Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-07-19


Briggs last evening. About one hundred per-
sons were present. DIR. Cox presided and opened
the meeting by stating that it had been called
and water rates lie said that Mr. B. j. BAR
nellie had been employed TO file Dill before
the court In behalf OF James G. Carpenter TO
ing the " ater rates imposed and from cutting
on the water. He called on Mr.. Darneile for
some remarks.
TEST INJUNCTION CASE
MI. Darneille said that IL occurred TO him that
the best thing TO he done would be TO read the
bill prepared 10y him. He did so The bill sets
fortn thad non the plaintiff, James James, +. ~ CsrpenseT
A,OO0: that he, together with the people OF the
city generally, owning in fee simple real prop
ery, are entitled by the laws and regulations or
the District TO have their houses ana lots sup
piled with water, and that the revised statutes
for the District OF Columbia specially provide
Ss revised thai the
water rates shall be as nearly as possible
uniform; subsequent legislation on that sub
Ject contains In substance the same provl-
ring to the commissioners the powers and lint
tatons OF chapter S. explicitly provides that
form in the district. Notwithstanding the leg.
islation referred TO, the commissioners have,
without authority OF law, prescribed a schedule
OF water rates which, in addition to the want
OF authority, is grossly
UNEQUAL AND WANTING IN UNIFORMITY.
The rates are fixed according TO the asseS eSsed
value OF the building supplied with water-a
house valued at 81 500 being required to pay
tax OF &c, while house valued at S. 600 is taxed
only So. The principle OF taxation adopted by
the commissioners is thus devoid OF both equal
the Commissioners have no legal right to
charge more for water than " III produce a sum
merely sufficient TO pay the expenses OF the
water service: For these reasons, and
because the District OF Columbia is in-
solvent-having no means out OF which q
Judgment against IL could be collected-the bill
prays that the District OF Columbia be made q
party defendant and that its Commissioners
and agents be enjoined from cutting OF the
water from plaintiffs house until the further
order Of the ~ court IN the premises and that the
Judged and declared to be contrary to law, in-
equitable, void, and unjust, and that decree
to 1ss 10 oe
law I'm respect to equality and uniformity Mr.
Darneille concluded by advising
NO FACTIous OPPOSITION TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
They should be shown that they have mistaken
the law, and have put upon the people griev-
aDces which they ought not to suffer. Unifor-
NIFTY AID equality on the statute books must
mean uniformity and equality, or IL is mock.
penses should be the amount OF water used AS
II now is, man was compelled TO pay for what
he does not get.
DISCUSSION.
Judge Smith moved that a committee be ap-
pointed to confer with Mr. Carpenters counsel,
and aid him In his suit.
Mr. Hovey said the Commissioners had already
collected six months taxes and now wanted
wanted to get year and a-half's taxes out
Of the people In twelve months. The Commis-
sioneis should be satisfied with the tax for
another half year and he was inclined to
| think they would be 80 content when they
learned the injustice OF the schedule. He pro-
posed an inquiry into this matter, and COM
and report conclusions and recommendations
He onered resolution to this effect
Judge Smith remarked that the association
reports In the past to show their practical in
utility. The bill read by Mr. Darneille was the
only way to get at it.
motion made by Judge Smith should have been
Mr. A. Grant opposed the resolution and said
the suit OF MT. Carpenter should go ahead with
lie lad during the day had
AN INTERVIEW WITH MAJOR TwrNING,
| and was confident that by the LIST OF october
there would, with 81, 600 appropriation made
by Congress, be water In the second story Of the
| highest house on Capitol Hill.
Mr.. Taylor said that the association had not
They had conferred with % them en- again and SSs;n.
out nothing ever came OF It. he had not par
tice OF faith In any OF their pledges or promises
gRe Gny nope Is 70 60 70 SS Any x
| cause where the poor laborfng man has to pay
| IS for his water and Mr.. Corcoran but SIS. The
p poor people cop nee need The the water M more than anybody
done is to keep water from the people and make
them pay for It.
NOTHING COULD BIZ DONE WITH CONGRESS.
The chairman OF the House District commit
| tee has regiment OF employees under the Dis
| trict government, which was an Instance OF
| how the Commissioners manage things. The
| people viii get mad now, but will become
through oengs Sse IS no oWS
small, that would submit to such imposittons
| as this city accepts. Referring to the Commis-
there was anv 1s one "T az them
is an engineer only, and don't have anything %
| do with the administration OF affairs. Dent,
| who probably had never been in public school
| IN his life, was placed In charge OF our public
schools. He had nothing In common with
them, and knew nothing about them. The only
Commissioner was Phelps. and he was naval
never was such conglomeration put together
as these three formed. The people ought to 90
| to work and drive them out OF existence. Let
AN APPEAL BIZ MADE 10 THE PRESIDENT.
The President was anxious to I'LL up the river
| flats. Let the fats remain for awhile until
there Is water enough to wash the streets and
how through our sewers. driving out the poison
| Gus gases. The Commissioners treat the CITY or
washington " exactly as II IT were little town
Mrs. Briggs here announced that Commits.
s1oner Dent was present-a fact hitherto un-
known TO those present
MI. T0yl0r said he was very glad COmmie-
sioner Dent was present and had heard what
he had said.
Judge Smith thought he saw something sig
n1flcant In
THE PRESENCE OF MR.. DENT.
He had probably heard what was on foot
Mr.. Grant said that the association had been
deceived In every instance by Captain Phelps
When q committee waited on him some time
ago Captain Phelps had promised that there
should be water from the stand pipe He knew
when he made that promise that 1t was un-
founded, and that the stand-pipe was erected
merely for the purpose OF giving water to some
OF his own houses. He had confidence In Major
Twining, and had nothing to say against Mr.
Dent but that he knew nothing about water
works. What was wanted was men OF expert
ence in the Commissioners officeS.
COMMITTEES APPOINTED
The question was then called on Judge smiths
motion TO appoint committee OF three to assist
Mr.. Carpenter In pressing his suit before the
courts. Ii was adopted, and Judge Smith, Dr.
S. A. Fl. Mck1m and Mr.. Charles Darling were
appointed as the committee.
Mr. Hovey then renewed his motion, to ap-
point committee OF f1ve to inquire into the
subject OF water rents and the increased assess.
ments. This motion was adopted. The follow.
Ing committee was appointed: c. E. Hovey W.
c. Dodge, DR.. S. A. III. McKim, SilaS Clark and
Col. j. A. TAFT. The meeting then adjourned.