The evening times., 1896-02-19
Senator Mcmillan Pushing the
Question Of Mater Supply.
LETTER FROM COL. ELLIOT
The Present Capacity and the Ad-
dition Necessary Fully Explained.
Tho Rights OF the Government at
Great FAlls-AFnvOrable Action on
Several Measures of Local Interest

0kOuudy loi tuc COOsIuctlOu Vi tuC AAiuNhutt
tunnel. He is gathering much interesting
matter. This morning he received COM
munication from Col. George Ii. Elliot, who
had the water supply III charge for years.
Col. Eliiot's communication was in answer
10 a number Of questions asked by Senator
Mcmillan.
In this letter Ire says that the water
rights OF the government at Great Falls
have never brenfsietcrmined. HIS own be-
lief Is that ithe United States owns at
least one-thiSd : of all the water rights
there and probably much more. There has
been but one judicial decision and that
was made by the Court OF Claims in 1879.
In a case for damages brought by the
Great Falls Manufacturing Company. Col.
Elliot IL OF the opinion that this decision
li.,s but little bearing on tue present ques-
ton. 5
In describing the dam now across the
river he says II is about 5000 feet long
and LII feet above low water mark at'thc
navy yard in Washington. An act of the
last Congress directed the dam to be raised
liz feet. and he suppo ses this VIII
doubtless he the basis of additional claims
against the government. He understands
that. the Great Falls Manufacturing Com
pany, or rather its successor, the Great
Falls Power Company, has already taken
steps leading to such claims.
Col. Elliot says the amount of water now
taken rrom the river at Great Falls is about
$4,000 900 gallons per day. The amount
of water that can be taken from the river
ut Great Falls by the existing conduit when
the raising OF the dam shall have been com
pleted. will be about 75.000.O 900 gallons
per day. -..,rt
THE MAXIMUM SUPPLY.
This" he continues. "is under the sup
position that the water in the distributing
reservoir west OF Georgetown Is to be
kept up TO its proper height OF lag feet
above datum; that the new reservoir near
Howard University aCd the tunnel lead
ing from this reservoir from the disirib-
uting reservoir commonly called the Ly-
decker tunneD VIII be completed; that an
increase IL. the carrying capacity OF the
system of pipes Within the city will from
time to time be necessary. and that this
necessary increase in capacity VIII be
made, up to capacity required for the dis
trihution of the aforementioned quantity
of ater.'
Col. Elliot THINKS this supply OF 49,
900 900 gallons Per day VIII probably be
sufficient for period of about nine years,
or until 1905, when an additional COD
duit Will probably be required.
The Commissioners have reported fav-
orabIy to the Senate District Committee
the bill ic regulate appointments and pro
motions in the municipal government OF the
District OF Columbia and in the offices OF
the recorder OF deeds and the register OF
wills for said District of Columbia.
The Commissioners have reported ad-
versaiy oil the biif-or the relief OF John
Murpn, y Co. They also inform the Senate
District Committee that the only expense
of compiling and printing the street rail-
way laws OF the District would be the
expense cf the printing and binding or the
volumes
Y Pos N rpst6ant y,rnnprfy
owner OF Mount Pleasant, las written to
Senator Mcmillan urging the use or Seven
teeutl, street from X street to Mount
Pleasant fo- a. street car line.
FAVORABLE REPORT On BILLS.
The House District Committee at its reg
ular meeting today recommended that a
favorable report be made upon the follow
ing bills:
To authorize rcasscssments for improve
ments and general taxes in the District OF
Columbia, with an amendment ting
the proviso allowing 8 per cent interest
on reass,.ssments from the date the original
tax nr assessment should have been paid
had it not bten qaashed or set aside.
To regulate the business OF storage in
the District, with the Incorporation or
the amendments suggested by the Senate
Committee.
On next Saturday, February %, at IL
o.clcck. the House District Committee will
grant a hearing on Mr. heredtth'S Dill
10 authorize the Falls Church and Potomac
Railway Company of Virginia TO extend
its line OF road into anu within the District.
oa Monday. March 2, at 10 O'Clock, a
be,ri,,., will be given to those interested
in Mr. ,iorsc's bill to protect the first day OF
the ytt., commonly called Sunday. as
day nj res and worship in the District
sp.a,ial meeting OF the committee WILDE
held FRIDAY morning at 10 o'clock for the
consideration OF bills to be reported from
subcouiiuittees
Mr. WeIlington's bill to aid the Balti-
more centennial exposition, provided the
government be relieved from all RESPONSE
silitv in connection there with, was today
ordered fayoraby reported by the Ways and
Means Committee
Ttr ways aud Means Committee today
decided to report adversely the bill to
regulate the issuance of licenses for the
sale of intoxicants-
MARRIAGES IN THE DISTRICT.
Mr.. Faulkner. in the Senate, called up
the bill regulating marriages in the District.
Mr.. Vest spoke at some length on the
maria geable age or the women. He
claimed that eighteen years should De tne
legal age of women.
Mr.. Faulkner said lie had drafted the
hill i'm this way. but the District Committee
thcpcht it should be twenty one and he had
given way.
latjons concerning marriages not rcgu-
ted nv law. He claimed that the form or
marriage had never before been held TO
render null and void such a marriage.
He thought it might make most unen-
viable state of affairs in some cases.
Mr.. Faulkner claimed 1t was only saving
clause.
The section putting ministers under Dond
was stricken out
Mr.. Faylkncr. offered a further amend
ment, which was adopted. that all for
eigners marrying in the District must make
oath that they have complied with all the
laws OF their own country.
Mr.. Hoar raised the point that no person
cxcept a member of some religious society
could solenlnize n marriage. He claimed
there werc other persons who might not
think marriage was not sacrament. The
law should provide for civil marriages.
Mr.. Faulkner claimed that the fourth sec
tion covered the point, He said ne FOUND
the marriage law Of the District disgrace
to. the country and capital OF the nation.
So he had made only the changes necessary.
There has not been marriage in the last
rifty Years that tho parties to II. through
naiice. could not ha We been fined $500.
ASKS FOR EXEMPTION.
In the Senate Mr. Faulkner introduced
a bill exempting Anton Gloctzner from
1hi, operation or the act to restrict own
ership of rea}, estate in the Territories to
He also introanced, by request. bill
10 amend tho, act regulating the sale OF
liquor in the iIjistfict. The bill provides
that from se63iohs 6 of he act shall be
5stricken ont The f,llowing wor,ls:
"Afld provided Further. the said excise
board may, in its discretion, issue Ii