The Washington critic., 1888-08-17
THEY ALL APPROVE IT.
Commissioner Wheatley'S Free Water
Bill Universally IndOrSed.
VIEWS OF SEVENTY LEADING CITIZENS.
The Most Popular Local Measure Ever
Suggested.


Wheatley's bill to abolish water rents for
houses and to defray the cost Of supplying
water to the people of the District out Of the
general appropriations has never been pro-
posed by any board of Commissioners. Every
one approves the idea, rich and poor, taxed
and untaxed. The latter would naturally be
supposed to favor IL. as they are relieved OF
much annual expense, but tho property-bold-
ing clnss--thoy who will have TO pay addl-
tonal taxes as a result of the plan--are almost
to a man favorable to the change. THE
Critic was the first local paper to advocate
the measure, and it is with qualification that IL
has observed the growth of popular sentiment
in favor Of the movement. Already two cti-
zens' associations-that in Georgetown and
that In Northeast Washington-have ap-
proved the bill.
THE CRITIC has been at some pains to Sc
cure the opinions Of number Of representa-
tive citizens, taxpayers, and, as can be seen,
the sentiment is all one way. Many Of the
prominent business men, who are known to
approve the plan, are out of the city, but the
opinions given below, taken at random, give
a fair indication Of popular sentiment.
The following is the text OF the bill, which Is
now under consideration, OF the Engineer
Commissioner of the District:
BE IL enacted, etc., That from and after the
Both day of June, 1889, no charge by way Of
rent or rate or otherwise, shall be made or
collected from any person by the District Of
Columbia, or Commissioners thereof, for the
use OF Potomac water IN said District except
where in the judgment Of the Commissioners
said Potomac water is used In business OF any
kind conducted ior purposes Of profit and
that from and after said date the cost Of sup
plying Potomac water to the inhabitants of
the District OF Columbia, with said exception,
shall be charged to and betrayed out of the
same fund and in the same manner as other
general expenses Of said District: PrOUided,
holgeCer, That this act shall not extend or APP
ply to assessments for water mains, which
shall continue as under existing law.
Sec. 2. That any person who shall, in the
District of Columbia, commit waste Of the
Potomac water supplied from the Washington
Aqueduct or Potomac Water Works, shall bo
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, on
conviction thereof, be fined not to exceed one
hundred (1O0) dollars, or shall be imprisoned
not to exceed thirty (30) days, or both, in the
discretion of the Court PrOUidcd, That moth
ing herein contained shall in any wise affect
any existing power of the proper authority in
said District to shut off the supply of water in
all cases where waste is committed
Sec. 3. That all laws or parts of laws,
whether Of Congress, the late corporations Of
Washington and Georgetown or the District of
Columbia, inconsistent with the provisions
hereof be, and they hereby are, repealed: Pro-
yided, however, that no provisions Of this act
shall In any wise affect the collection in the
manner now provided by law of any water
rent or water rate levied or charged in con-
formity to existing law prior to said Both day
of June.
Sec. 4. That all provisions of law requiring
petition Of property-owners as q condition
precedent to the laying of water-mains are
hereby repealed, and the Commissioners OF the
District of Columbia are hereby authorized and
directed to lay such water-mains as In their
judgment the efficiency of the service shall re-
quire and the appropriations therefor shall
warrant.
Sec. 3. That all rents or taxes for water or
mains shall be assessable and collectable by
tho Assessor and Collector of Taxes, in the
same manner as general taxes are now col
lected. a.
COMMISSIONER WEBB. 4'H
''I think this is very excellent movement,
and It is just carrying out what was intended
when the%ater was introduced into the city.
1t is not designed for the relief of railroads,
breweries, gas companies or any place where
water is used for manufacturing purposes or
for proflt.n
W. @. DODGE.
~ am in favor OF it tooth and nail Our
association (the East Washington Citizens AS
sociation) have passed resolutions in favor OF
lJ Nnu IulIlh lut ScueTdl 10 tiSU
in favor of it."
EX-coMMIssIoNER WEST.
at is a most desirable thing to have free
water if it can be got. Although Congress has
always been anxious to do many things to
oblige the District, they may hesitate to dc
this on account of their responsibility to their
constituents. Until the Government of the
United States shall consent to pay one half OF
the expense of free water for domestic pur-
poses, this much to be desired result cannot
be obtained"
MIR. NJ. NJ. PARKER.
81 am in favor Of free water, even to the
extent of furnishing 1t free to manufacturers. y
j. O. KEYwoRTH.
"a very good bill and popular measure
l hardly think you'll find any one opposed tc
it. should like to see it become law"
d. W. GLENN, JEwELER.
'I'm in favor Of free water, and l suppose
everybody else is"
S. DIEN, LIQUOR DEALER.
awe ought to have free water. 1t is q good
BILL"
MIR. BOYD, HARDWARE DEALER.
"You can put me down as an advocate OF
free water"
HAYWARD HUTCHINSON.
"We favor free water for domestic pur
poses"
slIEDD BROS.
"We favor the Free Water bill. Water
ought to be free and people allowed to use
| all they need for private uses"
II. o. EDMoNsToN, GROCER.
SITS a proper bill and one to make Mr.
Wheatley popular Free water is good
thing"
MIR. AMAN, REsTAURATEUR.
~ heartily approve of the bill. I've always
been opposed to a special water tax. If thu
water is to be taxed, it ought to be in the gen
| oral taxes. OF course would like to see the
water free for all, and hope Congress will act
fayorably on Mr.. Wheatley's suggestion"
JOHN s. swoRMsTEDT.
81 approve the bill. favor free water all
around, for stores as well as residences"
! p. S. WILLIAMS & co.
"It would be a good measure, and the privi
lege should be extended to the business houses
also"
MIR. II. HENDERSON.
"The proposition Is II good one. thinl
that the provision requiring business firms t
pay for the water where it is used for prof
is just one"
PHILIP T. DODGE.
"The idea Is a move in the right direction
If there is any one thing the public should
have without restriction it is water. The busl
ness firms should not be required to pay.n
MR. CUmAN OF GUY, cURRAS co.
"I'm In favor of it; the tax ought to hav
been removed long ago. The system ant
practice of collecting the water tax has beer
outrageous
HENRY HINKE, THE JEwELER.
at i,inl, n IL a vnrv Mao rronos;tion B,,