The Washington times., 1895-02-02
Elaborate Discussion in the Sen
ale Over the Supply
THINGS THAT MUST BE DONE
Doubts Expressed as to the Advisability of
Raising the Dam at Great Falls Without
Previous Investigation-W to Do with
the Tunnel-statemen That Our Supply
Is Larger Than That of Amy Other City

had been called up in the Senate yesterday,
Senator Teller launched into an attack upon
the financial policy of the administration, to
which Mr.. Call made brief reply. Then the
bill was taken in hand again aud reading
was resumed at the section in the bill pro-
viding for lighting the city. The House ap
preparation of S145 900 for this item was re-
duced to S142. 400
The appropriation for electric lighting was
limit of the cost OF eacn arc hight was made
40 cents per night instead of SO cents as in
the House bill.
The consideration of this section drew from
Senator Call the inquiry If i proposition had
not been submitted to light the city with gas
at a cost OF 60 cents per thousand feet for the
city government and as cents per thousand
feet for private consumers, and making
equally as liberal discounts in the prices for
furnishing electric lights. He had under
stood, he said, that company was prepared
to furnish the best of security to the amount
of 100000 to carry ont every provision OF
the contract which would be made.
CHEAP GAS BILL SOON.
Senator Harris, chairman OF the District
Committee, explained that such PROPOSE
ton had been made to the committee. but
this matter could not be dealt with in the ap-
preparation bill. At the proper time 1t would
be introduced in a separate measure.
Senator German, in sup porting the amend
ment, said he wanted to give the companies
with whom the present contracts were made
liberal amount TO meet the extraordinary OK
pehses which they would have TO incur for
additional mains.
Mr.. Call still maintained that IL gas and
electricity could be supplied at less rates than
were now paid it was not the interest OF cor
porations, but of the people, which should be
considered.
Mr.. Chandler concurred with the Senator
from Maryland in that the government could
not lie tco careful in granting additional
power TO companies TO tear up streets indis-
criminately. He believed that II was an
easy matter to ascertain the price OF gas and
electricity in other places and provide for
equally as reasonable rates in this city. The
amendment was adopted without objection.
Senator Chandler was on MS feet again
when the section referring TO the Washington
aqueduct was reached. The Appropriation
Committee hal tackled on to the House pro-
vision an amendment providing that Col
George II. Elliott Corps OF Engineers, should
pletion of certain work which is expected TO
be completed in July.
That work is the completion of the Improve
ments of the Dalecarlia receiving reservoir,
and it was maintained that as this officer.
who will retire from active service next
month. had already had charge Of portion
OF the work he should be allowed to continue
to its completion
Senator German said that it was not at the
officers solicitation thai he was to be con-
tinued in charge of this work. II might be
the saving to the government of many thou
sands of dollars to have the work done by an
engineer who had had the experience of Col.
Elliott. He gave the same reason for wish
ing TO continue Gen. Thomas l.. Casey, who
also will be retired soon, in consultation with
the proper officer ofthe government. on a re-
port for an improvement OF the water supply
OF the city OF Washington.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE WATER SUPPLY.
The consideration OF this proviso called
forth considerable debate Senator Sher-
man wanted something done towards i'm
proving the water supply, rather than pro-
viding for a report upon what method is
best to be carried out.
Senator Hale took occasion to state that in
his belief no city in the country was so i'm
posed upon in the matter of water as was
the city of Washington. The water that is
doled out to the people OF this city" he
said. was to ali appearances no worse than
the drainage of a barnyard.h He was under
the belief that the District Committee should
take some action in providing Tor improve
ment in this matter.
Senator Harris thought this was an unjust
accusation against him and his committee,
and he proceeded to explain, He had at
tempted to do something years ago. but that
matter had been placed in the hands of Sc
laatn ,ry1ifI Iaa nd tbprn If boh anlp1
Senator Hale denied any intention of charg-
ing any delinquency upon the Senator from
Tennessee, Tut he thought that something
ought to be done and chat, too, by the Dis
trict Committee
DO TIE WORK FIRST.
Mr.. Aldrich insisted that Congress had an
immediate duty to perform and that the
question of the liability OF the government in
damages could be determined afterwards 1t
seemed to him that the work contemplated
by the House provision should be prosecuted
and insisted upon by the Senate.
Mr.. German then made an elaborate de-
Tense of the action Of the Committee on Ap-
preparations, promising that Mr. Aldrich
had he been on that committee, would hays
concurred in its suggestions. Mr. German
rehearsed the history OF the construction OF
the aqueduct, the appropriation OF S400 900
that while T00000.000 gallons can be sup
piled daily, there are not facilities enough to
bring it to the city.
There Is not power enough now to produce
head enough to reach the second story of
buildings such as the Arlinton Hotel Col
Casey says that that can only be done by
raising the dam at Great Falls, and for W hich
the House seeks to make provision.
.Gorman then took up the question of
the grant of tile to the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal, referring to the fact that the Supreme
Court had decided that they had a valid title
to the waters of the Potomac River.
Mr.. German then went into the history of
the Abandoned tunnel. and stated that test
of its future availability could be made for
S25. 600, and If the tests were satisfactory
then Congress could complete the work which
would be ali that could be desired. Mr. Cor
man called attention TO the fact that the
water supply for Washington. 300 gallons per
capita, was double that of any other city in
the United States.
RIPARIAN RIGHTS INVOLVED.
Senator Aidrich said there was no question
Of the necessity of raisi:4g the dam, no mat
ter what provision might have to be made as
to the rights of private parties.
Senator Chandler thought there were grave
questions involved as to the rights of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company and
the Great Falls Manufacturing Company, but
he believed those rights were clearly defined.
and that the government was limited by ex-
| listing agreement in regard to the use of the
water, and he felt sure the Senator from
Maine would not desire to ruthlessly disre-
| gard any such agreement.
Mr.. Hale did not entertain any regard for