Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-02

City
DEMAND FOR FILTRATION
The House of Representatives. in commit
tee OF the whole. resumed consideration of
the District appropriation bill today. Mr..
McRae of Arkansas moved to strike out
the provision for such charities las have
been heretofore usually provided for by
direct appropriations to private institu-
TONS" The motion to strike out was de-
feated. 49,.
The Water Meter Project.
Mr.. Richardson raised a point of order
against the following provision of the bill:
For continuing the extension. of the
high-service system of water distribution.
to include all necessary land, machinery,
buildings, mains and appurtenances, and
for the purchase, erection, maintenance
ana inspection Of water meters for the
gradual extension of the meter system to
all classes of consumers so much as may
be available in the water fund during the
fiscal year 1899, after providing for the
expenditures hereinbefore authorized, is
hereby appropriated"
He contended that the water meter pro-
ject was new legislation and changed ex-
listing law.
Mr.. Pitney said the provision did not
change existing law. He said that water
meters were in ilse in this city and have
been used for ten years. Mr.. Pftney cited
the law authorizing the establishment of
water meters.
Mr.. Richardson held that the law did
not confer upon the Commissioners the
power to apply the surplus OF the water
fund to the purpose mentioned by the bill
Mr.. Richardson's point of order was over,
ruled.
Gen. Henderson of Iowa offered an
amendment striking out OF the water meter
clause above quoted the following words:
And for the purchase, erection, mainte-
nance and inspection of water meters Tor
the gradual extension of the meter sys-
tenn to all classes Of consumers
Gen. Henderson said his attention bad
teen called to this matter by letter from
q well-known and conservative citizen. who
termed the provision IAN outrageous job"
Gen. Henderson said the introduction OF
water meters would cost over $ZWO.OoO, ac-
cording to the claim of his correspondent.
Mr.. Pitney said this estimate was ex-
Cessive In amount.
Gen. Henderson said the surplus Of the
water fund should be reserved for the ex-
tension of the water supply of the District.
He said there was danger of a water
famine in the District in the future. He
referred to an editorial in The Star call
ing attention to the unwisdom Of the water
meter project and the advisablity Of using
the water fund for the extension of the
supply. "a, .-,
In answer 70 a question from Mr.. Rich
ardson. Mr.. Dockery of the appropriations
committee said he. was willing to admit
that the desirability of this water meter
provision wasya doubtful question. although
some evidence HAD been brought forward
in it's support II
TIC Check Waste.
Mr.. Pitney said that the engineer de-
partmeEt had reported that the meter sys-
TEN was the honlybway to check the I'M
warranted and extravagant waste of water
that is now going Oh in this city. He cited
figures to show, be. alleged, that Wash
irgton uses more water per capita than
other large aitiesus This was due to the
waste of water and the only way to check
ii is to make the people have a financial
object in conserving 1.-THE supply, Mr. Pit
ley held that there Wass no actual scarcity
of water supply in this city, but that the
|. shortage complained of by some is due to
the waste Of others. ;seaa. a.
In the letter, from the citizen which Gen.
eral Henderson read reference was made
to jobbery In the proposed legislation, but
General Henderson and several other mem
bers repudiated such an imputation as ly-
ing against either the Commissioners OF
the committee on appropriations.
Mr.. Pitney said he had instituted In
quiries which convinced him that the cost
of the proposed meters, quoted by the En-
gineer Commissioner, was as low as pos
sible.
Mr.. Hepburn Of Iowa said it was in
finitely better to spend the money for the
completion of the unfinished tunnel than
in the purchase of meters. He said the
cost of meters ranged from SIT to $500, and
ing them was S55, and that the total cost
OF putting in the system would be over
$1,000, 900 Mr.. Hepburn said the Commits
sioners were not infallible as guiders for
md heif lat
should not always he followed. The Com
missioners would have done much better
to have recommended the utilization of the
surplus water fund for completing the tun-
mel and increasing the water supply.
Mr.. Cowherd said there were no large
cities in the United States that could sup
ply their citizens with sufficient water un-
less they used water. meters to prevent
waste .>..
Demand for Filtration
Mr.. Newlands of Nevada said the water
of Washington was not pure and the cry
ing demand of the city was for the puri-
fication of the existing supply, and not in
crease.
Mr.. Bennett Of New York said he doubt
ed very much whether the water of the
Potomac would run through a meter, ana
If 1t did, the meter would soon need re-
pairs. He said the installation of meters
would tend to reduction in the use of
water for cleanliness and the effect would
be adverse to sanitary conditions.
Need Of Water Here.
Gen. Henderson said that Mr. Pitneys
comparison of water consumption in Wash
ington with other cities was absurd He
said there was no city on earth which
needs as much water as Washington. 1t
would be obviously unfair to compare the
necessities of this great capital city with
the needs of the jewellers in the garrets
and attics of the Large industrial centers.
The public buildings and grounds demanded
a large volume of water. -
Il would be glad If water could be made
as free as air. said Gen. Henderson, land
I certainly would not favor putting re-
strictions upon exitttng privileges
He wanted the water fund to remain I'M
touched With saEns4t, honest citizens pro-
testing against it; with the board of trade
and the press opposed, Congress should not
force the wateA met# system on the .peo-
Mr. Mann of,1llinl is opposed the water
meter system. {IeHStdthe people OF wash