Evening star., 1921-05-11

Endorsement Of the Tyler recommen-
dations for more adequate water sup
ply system for this city. and approval Of
Senate bill No. Z. providing for increased
interest on small loans by pawnbrokers,
featured the meeting last night of the
Washington Chamber Of Commerce at
the Willard Hotel.
The recommendations of the water
supply committee were presented by Il.
y. BOwles. chairman of the committee.
I'VE find that the present conduit
which supplies water to the District Is
the only source Of water supply. said
Mr.. Bowles. 'It was built more than
sixty years ago and has already far
outlived its original estimated period OF
service: it is both unsafe and Insult
cient in capacity. ard is constantly put
under a strain that daily places nearly
half million people subject to a danger
greater than both war and famine.
eve believe that Congress should be
urged in the most forcefui manner pos
Sible to take steps Immediately to nave
constructed the additional water supply
project as provided in the report of Maj
NJ. c. Tyler. under date Of January,
1921"
The committee urges that the con-
struction OF an additional conduit. as
provided by the Tyler plan. be made
development of the Great Falls power
project
In regard to the water power project
for the city. which is also included in
the Tyler plan. the committee points
out that the full report is not vet
available. and that it wishes time to
study the matter before rendering
decision on so important p question.
Presented by Chair man James T.
Lloyd. the report of the law committee
contained three separate recommended
tionS.
Approves Pawnbroker Bill.
The first was the change in the law
regarding the rate of interest en- small
loans At the present tire l per cent
per month is fixed as the maximum
rate of interest. The bill now pending
provides for a maximum rate of , per
cent per month, which will allow, ac-
cording to Mr.. Lloyd. pawnbrokers to
do business profitably. The chamber
unanimously indorsed this section of
the report.
The second matter taken up by the
committee was the compulsory work
mems compensation bill. which pro-
videS for insurance for all employees
in the District of Columbia. including
domestic hep in the home. and which
is being fought by business men of
this city, who declare it both vicious
and confiscatory.'
Mr.. Lloyd said that the committee
had not had time to study this ques-
tion thoroughly, and asked that the
committee be given full authority to
act in the name of the chamber when
decision was arrived at. After some
discussion authority was given with
the proviso that so per cent Of the
committee be present when the de-
cision is made. -
Tax Exemption Scored.
In regard to the third question pre-
sented by the committee, the proposed
bill allowing exemption for five years
from taxation on building projects to
stimulate building in the District
Mr.. Lloyd said that the committee had
not gone into the project. and desired
authority to act for the chamber in
the same way as on the compensation
measure.
Chaplin Brown vigorously opposed
such authority being granted the COM
mittee. and said that he was likewise
opposed to the five-year exemption
plan.
According to estimates" said Mr..
Brown, there are only $4,000 homes
needed in this city. That is one
seventh of the population. If one
seventh of the population is per-