Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-15

There are al least two very serious objections to
tn joint resoluti-n intro iuced in the House yes
teTiay looking 10 the infiiction OF a water meter
upon the h.p,eSs and bedevile1 people of the Dis
et o: COluni5ii- In the first place, there is in all
probability speculative job at the back OF the
Proposition, "a there appears to have been one
tnseparaby connected with every attempt to force
the obnoxious device urOn other communities.
Secondly, the measure Is defective and oppressive
10 its nature, because It's provisions cannot be APP
piled 70 the pubic buildings and grounds and
there, IS everybody knows, is where the great
wastes Of W ter ar. IN b. found. What makes the
con u-npt'O1 OF water In Washington greater in
proportion - population than In other cities, as
Tecitcd In tie preamble of the resolution, is the
fHOrdin8t, ga nifty OF IL that Is used for mechan
Cal AMI ether purposes in the navy yard and in the
various gov 'rnm mt SHOPS, departments, etc, to-
gether WITH the enormous amounts allowed To run
IN waste day AMI night through the basins and
Closets Of the public buildings, and through the
fountains in the public grounds during the sum-
mer season. Unless these cOnSumptiOrS or wastes,
or whatever you mly~p.ease to call them, are
checked. there VIII be no justice or sense
In SadGIng the people OF Washington with
the in4nSltortll, expensive, and worth
less infection contemplated by the resolu-
ton In question There ought to be, and we
believe there il state5n inship enough in Congress
to stamp the life cut of this proposition and all
TO securing to the national capital ample and
permanent supply OF water. equal to all the needs
OF the place, now and for the future, no matter
how much may he used per head by the people OF
other cities The whole current OF the Potomac
runs by the blse of the Capitol The expenditure
OF a few hundred thousand dollars would turn the
entire volume OF it, or so much OF 1t could be
carried, through our supply pipes and sewers
This Is the point to which Congress should address
itself In city properly equipped and governed,
and as easily AMI cheaply supplied with water as
Washington, there can be no such thing as waste
OF that element. Every drop that runs no matter
how or where, is an agency of beauty and pro-
mOter Of health and comfort and there should no
more be tax or drawback or Its use than on the
use OF fresh air. Finally and conclusively 1t may
be said: First, that the meter system, when
adopted, would prove an utter failure. eXpe-
Renee elSew here has shown that no meter has yet
been Invented that will accurately register the
flow of water Second, that the cost OF furnishing
meters to al the water-taker5 of Washington
would mount up To nearly the sum requisite for
Increasing the water supply to the most ample
extent.
The new rule proposed by Mr. Gladstone to the
House OF Commons TO facilitate the transaction of
business, now by common consent denominated
The ''cloture, has become the chief political issue
In Great Britain, and the fate Of parties seems to
hang upon It, The f1llibusterng of the home
rulers or Irish party at the last session of Paria
ment so o6otructed business that the ministry de-
terfnined upon the submission OF new rules To cut
on debate. The right OF the minority In the
English mind. has been regarded as one that could
not be safely oyerthrown, for, in this country,
the majority OF one year may be the minority OF
next In the American House OF Representatives
The previous question operates to cut off debate
or prevent dilatory tactics. but the House OF Com
mons, when confronted with the persistent fill
Clustering OF the h0me-rulers, found Itself almost
po"erieSs TO put a stop TO their proceedings. Mr..
Giadstones new rule invests the presiding officer
or chairman OF the committee of the whole with
power To make the motion that ssthe question be
fore the House be now put when
II Is desired TO terminao debate In
order 20 carry this motion 1t must
receive more than 300 votes in It's favor or less
than 10 against it. In other words, should 2Ol men,
bsrS vote for the motion IL would be declared car
carried, or should 80 vote against it, that would
have the same effect. This measure has reused
strong opposition, even within the ranks of the
liberal party The moderate liberals have declared
Their unwingneSS to follow the ministry in SUP
port OF the ''clOture," and have virtually become
part OF the opposition The estimate OF the liberal
leaders Is that the rule will be adopted by ma
3orty of thirty, but that it may lead TO the over
Throw OF TIE liberal government is not entirely i'm
probable The opposition seem inclined to con-
cesie To the ministry strength enough to crrry the
rule, but they maintain that the victory will be
sbort-lived The ministry sustain their position
by showing that all legislative bodies have some
method Of putting an end TO debate and dilatOry
tactics In the United States the ''prcvi0uS queS-
ton" IS used TO this end In Austria the president
OF the Reichrdth puts motion TO close debate
whenever he sees lit, and a bare majority vote car
Ties IL In the Belgium Chamber OF Deputies a ma
5ority vote terminates deblte; in the German
Reichstag any member may put the motion, II he
has the preliminary support OF 80 members and a
similar rule prevails in Italy