Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-27
Glen Echo Plan to Get Water
Supply illegal.
MAY NOT TAP AQUEDUCT
Permit by President or War Secre-
tary Only Chance.
MAYOR DEMANDS A SHARE

NA3A 4 Wv OAUAAA4N00 "A 0AAk44t0
Wants one-Half of Fines Collected
for Violations of Sunday
Law at the Park.
No relief against water famine is likely
to be given to the town of Glen Echo by
the War Department. Privilege to tap
the water supply system Of Washington,
asked by Mayor W1tkowsk Of Glen Echo
is forbidden by law and must be denied
in the ordinary course Of events.
The War Department will, however. If
the President or the Secretary Of War
directs IT, assuming responsibility for go
emergency. grant the permission. The
demonstration Of such necessity. it Is
pointed out. would probably cause the
President to consider thoroughly before
refusing to accept the responsibility.
Under statute enactment by Congress
more than fifty years ago. the water sys-
tenn was inaugurated for the service Of
government buildings in Washington. The
public structures, under the law, remain
to this day the first interest Of the WASH
ington aqueduct system, the dwellings
and business houses being beneficiaries
Of the surplus water supply only.
Chevy Chase Exception.
Chevy Chase some time ago made re-
quest for access to the Washington water
supply, which the War Department was
compelled to refuse. A recent act Of Con-
gress, expressly defining the exception. &C
corded to Chevy Chase the privilege OF
using the water system for fire protection
only This is the only instance Of any
community outside Of Washington being
accorded the right to get water from the
Washington system.
The letter addressed by Mayor Witkow-
ski to Vice President Harries Of the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany, which is said to be ono Of the
principal stockholders in the Glen Echo
Amusement Park Company. asking his
cooperation, by providing water for the
uses of the park from other sources than
the town reservoir, has not yet been seen
by Gen. Harries owing to his absence
from the city. Gen. Harries 1s expected
to return tomorrow night, the earliest
moment that the matter can have his
consideration.
Mayor Witkowskrs letter reached the
War Department this morning.
Demands Half Of Fines.
Mayor witkowski was in Rockville
today to demand as his right under
the law half Of the total amount OF
the fines collected at eileen Echo Park
for violations of the Sunday blue laws.
AS informer, and Mr.. Witkowski swore
out the complaints, the statute provides
that he should have that share Of the
proceeds. He preferred the claim at
the instance Of his attorney, Alex
ander Kilgour Of Rockville.
Justice Reading, before whom Mr..
Witkowski preferred his claim. adj
vised him that the amount of the fines
would be turned over in due course to
the county commissioners, and that
Mr.. Witkowski's recourse was to them.
A communication from Gov Croth-
ers received by him, Mr.. Witkowski
says, states that he has referred to
the county authorities the matter Of
assuring the supply OF water to the
surance to the mayor that If the coun-
ty authorities could not find a way to
solve the problem the governor would
take some other means to adjust the
difficulties.
Mayor Visits the Park.
Glen Echo amusement park. which
Mayor Witkowski regards as within the
jurisdiction Of the town Of Glen Echo,
had made no preparation to GUST the
town executive when he appeared at the
gate yesterday afternoon, determined to
set foot within regardless Of the danger
he considered menacing his person. Dep
uty Sheriff Whalen, designated as the
personal guard Of the mayor by Judge
Reading at Rockville, in the morning,
was within the grounds and responded to
Mr.. Witkowskfs summons, escorting him
into the park as far as the Midway.
There was none of his opponents to see
the mayors entry into the lions den.
Glen Echo has been without water
since O'Clock Tuesday afternoon. Mayor
Witkowski asserts that he did not turn
off the water cock, declaring that the
key has been In the possession of his
opponents since last Sunday, when forci-
bly, wrested from him in the fight which
followed his attempt to cut off the sup
ply. The key weighs sixty pounds, he
says, and no wrench that he knows OF.
except one that might be made for the
purpose, could be used to turn of the
cock.
That the water was turned off by the
opposition in an effort to embarrass him.
is an opinion he expresses. He also tells
in Glen Echo may follow the failure Of
the water supply and the fouling Of the
reservoir. This fear is entertained by
many residents Of the town, especially
those who give their support to the mayor
In this crisis.
Invited by Management.
Mayor Witkowski's invasion Of the
amusement park yesterday afternoon was
for the purpose Of taking part in the
official ceremonies connected with the
celebration Of Montgomery day. He dis
played an invitation from the park man.
agement, and said that he might or
might not make speech. AS there was
no speechmaking, MT Witkowski did not
make himself heard. He remained around
the park much Of the afternoon and
evening and came into no unpleasant
contact with any of the opposition.
The rights OF the townspeople in the
water supply are paramount. Mr.. Wit
kowski considers. The musement park,
by it's extensive use Of water for it's
patrons and the fact that Its lower alti-
tude allows it practically to acquire the
entire supply when the water is low in
the reservoir, creates a condition that
must be remedied and for which the law
is adequate in his opinion.
His plan permanently to close up the
amusement park is based upon the
ground that the only way to conserve the
water supply for the use of the tonws-
people is to prevent it's use by the park
visitors and that IL the park manage
ment will not find other supply of water
for its patrons the only possible means