Evening star., 1912-11-17
BACKING IS DESIRED
Funds Needed to Fight Water
Rate Case.
APPEALS TO BE ISSUED
COMMITTEE Of Seven" Decides Upon
Further Action.
SITUATION rs REVIEWED
Declared That misunderstanding
Seems to Exist in Several Citi-
zens' Associations.
APPEALS TO BE ISSUED
'ITUATI0N IS REVIEWED

The committee of seven." which is
composed Of members OF citizens associa-
tions. the Board OF Trade, the Chambe-
Of Commerce and the Central Labor
Union, last night decided to make anothc.
appeal to organizations OF citizens for
their financial and moral backing of tho
fight or W. 8. Branson to prevent tho
District Commissioners from raising the
water rates
Bristow Adams. chairman of the COM
mittee, said that the tentative plans in
clude a circular letter which will be sent
to the Citizens associations and in as
many cases as possible speakers inform
ed on the question viii address meetings.
The Rhode Island Avenue Citizens As
sociation, of which Mr.. Adams Is a mem
ber. recently sent letters to other Cit
zens' organizations asking for appropria-
tions of SO each To carry on the Bran
son suit
Gets Restraining Order.
Mr.. Branson refused to pay the higher
rate ordered by the Commissioners TO ga
into effect July 1. and when he was
threatened with having the water at his
premises turned off he had an order
issued by the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict of Columbia. restraining the city
from such action.
The committee claims that Its object
and the work il has done so far has been
m sunderstood by many citizens associa-
tionS. 1t is said that the BranSon case
has been brought up before practically all
OF the associations, many of which nave
indorsed it and sent contribut ons 10,
aid in the fight.
timony, sienograph.c hire, witnesses and
other items Will cost about S3Ht, and OF
this amount about 500 is in sight Mr.
Adams said last night ne thou, hi The
necessary amount can be raised, but as
the case is expected 10 be called shortly.
1t is necessary to reimburse the treasury
of the committee quickly.
Commissioners Answer.
The statement issued last night points
out that in the answer to the complaint
of Mr.. Branson recently filed by the
Commissioners exception Is taken TO an
allegation in the complaint that the in
crease in rates is made with a view OF
installing meters The answer of the
Comm ssioners, ii is said. denies that tho
rates were raised 10 bear the expense OF
installation.
The sta ement says that at the time the
rates We're raised that it was the under
standing that meters We're to be installed.
and the installation of the meters Is
classed as an Improvement for which
the Commissioners have no right To
raise the rates to bear the expense.
The statement admits that the Com
missioners have the authority to raise
the water rates if 1t is found necessary to
keep up the present water supply. But
1t is asserted that the rates may not be
raised for improvements such as meters.
Continuances Granted.
Justice Anderson of the Supreme Court
of the District OF Columbia cited the
Commissioners August 16 to show that
they had the legal right to raise the
water rates. but the corporation counsel
asked for a continuance of the case
which was granted by the court. sec
ond hearing was held September %. and
again continuance was allowed upon
the request of the city. Following the
second continuance the answer of the
District was filed. and IL Is said that
when the case is called again 1t may be
settled.
The statement says that even If the
meters are installed a a cost of 81. 100000
during a period OF six years. that in
about ten years the water supply will
again be found to be insufficient. IL
new conduit. which ii is estimated will
cost more than 81, 600 900 is bui l. accord
abundance and may be used freely by
every one without a meter check. 1t is
claimed that il the insta lation of the
meters were extended over a period OF
ten years instead of six that the sur
plus from the annual water taxes would
be great enough to pay for the meters
without a raise in the rates.
Question of Interest.
The question of interest. which has
been a subject of much discussion in
many of the Improvement clubs, is dwell
on in the statement. Putting "A valua-
ton of s19369. 900 on the water plant OF
the city, the statement says that tie
Commissioners charge ) per cent inter
est on this sum, and it asserts that the
Commissioners do not say in what man.
ner the interest is expended.
Besides Mr.. Adams, the members OF
the committee are: Frank +. Leetch OF
the Georgetown Citizens Association, }.
p Crawford of the Connecticut Avenue
Citizens Association. William NJ. Shuster
of the Board of Trade. NJ. A. Leese o.
the Chamber of Commerce. E. w. Oyster
of the Central Labor Union and w. :.
Branson of the Northeast Citizens As
sociation.
VICTIMS IDENTITY MYSTERY.