Evening star., 1932-02-21

franc dCCl0entS were not unknown
in Washington so years ago, even
Dangerous motor cars. In The Star
n,;r;o Of February 18. 1882, is
OIl'Ins' the following letter from
a reader:
II was really glad to see the COM
ments in your excellent paper on the
recent injury occasioned to Senator
Lamar by reckless driver. As you well
say. the atrociously reckless driving and
disregard Of the rights of pedestrians
in this city ought to be stopped. but
the question is how it can be done.
Some months ago, IN company with my
wife and another lady. l was crossing
the streets at Thomas Circle, where
there is the greatest abundance OF car
riageway Notwithstanding this and
the fact that there was no other vehicle
in sight. the driver of two-horse car
riage drove in a trot directly across our
oath and had I not seized the reiEs OF
the horse nearest us and abruptly
stopped his progress, one or both OF
the ladies would in another instant.
have been under his feet. For daring
to interfere with his absolute and ex-
elusive control of the streets the driver
repaid me with menacing words and
gestures Determined to try If there
was any remedy. followed the man to
the stable where ne belonged and got
his name. then called on the district
attorney and related the circumstances
to him and received the information
that there was no law to meet such
cases: that nothing could be done with
the drivers who dominate the avenues
and streets of this city unless they
cause death or bodily injury to the un-
happy pedestrians who are compelled
to invade their domain. There Is not
day in the year that some one on
Pennsylvania avenue does not have a
miraculous escape from being run over.
Pennsylvania avenue is one OF the most
crowded thoroughfares of any city in
the Union, and I wonder that the local
authorities of Washington do not fol-
low the example set in Baltimore, Phil
adelphia. New York and other cities,
and station policemen at the different
crossings to protect the passage OF
women and children"
The installation of water meters was
proposed so years ago, but in view of
Water great ore W waste of water on
Mater. the part of those who
'oA' pay nothing for their
supply, this innovation was opposed.
The Star of February Is, 1882, says:
There are at least two very serious
objections to the joint resolution intro
duced in the House yesterday looking
to the inf1iction of water meter upon
the helpless and bedeviled people OF
the District Of Columbia. In the first
place there Is in all probability spec
ulative job at the back of the PROPOSE
tion, as it appears to have been one
inc uitl =
tempt to force the obnoxious device
upon other communities. Secondly,
the measure is defective and oppressive
in its nature because its provisions
cannot be applied to public buildings
and grounds, and there, as everybody
knows, is where the great wastes Of
water are to be founo. What makes
the consumption of water in Washing
ton greater in proportion to population
than in other cities Is the tnordinate
quantity of 1t that Is used for mechani-
cal and other purposes. in the Navy
Yard and in the various Government
shops. departments. etc. together with
the enormous amounts allowed to run
to waste day and night in the public
buildings and through the fountains in
the public grounds during the Summer
season. Unless these consumptionS or
wastes, or whatever you may please to
call them. are checked. there Will be no
Justice or sense in saddling the people
of Washington with the inquisitorial,
expensive and worthless infliction con-
templated by the resolution in question.
There ought to be, and We believe there
Is, craftsmanship enough In Congress
to stamp the life out Of this PROPOSE
ton and all piddling measures like 1t
and to turn Its attention to securing TO
the National Capital an ample and per-
manent supply Of water, equal to all
the needs Of the place, now and for
the future, no matter how much may
be used per head by the people OF other
cities. The whole current Of the Po-
tomac runs by the base Of the Capitol
The expenditure of few hundred
thousand dollars would turn the entire
volume Of it, or so much Of 1t as could
be carried, through our supply pipes
and sewers This is the point to which
Congress should address itself. In a
city properly equipped ana governed
and as easily and as cheaply supplied
| With water as washington, there can
be no such thing q waste Of that ele-
pent. Every drop that Tllns, no mat:
t9 bow q wheye, , n agency q