Evening star., 1898-02-03

The defeat Yesterday Of tho water-meter
proposition by the action OF the House III
striking from the bill the clause providing
for meter installation is highly gratifying
to the water users of the District, especiai-
ly as the House gave unmis.akable evidence
of a desire for a substantially larger sup
ply of water and for purer water. The Star
fought the universal meter project from Its
inception. 1t was convinced that the bene-
fit to be derived from meters was mimi
tesfmal and not At all in proportion to the
cost. 1t likewise saw in the scheme a threat
against the culminat ton of the plans for the
early completion of the abandoned tunnel
and reservoir and for tho establishment OF
q filtration system. 1t was plain that II ali
the available surplus of the water rents
were to be diverted for twelve years for an
experimental purpose the District would
not be in position ut any time during that
period to respond to a call for oentribu-
lions to the cost of the moro vitality urgent
projects of unmistakable increase and fl
fration.
The Star felt. too. that the necessity for
the metering Of the domestic users had not
been established. No refutation was ad-
vanced of the charge that the great bulk OF
the water waste Is to be attributed to the
to defective distribution apparatus. 1t was
urged that the waste known to be going OH
IN the District was accountable in many
other directions than that of the household
use and misuse of the water 1t was urged
that the Commissioners now have the
po~er to meter the large users and in
ferentialIy therefore the large wasters. and
1T has at no time been felt by the citizens
EenaFally that the domestic conSuuo ware
open to the indictment that the intrusion
upon them Of water meters and their ac
companying scale of rates would signify.
1t was for these substantial and unas-
sailed reasons that this community saw
cnly futility and extravaganza in the pro-
posed water-meter equipment. and 1T is
grateful to the House for its responsive ac-
tion Of yesterday. The debate in that body
on the meter question. which occupied the
larger part of the time given to the District
bill before its passage. indicated clearly
that the House recognizes the need for
both the completion of the aqueduct tunnel
and for the establishment of filtration
plant
According to the record the Senate stands
ready to pass a bill or adopt an amendment
providing for the completion of the tunnel
and the reservoir. 1t has urged that pro-
1sct several times and it is expected to re-
peat the action this year. On the basis of
yesterdays debate it is fair to expect tina.
the House will acquiesce in the proposition
10 allow the District water-users a chance
to reap some benefit from the fortune that
they have paid out for the tunnel enterprise
that has thus far brought no single item of
advantage to them or to the government
The project of completion is feasible and
not expensive. 1t should be carried our
without further delay. especially as it is
known that delay costs heavily inasmuch
as each year adds to the deterioration of
the work already accomplished
AT the same time move should be made
In the direction of filtration equipment
Let the House stand by it's words of yes
terday regarding pure water and this ses-
zion adopt provision, either as an amend
ment to the District bill or as a separate
Proposition. for the appointment of a COM
mission to investigate the probable cost of
such a plant. This work could be done
during the coming summer and the House
would be in possession of the proper infor-
nation next winter on which to base intel
Ngent action