Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-08
Will Study Proposition to In
crease Water Rates.
IN HANDS OF COMMITTEE
President Oyster, Chamber Of Com
merce, Takes Step for Investigation.
REMARKABLE MOVE, HE SAYS
Matter Should Be Studied Carefully.
He Adds-Board of Trade to
Take Up Question.

Committees of the Board of Trade, the
Chamber of Commerce. citizens associa-
tions and other organizations will imme-
diately take up for study the proposition
laid down by Commissioner Judson that
there 9 necessity for increasing the water
rates of the District of Columbia. Con-
versation with owners OF homes indicates
that had the people of the District the
privilege of choosing their own way In
this matter the rates paid for water would
not be increased. although there is no in
dication that observation-disclosures care to be
considered "grafters.'
President oyster of the Chamber OF
Commerce put the matter up to the COM
mittee on municipal legislation today.
1T seems like remarkable move" said
Capt. Oyster. land one that should be
studied carefully. There may be some
good reason for such an increase. but that
is matter for the committee to decide.
At any rate. the committee will be re-
Quested to go into the matter thoroughly
and to make an impartial report. The re-
port will be read to the entire chamber, or
If there happens to be urgent need the
executive committee of the Chamber Of
Commerce will take the matter up
Personnel Of Committee.
The committee on municipal legislation,
which will make the study for the Cham
Der of Commerce, Is headed by Chaplin
Brown and A. B. Browne. vice chairman.
The other members are Charles w.
Clagett, Charles Linkins. Leonard j. Ma
Their, George c. Gertman Claude n. Ben
nett. Scott c. Bone. George Y. Worth
ington. Walter A. Brown. Appleton P.
Clarke. jr.: c. I. Corby, Charles D. Gu
gle. Joseph D. Sullivan, Washington Top
ham. B. H. Warner, oliver P. Newman,
B. F. Saul, Louis Dent A. D. Marks.
NJ. A. Leese, W. S. Hoge. William NJ.
Levin. John H. Magruder John L..
Weaver. Charles A. Tanner. Thomas w.
Smith, Col. Arthur E. Randle, Byron L.
Graham. A. D. V. Burr, Albert Schulties,
Edwin III. EtZ, Julius 1. Peyser, F. S. Key
Smith, Joseph 1. Weller and W. A. Fos-
ter.
Samuel j. Prescott, chairman of the
Trade, said today he would be very glad
to study the matter and IL the subject is
not presented to him by some officer Of
the Board Of Trade he will probably call
week and start the investigation on his
own initiative
1T is a matter OF Importance to the
District" he added. land one which we
should know all about. We want to
know both sides of the question. ] ex-
pect that the president or the secretary
Of the board will refer the matter to me"
Protests Against Increase.
William j. Eynon. secretary Of the
Board of Trade. said today that he had
just returned to the city after a vacation
and had not attended to much Board OF
Trade business as yet.
Il have read protests against the pro-
posed change in water rates, and al
though l have not done SO as yet. l will
probably take up the matter with the
water supply committee at once"
Citizens association members have
been talking Of the proposed water rate
increase ever since detailed account
of the proposal was printed in The Star.
This will be one of the first propositions
to be discussed at the coming meetings OF
several prominent organizations. 1t will
probably be presented for investigation
and report at the next meeting of the
Federation of Citizens Associations.
Question Up Next Week.
l.. H. Patterson president OF the
Northeastern Suburban Citizens Asso-
citation, said today he would bring the
water rate question before his association
at meeting to be held next week. He
considers the matter of great Importance
Supt. Mcfarland of the District water
department today said that he would
not make a report on the finances of his
office preparatory to The consideration OF
the proposed increase in water rates, be-
fore September.
Mr.. Mcfarland expects to be out Of the
city during the latter part OF August and
will not begin the preparation of the re-
port until his return. In the meantime,
it is said, very little. if anything. will
he done in the way of preliminary inves-
legations.