Evening star., 1898-02-02
OPPOSES WATER METERS
East Washington Citizens Condemn PROPOSE
tion for Their Introduction.
Discussion of Electric Lighting and
ings of the Association Meeting.

There was an interesting meeting Of the
East Washington Citizens Association held
lest night In Baum's Hall. The question of
water meters in private houses was the
chief topic discussed, and the question of
lighting East Capitol street by electricity
also came in for a share of attention.
Mr.. S. S. Yoder said during the course Of
the evening that he congratulated the asso-
citation upon the great good 1t has accom-
plished. incidentally he mentioned the
opening Of the Congressional Library Of
evenings and the lighting of East Capitol
street by electricity, both of which, he said.
have been virtually accomplished.
Mr.. Croissant spoke of the manner in
which individual members may do good,
and Mr.. Sperry, in telling Of what has been
accomplished by the association, paid a
high compliment to Mr.. Babson, former
president Of the association, for the care
he always took in the discussions.
Chairman CroisSant Of the railroad conf
mittee said he had no formal report to
make. but he desired to say that the COM
mittee had done its work In the matter of
the proposed. extension of the Capital Trac-
tion road from Sth street southeast to the
bridge. The matter, he said, is in first
class condition, and he felt certain that
the committee will accomplish the work
mapped out for It,
congregational Library.
DIR. Patton, chairman of the school COM
mittee, said that his committee had had q
meeting since the last meeting of ths as
ISOLATION. The doctor read from yester-
days Star an editorial concerning the
opening of the Congressional Library dur
ing evenings. He said the petitions asking
for the evening opening of the library were
numerously signed. He cited the several
petitions. some of which were signed by
cabinet officers Every state in the Union,
he said, is represented by the petitioners.
and Congress will havs the sanction of
every state and all their constituents.
Chairman Yoder OF the committee on po-
Zee and charities said he was glad that the
work Of distributing charity had been
ties to perform He said two thousand per-
sons had applied for relief during the
month of January, and, he added, there is
not an available dollar in the treasury. He
desired to call attention to the necessity for
having a wsll-c ganized providcnt relief
association. Concerning the distribution
of charity by the police. Chairman Yoder
said he felt that the police would not give
the necessary attention each case required
before giving relief.
Mr. NJ. l. Weller dissented from Mr.. Yo-
der's views. He had had considerable ex-
perience in charity matters in the District,
and he wanted to go on record as indors-
ing the position of Commissioner Ross.
The change in the matter of handling the
charity funds, he thought, was the most
serious and grievous mistake the Commits
sicners have yst made.
Denuncintion of Water Meters.
Mr. Edward H. Fowler, chairman of the
committee on water, lights and sewers,
said the committee had had a meeting, but
had not formulated any report because it
was known that Congress would act on
matters under consideration before this
meeting of the association. East Capitol
street he said should certainly be lighted
by electricity. The committee, he said
took the matter in it's own hands and the
House of Representatives has already
passed bill for the lighting of East Cap
itol street, from I'd to 18th streets.
THAT MEANS he said, that the street
will be lighted
He denounced the proposition to have
water meters placed in houses, and said
that the most foolish part of the report on
itol Hill is not getting water enough.
Certainly he could not see how they would
get more water by the introduction of
meters.
II am not aware that the water would
flow through the meters BETTER he said,
than it would through the unrestricted
pipes
If the meters are to be tested at all, he
thought the test should be made in sec
ton where the water supply is plentiful.
He favored the adoption Of plan for
hltering the water, and thought the propo-
sition of putting in water meters was too
foolish to talk about. Speaking of the
question of sewers and street extension,
Chairman Fowler said he realized that the
extension of some of the streets would
benefit few citizens and a great many
real estate men. The putting in of the
sewers, he said, will benefit everybody and
reduce the death rate.
Following the remarks of Chairman Fow-
Ter. several members of the committee par
ticipated in q discussion of the question of
water meters. A motion to the effect that
the East Washington Citizens Association
opposes the introduction of water meters
INTO dwelling houses was made. In support
OF this motion Mr. O. b. Hallam said he
thought the proposition was infamous, and
that the association should do all in its
proposed He cited several instances of
the operation of meters, .gas and electric
light meters
The Gas Bills.
Concerning the question of gas meters
Mr.. Yoder said he lived in a house of elev-
en rooms and his bill was $1.5O a month
When cooking stove was put in the bill
was increased about rs cents. He said that
people pay too little attention to tips for
the jets and the regulation of their meters.
I'm much obliged to Mr. Yoder for ex-
planning how l can save half my gas bill,"
how tc save the other half I'll be doubly
obliged to him.
Mr.. Clark suggested that Mr.. Yoder's
name was still on the congressional list
and thus he accounted for the size of his
gas bill.
The motion opposing the proposition to
place water meters in private dwellings
was carried