5crs Of tie House Of Reprs.
! sentatsres The undersigned deem it prJper
for the protection of their OWE rights to make
| known that they a-e the propriet0rs of the land
In Maryland nd Virginia On which alone can
be constructed the dam at the Great Fails O,
| the Pot Dmac for supplying the City of Wash
| ingtOn with water The works contemnlateo
| by the Government will very materially in
| terfere with their rights as riparian proprie
| tors, owning all the water privileges at the
place named, and holding valuable charters
for manufacturing purposes from the State Of
Virginia. They lave no disposition to obstruc,
the great enterpr sc In question; on the con
,rary. in Il correspondence commenced by the
agen's Of the Government they have made
hberal offers, which have been treated with
disregard.
| Their only object Row is to make known tha,
the United States have not acqui ed the ,igh,
to use property which is indis per sable to the
| projected work, nor have they power, by any
law Of Virginia, to condena it for that pur
pose. 1t would seem to be wise and prudent
To settle the controversy Involved 10 the fac 5
stated, before making any inpor ant movement
In so grave matter. At all events the under
! signed desire TO give distinct notice of their
undeniable legal claim 10 the premises.
J HALL NELSON,
| President of Great Falls Manuf 'ng Co"
| Washington, May %, 1854.
| This blow at tn water works told most effect.
uaiiy. Thi. claim, not being worth the paper
On which it is printed so far as its legal right
70 obstruct the prosecution Of the work is con.
0efned' was evidently sprung upon the House
~ 'ne saSy last moment only to prevent the
re" in thsnalf WHO 10 Understood the tattfton
'''7'ns II to the winds by dozen words Of