Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-02
A New System Of Water Taxation.
Special Report Of the Registrar.

Commissioners that the Water Registrar
be requested to prepare and submit TO the
District Com missioners, on or before the 18th
alton, !" thst officer has submitted q report.
He first quotes from the existing laws, and
then goes on TO state that there Is no doubt
.ne Is the e 6
reason that while front foot tax may be as
nearly as possible equal and uniform, the
square foot tax Is equal and uniform; yet
owing to the fact In laying water mains
across streets, avenues or alleys, along
church property. and in front of public prop
remuneration, deficiencies often exist be-
tween the actual cost of the WORK and the
assessment made for the same. To illus
tIate: The past season a number of streets
were assessed for the laying OF water mains
and erection of fire plugs; the assessment
amounted TO SIC, 1870, while the actual cost
of the work and material amounted to
50, 6OO44, leaving a deficiency of S6,s510i.
To overcome this and other deficiencies In
IT'S RECOMMENDED:
1. That the present law be SD amended as
TO make the tax due and payable in tUO
equal instruments instead of Jour; the first
pay able within thirty days from the date of
assessment, without interest, the other due
and payable one year thereafter, aud with
ten per cent. per annum from the date of as
sessment. If the first instalment be not paid
within thirty days from date Of assessment,
then all shall bear ten per cent. interest from
date of assessment
.
alleys or public reservations the actual cost
of the same be paid by the District govern
ment out of the general fund.
2. That the law eXempting CHURCHES and
property used for charitable purpos s from
taxation for the laying of water mains be
repealed.
l. That no water be turned on, or water
mains tapped, for the use of any property
one year In arrears for assessment made for
laying of water mains.
The interest OF ten per cent. named is
greater than has heretofore been levied
for the nOn-p2yment of taxes for lay
Ing of water mains, but it should be borne
reimburse the government for money actu-
ally expended foT work cone aud for mate
only laid on petition of property owners for
their benefit, and the assessments in the ma
jority of cases are small.
WATER RENTS.
The act of Congress is cited, approved
March Sd, 1859, authorizing the corporations
OF Washington and Georgetown, by ordi-
nance, act, or otherwise, to establish scale
of annual rates for the supply and use of
said water, apportioned TO different classes
OF Buildings, according to their size, assessed
values, &c, measured sy metre or other
wise, and to modify, alter, amend, increase,
or reduce such scale OF reats from time to
time, collect such rates ofrents when SO fixed
in advance or otherwise, from all owners or
occupants of such buildings who may use
the water; stop the supply TO any dwelling
on failure to pay. and generally to enact
suen laws as may be necessary 10 supply the
the rates levied by the cities OF Washington
and Georgetown shall never be source OF
revenue, other than means OF keeping up
supply o. water to said cities. The ordinance
OF -he late corporation OF Washington, based
on the act of Congress above cited, approved
April, 1851, fixing the annual rents 20 be COL
leci5d by tae Water department, is also
cited, and the rates stated, in lieu Of which
the Registrar submits annual proposed mater
rates, and recommends their adoption. They
are graduated from house I6 feet wide or
L.. nN@ h srrA q
story house, 81 to so feet wide, S1S.
For tie rentals named there should be
allowed 20 each house one bath tub, one
water closet, one sink, two spiggots (hot and
cold water in kitchenl, one washssand, and
one street washer. All additional fixtures TO
be charged extra per year, viz: For bath
tubs and wafer closets, II each; wash basins
or sinks in pantries, closets or rooms, 80
cents each; street washers, IS; MIGRANTS in
yard, IS; but when there are no water fix
lures in the house, and the hydrant in the
yard is the supply, no extra charge TO be
made on the rates named. Bakeries from IS
10 S25 per annum. Bath tubs in public es-
Establishments, - each. Barber shops from
SC 70 SIS. Boarding houses, In addition to
the regular annual rate for private families,
be charged for each furnished bed room for
boardeEs or dodgers. the SUM of 81. Build
ants for business purposes, for each Office or
tenement BaviDg faucet, %, and for each
flee or tenement not having water within
the same, DuL taken from faucets In com
closet, TO be changed Al, and when the water
closet is located so as to be used In common,
the charge to be 80 cents extra for each ONCE
or tenement in such building. Building pur-
poses-Bricks, per thousand cents; stone,
Der perch, 3X cents. Fonntains-These to
be supplied at the discretion OF the Water
SIS; but no fountains To be permitted on any
premises where the water Is not taken for
other purposes and used TO an extent sufh-
cient for those purposes.
nrr ~
Hotels, eating houses, club houses, taverns,
restaurants, barrooms, refreshment and Oys-
ter saloons, railroad depots, locomotive en-
dye houses. and all manufacturing and other
establishments requiring large supply of
water, to be charged therefor at the rate of
or at the rate OF per 100 gallons on the
daily average estimated quantity during the
year, said year to be computed at 800 days;
the estimate to De made and fixed by the
water department.
Private stables from 80 to SO per annum.
Stationary steam engines TO be charged at
the rate OF $3.50 per horse power. Stores,
prov lsion shops, market and fish stalls,
schools, printing offices, drug stores and con-
feetioneries from IS to SIS, to be fixed by the
water department. All water required for
other purposes not specified IN the foregoing
TO be estimated and paid f6r at such rates as
may be fixed by the water department. 1t
is recommended that all buildings on the
line of water mains into which the Potomac
water has not been introduced shall pay an
annual water rent of from 50 to 80 per an
mum, said rate to be levied with reference to
the assessed value Of the buildings thereon,
provided that when the water is regularly
Introduced into such premises, such special
rate shall be discontinued.
EXEMPTIONS.
An ordinance of the late corporation of
Washington, approved October 10, 1863, ex-
empts all orphan asylums, churches, and
charity schools from the payment of water
rent; il is recommended that the ordinance
be repealed, and that all places and premises
on the line of the water mains be obliged to
contribute to the support of the water de-
partment. The adoption OF the schedule Of
rates above named Is deemed to be necessary
so as TO provide sufficient revenue to meet
the incre asing demand for both water facili-
ties throughout the District, and particu.
larry on the high elevations, where there Is
now a positive necessity for the laying of
large mains ard the erection Of capacious
reservoir in order to furnish water for do
nestle use and the protection OF property
against FIRE.
OIL TIMEs AND NEW TIMEs.-Ata meet
ing of the Oldest Inhabitants Association
last night, DIR. Blake made a motion that
they meet at Mr.. Callan's Office on New
Years day and proceed TO the Presidents
To nm IN