Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-08-02

from $50 coo to 500 600 per year for Keeping the
works 10 repair. Now, supposing we had this
70 your way OF getting at things. our water
lates would range from SIS to $50 each.
You have been so long in authority without
come to the conclusion that you are a law unto
yourselves. This is natural, and no more than
we ought to expect from men clothed with un-
natural power over a disfranchised people, who
have no voice as to who shall rule over them.
or how their taxes shall be expended. The law
concerning water rents up to June 10, 1879,
change it, plainly said ''rhe annual rent for
the use Of Potomac water shall be payable to
the water registrar at his ONCE, in advance, on
this law at defiance more than year ago
by making the water rents payable to another
person, and at another place, than the water
sent out bills for water rent for one
year from January /, 1879, and collected
payment for one-half Of this year in advance.
at osner WSaaS you contract with the water
nlsh them with water for one year from
January l, 1879, at specified rates, and accept
money on this contract. Five months later you
water rates. You now attempt to make this
law retroactive by applying it to this year,
p proceeding which neither Congress nor any
II you have the legal right to take this retro
active STEP the way you have classified the
TaIes Is so unequal and unjust that water
1 TAX are justified led In resisting payment The
20 act, gives you authority to change the water
rates. .'proUided that mater main ta1es and ,cater
rents shall be UNIFORM" You claim to have been
In fixing, the new rates, but the reverse
is true in nine cases out OF ten. The
wealthieSt man In the District, who resides in
under the old law OF $3.50. You now charge
him SIS, an increase of 20 per cent He has
water In abundance at all hours l reside In an
OLD house on Capitol HILL which is assessed at
was 50 90. You now charge $40, an increase of
over so per cent. We cannot get a drop of water
ABOVE the basement, and not much there, ex-
dents On low grounds are asleep. do not say
that you intend to discriminate In favor OF this
millionaire. only allude to this instance as an
The residents Of Capitol Hill have been dtscrm-
mated against and trif1ed with In regard to Wa
yer, until forbearance has ceased to be a virtue
M nIe,r years ago they went to Congress and
from the reservoir to Capitol Hin. nat It
was understood that this main was to be for the
special benefit Of Capitol Hill. But when it
was laid 1t was tapped and connected with
other mains all along the route, and was stopped
at the foot OF the HILL but few yards from the
nigh grounds, where water was then, as now.
most needed. Thus the people on these high
grounds were cheated out OF the benefits de-
rived from the act the passage OF which they
procured. Last fall we were told that as soon
as the stand-pipe could be got into operation
Cap1tOl Hill would no longer suffer for water.
But no sooner was this pipe in working order
IMAM It was appropriated for the special benefit
the hill are worse Off than ever. You draw the
water away from us for the use OF yourself
and others, and then increase our water rates
70 get money to pay the expense OF keeping this
expensive elephant called stand pipe. It was
only yesterday that in passing your residence |
nOt1ced costly fountain, surrounded by a
green sWard and beautiful flowers, playing
from an inch pipe, throwing water high into
the air, and wasting enough to supply twenty
families that are furnishing for water on the
high grounds While rejecting on these things
as She looks down on long sufrering Capitol Hill
these hot days, does not speak in rebuke OF your
unjust discrimination.
We are now assured that II we will be patient
docile slaves, we shall have a new main direct
from the reservoir to the hill. This Is the sugar
intended to make the bitter pill OF increased
rents go down. 1t Will take two years to get q
new main. In the meantime what are we TO do
LOT water? You suggest no immediate remedy
why not cut of the fountains and turn off one.
half or two-thirds from the low grounds where
tne supply is much greater than needed, and
alloW us on the high grounds to have part of
the millions OF gallons that are now running to
waste? You, with the cooperation Of the Com
AFFORD us relief In this way If you please in
tWenty-four hours, without mourning one dol
Lar OF extra expense.
For a long time there has been a rumor of
neavy defalcations in the water department
l am Informed from q source l deem reliable
that there is deficiency unaccounted for In
that department of over $12, 900, and that you
allowed the predecessor OF the present Water
Registrar to hold Office year after year without
giving the $4,000 bonds the law required II
this report Is not true it Is due to the memory
OF the gentleman referred to that you promptly
say so, and clear his name from the stigma II
It is true, then 1t Is due to the citizens of the
District that the facts come out, and that you
De held individually responsible for allowing
men to handle District funds without giving
security In accordance with law.
But after all, these things are but the natural
no voice. There is no people in any civilized
country on earth more oppressed than the peo-
pie OF this District to-day. l do not counsel
violence, but II our citizens were to rise I'D In
arms and hurl you from power, they would be
out following the example OF our fathers They
carried on seven years war rather than sub
init TO an unjust tax upon tea, an article of
luxury not at all necessary to sustain human
life. You put an unjust tax upon our water an
article as necessary to human sustenance as
the air we breathe. But can scarcely look for
any better state OF things under the present
form OF government, a government fit only fora
community of slaves.
Yours respectfully, j. II. CRANE.