Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-07
Members of Citizens Fedora
tion Opposed to Increase.
VOTE NEARLY UNANIMOUS
Responsibility for Proposed Rate
Placed Upon Commissioner Judson.
DEBATE MATTER THOROUGHLY
Bill for Retirement of Public School
Teachers Indorsed-Special Com
mittees Appointed.

After consideration of the matter for
three months the Federation OF Citizens
Associations last night went on record
as opposed to the increase in water rates
ordered by the Commissioners. which is
to go into effect July 1 nest.
Presented by ID. A. Edwards of the
Lincoln Park Association. a resolution
designed to secure the federation's in
dorsement of the Commissioners action
received only the vote of Mr.. Edwards
and l.. e. Dessez of the Washington
chapter Of the American Institute of
Architects.
Allan Davis of the southeast associa-
ton, who presided during the debate. did
not vote. President Clayton. who took
the floor to speak against the resolution:
E. f. Colladay of the Chevy Chase as
sociation. George r. Williams Of the
Brightwood association and w. ii. Rich
ardson of the Benning association. who
were the only other delegates in. attend
ance at the meeting, voted in the mega
tive.
Principal Item of Business.
Consideration of the water rates ques-
of the meeting the only other business
transacted being the appointment Of
committees to cooperate with the board
of education in securing the enactment
of a teachers retirement bill and to urge
the selection Of Baltimore as the meeting
place for the next national democratic
convention.
Allan Davis stated that a special COM
mittee. of which he is chairman, had
tod ho1f 70 fnv.
children on local street railway lines.
which shortly is to be introduced in
Congress. President Clayton announced
that at an early meeting of the fedora
of the recorder Of deeds and transfer the
work performed by that official to the
clerk Of the court is to be presented.
The federation considered adjourning
without consideration OF business because
no provision had been made for heating
the Chamber of Commerce room, where
the meeting was held. but the injection
of the water rates question into the pro-
ceedings caused the delegates to forget
the uncomfortable atmospheric condi-
until every phase Of the question had
been discussed and every member pres
ent had expressed his views. 81
Clayton Blames Judson.
President Clayton charged that the
proposition to increase the water rates
had originated with Engineer Commis-
sioner Judson. He said that not only
was Commissioner Rudolph reported to
have been opposed to the plan, but that
the superintendent of the water depart
ment had been credited with being un-
favorable to II, and that he had made
no attempt to deny II.
Congress. said Mr.. Clayton. in creating
the office Of an engineer commissioner
for the District, had not intended that
such an official should have the authori-
ty to increase taxation in the District.
yet, he added, Commissioner Judson, n
putting through the increase I'm wafer
rates, had done just this thing.
Even IL an increase in the rates were
necessary, he added, the federation should
not vote to uphold the action of the Com
missioners, in view of the fact that they
failed to give citizens Of the District a
hearing in the matter.
Finds Fault With Resolution.
Delegate Colladay found fault with the
manner in which the Edwards resolution
was framed. The resolution stated that
the action of the Commissioners should
be indorsed inasmuch as the only alterna-
tive, in the event Of failure to secure al
ditional funds for metering purposes.
would be the expenditure of millions of
dollars in the construction OF a new aque-
duct.
According to Mr.. Conaday. this would
not be the only alternative, for. IL the
service could not be metered from the
proceeds of increased rates. Congress
could be asked to provide an appropri-
alton for metering on the lf-and-half
plan, which certainly would be less than
an expenditure of millions of dollars
in the construction of an aqueduct.
If for no other reason Mr.. Colladay
urged, the resolution should be voted
down in that it did not give a true ex-
preston of the exact state of affairs.
Opposed to Violating Principle.
George F. williams and w. H Rich
ardson said that to pass the resolution
would be to approve of the action of the
Commissioners in changing the rates
without giving public hearing in re-
gard to the matter. This. they said,
would be in violation Of a principle for
which the federation has consistently
stood.
posed to the resolution reference to
the half-andhalf principle was fire.
quently made. 1t was declared that II
the citlzehs of the District should give
their approval to a scheme under
which they would bear all the burden
Of producing revenue for metering the
water service, Congress might insist
on their doing the same thing with re-
spect to the installation Of a high
pressure water service and other i'm
provements that may be wanted.
Special Committees.
E. F. Colladay and D. A. Edwards
compose the committee appointed by
President Clayton to urge upon the
democratic national committee, when
it meets in Washington. the selection
of Baltimore for the meeting place Of
the next democratic national conven-
tion.
D. A. Edwards, Allan Davis and w.
H. Richardson were appointed a COM
mittee to cooperate with a committee
of the board of education in its effort
to bring about the enactment of a
public teachers retirement bill.
Mr.. Davis said the bill for half fares
for school children probably will be
in the House by Represen-
tative Dyer of Missouri.
Jealous, Shoots Girl; Kills Self.