Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-27
CITY AND DISTRICT.
An Open Letter 20 the Diserics Comnsis-

An Open Letter 10 the Dtserics Comnnis-
si0mers.
Tuesday evenings STAR reports that you recon-
mend TO Mr.. Hemphin that the lien law be not
amended You speak OF "oenehts 70 the laoorng
classy resulting from the present law This
phrase s1aborng classes Is q name TO conJure by,
know, but Is it not possible 70 use it little too
oftenf For one have too much respect for the
lAborfng classes 70 think they are benefited by
law designed TO promote fraud, and that Is pre-
cisely what the present lien law Is Amended, as
proposed In H. bill ss77. It protects the laborer,
dealer and property-owner. insuring the first, pay
for his work. the second, pay for his material and
the last. protection against fraud. Absolutely
sure are dealer and laborer under the amended
law OF pay, but not as now, OF payment
az .nsg othsr Wan ass ~ sn
pose that as q class, they wish 70 be paid twice
Tor work or material?
Mechanics by the rules OF the labor unions are
paid every Saturday night, therefore they are
little interested In the lien law amended or un-
amended. but dealers like 70 sell their material,
% whom they sell Is honest or dishonest, as the
lien law enables them 10 sell the building and pay
pleasant experience 70 the owner OF the building
especially II he has already paid the contractors
owner asks thai he be tod that the material ils 10
not paid 10 before he settles with the contractor
How under Heavens any honest person can object
requires, Is beyond the comprehension OF a-woman
Can any man explain. why any honest person
could OF should object TO this Information so abso-
from paying twice for the same thing?
Iobserve that in your latest letter on the lien
law you express q doubt whether anyone under IL
really has been competed 10 pay twice for the same
thing. Allow me TO tell you that have and the
fact that have Is really 50 injurious In the minds
that II were 70 give you their names am sure
TEE STAR would not incur their enmity by print
ing them Know OF many cases besides my own
where material has been twice paid for under the
lien law. one wealthy lady at the West End has
suffered, am told, TO the extent OF 10000 A
lady, not wealthy, In my own neighborhood TO Id
me that In spite OF al her pecautons she was so an
noyed By bills for materials coming TO her after
she had paid the CONTRACTORS that she could not
sleep at night nom anxiety until the three months
had expired In which her house was liable TO have
lien placed on IL, while In the day time every
that she would not build another house In this
District II some one gave her the money 10 pud 1t
with Both this lady and myself consulted lawyers
before paying twice, and though lawyers are re-
ported 10 be fond OF the litigation by which they
i've, we both found them honest, and they ad-
vised no litigation Wrong as the law Is they
said. II Is no use TO contend In the
courts against It; your only way Is to pay the
70 work in every case, its iniquity has not been
shown up In our courts and possibly some one
may think that under It no one has been obliged
70 pay twice for the same thing. That they often
have Is proved BY the fact that largest build
ing assOc alton OF the District has had 10 change
one case was reported 70 me on good authority
Of man who employed a paperef 70 paper his
house and afterward had to pay $50 to another
for, and that he should put a lien on the house If
the $50 was not paid. OF course, IL was easier TO
me people Of this District and Of other districts
generally think that II they have a room papered
and pay the paperer's bill they have finished the
amended they must hereafter ind out beforehand
II the paperer owns the paper he uses. A Lady had
q latrooe which did not WORK as guaranteed. she
4fOVp-6aalPr n
threatened the lien law and she preferred paying
for a bad stove 70 having her house sold TO pay
Tor II A neighbor OF mine declined TO pay an
outrageous bill for extras after his house was
built The contractor brought the dealer who
said TO my peghbor: The bricks In your house
are not paid for, will put a lien on It II you do
not pay this DILL" My neighbor paid the bill.
My nrst experience In paying twice for material
led me TO say 10 one Of the dealers: al never ex-
pect 20 be caught again by this law, but intend 10
do all that Is In my power 10 have IL changed"
he smiled very superior smile, and said, he ibid
Dor told me that It was 'of no use to try to have
the law changed for the dealers had influence with
II Just as II Is" But went TO work on telling
my experience OF the law, the chairmen OF both
Tie senate and House committees, ana Mr.. Webb,
ment asked for ought TO be granted, and requested
me 70 have some member OF the House pre-
winter S D ' The was sbors hast
was not acted upon- This winter it was pre-
sented again by the help OF Jehu Baker, OF Illinois,
Il
mistaken In thinking there was any law by which
person could be compelled 10 pay twice for the
same thing"
..But there Is such law"
''Then II twice. why not three times, or four?
You must be mistaken
MOL am not mistaken. I have myself paid twice
underiL"
"well, the people Of Illinois would not stand such
q law
In concluding this letter, which would not be so
long II the subject did not require It allow me TO
say through you 10 the dealers that as long as
can get member OF Congress 10 present bill ask
Ing for this amendment the bill will be offered
every session until II passes and hope not 10 live
when an American Congress has no member In IL
wishing 10 hinder fraud, nor do despair OF finding
that q body OF men will enact laws in favor OF
common honesty, even II they are without any
WomAn's vote 10 aid them II. e. NGERsOLL