The times., 1899-05-06
SISTERS ASK Time
TO GET Free WATER
An Appeal From the House of
the Good Shepherd.
Poverty Urged Against the Opera
ton of the Metre Law.
The Reply of the Commissioner
No Alternative Except to
Pay Regular Rates.

The Sisters of the Good Shepherd have
Commissioners seeking an extension of
time in which to comply with the notice
requiring the installment of water meters
in the House CT the Good Shepherd. This
order was promulgated by the District
Commissioners recently and applies to all
orphan asylums, charity schools, and in
stitutions in the District that receive an
nual appropriations from Congress. 1t
was issued in accordance with the pro-
visions of the act of Congress which au-
thorized the Commissioners to furnish
limited amount of water to certain insti-
tutions free of cost. The amount of water
furnished each institution was to be fixed
so as not to exceed 100 gallons per average
capita OF inmates per day, and for all wa
ter used beyond that amount the institu-
tion should be charged at the prevailing
rate for use of water in the District. The
amount was subsequently fixed at 80 gal
Ions per day.
Eve appeal to your kind and charitable
heart to release us from the obligation
wrote the Mother Mary Superior to the
city authorities. "If you cannot abolish
it entirely we earnestly beg an extension
of time. Owing to our extreme poverty,
and the recent act of Congress in depriying
our institution of the small appropriation
of s2,700, absolutely necessary to aid us
in the uplifting of depraved humanity and
protecting the wayward and unfortunate,
we are placed in position of financial
embarrassment"
About the same time the Commissioners
received a communication from Attorneys
Hamilton and Colbert, reading as follows:
THE House of the Good Shepherd
charitable institution in this city, has been
directed to have placed upon its premises
a water meter; the costs of which will
be several hundred dollars, and the Sis
ters of the House of the Good Shepherd
are absolutely without means. The ap-
pl plopriation heretofore allowed them from
Congress has been withheld this year, and
they have not even the means to supply
the unfortunate inmates of their institution
with food. Efforts have been made in their
behalf, but until sufficiently organized will
not materially better their condi-
ton. They ask that the order directing the
erection of this water meter may at least
be deferred, or rather held in allegiance for
the time being Any Indulgence that you
can make in their behalf in this regard will
be exercised toward an institution that
is most deserving
In taking action on the request the Com
missioners agreed that the installation OF
the water meter is necessary to enable the
institution in question to take advantage,
If it so desires, of the law granting char
liable institutions certain amount of
water free. The institution will be In
formed by letter that If it does not de-
sire to take advantage OF the law 1t will
not be required to install a meter, in
which case it will be charged for water at
the regular rates.
A request has also been received by the
Commissioners from the Sister SUPERIOR of
the House of Mercy. 240S X Street. to have
that institution exempt from the water
meter regulation. response has been
sent to the sister superior informing her
that the House of Mercy will have to have
meters installed in order to take advan-
tage of the law granting free water to
charitable institutions