Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-20

Mr. VIM. R. Smith, president Of the parking
commission, yesterday waited On Engineer
means be devised for the protection of the trees
from injury by horses when the tree boxes
have been removed. The experiment OF re-
moving the tree-boxes on East Capitol street
shows that the trees have already suffered
greatly from this cause.
The District Commissioners are In receipt
aefes g1e O 1Se es IL %ncn he
craving and printing the District bonds to be
Issued In pursuance to the act OF the 10th OF the
present north; also to the request Of the Com
m1sStonerS that the Bureau OF Engraving and
Printing should also submit an estimate Of the
probable cost OF executing said work. The
Secretary also encioses copy OF letter from
and printing the District bonds, and states tha5
the offer OF the bureau seems to be the most
favorable, and suggests that the work be done
there, unless there be some objection on the
part OF the Commissioners.
THE BARRIERS AND THE SUNDAY LAW.
delegation OF BARRIERS In the City waited
upon the District Commissioners this afternoon
and asked that inaSmuch aS the courts Of the
District had sustained the Sunday law In rela-
ton to barber shops that the law be enforced
by the police In all cases without respect OF
any. The Commissioners assured them that it
would be done. Subsequently another delega-
tion OF BARRIERS, headed by Mr.. Carter A. Stew
art, called upon the Commissioners, and asked
day. The Commissioners stated that they had
aside. They theh requested that the law be not
enforced, pending an appeal to the court In
banc. This was also declined.
TIE NEW WATER RATES.
Since the passage OF the act conferrtng upon
the District commissioners the full power to
supply the Inhabitants OF washington and
Georgetown with the Potomac water from the
Aqueduct mains and pipes laid by the United
States, and to establish scale of annual rates
for such supply appOrt1Oned to different classes
of buildings according to size, assessed values,
uses for dwellings, stores, shops stables and TO
modify, alter, amend, increase, or reduce
provided that water main taxes and water
rents shall be uniform, &C., the Commissioners
have been giving this subject thorough con-
the water department. In such condition as to
be able to give an ample suppy of water to all
parts OF the city and meet its obligations It
Is Well known that since the laying Of the last
80 inch main this department has been getting
into debt and In lieu OF sustaining itself from the
water rents 1t has been drawing from the water
main taxes for payment Of its current expendi-
tures Finding 1t absolutely necessary that
| something should be done, Congress has con-
ferred the powers upon the Commissioners to
readJust the water rents, In order that more
benefltted by the use OF the water. AS the rate
| OF rents must be increased to AFFORD sum-
Gent means to carry on the current ex-
| penses and for further outlay In the extension
| OF mains, various plans have been con-
| s1dered by Chief Engineer Twining, In order
10 nnd the one least Objectionable. The present
| mooe OF grading the. rents by the size OF the
lots OF grounds and number of stories to
houses, houses, Is ackn9wledged by all as unjust, as a
building OF only one-stOry In height may con-
| tain many more persons and use much more
water than house two or three stories high:
| another plan considered was that of regulating
| the water rent by the valuation OF the proper
| ty, including the ground, as Is done In some
| other cities; another was, by the number
OF bath tubs, water closets and spiggots
| on premises. This was thought to be an I'M
| practicable basis upon which to adjust the
rents, as many houses in the District havin
several bath tubs, closets and many spiggOts,
| may not use half the quantity of water that
the same number OF smaller houses do, each
with but single bath tub, closet and few spig-
| gots All the various plans which have been Il,
use In other cities have been thoroughly
CONSIDERED, their merits and demertti
| noted, and 1t has been finally concluded 70 base
the water rent upon the assessed valuation OF
the houses or Improvements. not embracing the
irrelevant to the water supply: This assessed
the assessors Office, and, all things considered
they think this the best and most equitable
| plan to adopt. 1t is probable that the minimum
| rate viii be fixed at IS.