Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-23
Proposed Increase Of Water Rents.

Proposed Increase of Water Rents.
To the Editor Of the Erening Start would
seem, from the newspaper notices of late pre-
ceedings before the House committee on the
District CT Columbia, In reference to pending
bill which proposes to confer upon the Com
missioners OF the District power to increase the
water rents, that the real question at issue was
entirely ignored. The organic act and subse-
quent laws relative to the supply of water to
the city provide, in effect, that no revenue
shall be derived from water rents beyound the
amount necessary to maintain the water de-
partment, and therefore the pending question
Is, or should be, not as respects "the per capita
consumption OF water IN the District" zone half
ernment,) but whether the present rates are not
sufficient to meet the requirements Of the law
under JudfciOus and economical admtnistra
tion OF the water department. Many OF our
people think the rates ample, and suppose the
late and present embarrassments of the de-
partment to have arisen chiefly from two
causes-frst, extravaganza in conducting it,
and, secondly, from non-observance of the laws
regulating IL. The cause first assigned has
been recognized by the proper authorities by
ployeS, and their non-observance of law may
be reasonably inferred from their communica-
ton to the last session OF Congress. In their
annual report the Commissioners say:
The resources OF the water department are
at present barely able to support the current
expenses, and 1t Will not be possible to lay the
HtW UtUfHS uSCCoodiy lOl lilt pIOptE SSTNlct Oh
the present system without slight increase in
the ayateT rents"
Ard the president of the Commissioners, in a
letter dated 18th January, addressed to the
Senate's committee on the District OF Column
bia. says:
"The rent itself Is insufficient for the neces-
gross amount of rent is about $4,000 per an
mum; but OF this sum there must be paid inter-
est and sinking fund, amounting to sH,6l9 per
annum. upon the seven per cent. bonded in
dehtedness of si23, 900, leaving but s47 ,a9s to
Pay the entire expenses of the department, in
Guiding the laying Of mains to meet the demand
for the supply OF water to the numerous i'm
provements in progress in various parts OF the
city. The tax for water mains, which is paya-
BILE In fre annual Instruments is difficult to col
lect In many cases, as this tax bears but six per
cent. interest. The amount now due from this
source amounts to 100000"
The statement, which is reiterated In other
Official papers, that 1T requires five years for the
maturing OF assessments for the laying of water
mains, is a mistake. 1t requires only three
years and thirty days after main Is laid and
IL is also mistake to suppose that Taxpayers
are encouraged to defer payments for mains be-
cause the debt bears an interest Of only six per
cent. BY prompt payment the interest is saved
10 the tax payer. and he gains also an abtte-
ment Of six per cent. on the entire amount of
the assessment: lSee act of Legislative Assem-
by OF June %, 1879
authorities are required So to meet the demands
for the SUPPLY Of water to the numerous i'm
provements In progress In various parts of the
CITY," is also a mistake. No such obligation
rests upon them, but, on the contrary, the law
provides that water mains shall not be laid along
ceived from the use Of water from such mains
shall yield an immediate return to the city OF
less t an six per cent. per annum on their
cost. (See act OF corporation of June TO- 1881
Another grave mistake is In the demand of
the commissioners for an increase of water
rents In order to obtain revenue to lay new
water mains; The law OF Congress relating
thereto provides" That the tax collected for
water mains shall constitute fund to be used
exclusively to defray the cost Of distribution Of
the water, including all necessary fixtures and
machines connected with said distribution; and
the annual water rates or rents shall constitute
a fund exclusively for the maintenance, man
agement, and repair Of the system of water
distribution" (See act OF Congress approved
1t is by overlooking these and probably other
wholesome provisions OF law, that assessments
for the laying OF water mains have fallen in
arrears to the amount of $4,000. This large
amount Of arrears, the accumulation OF only
eight years, Is, OF course II contractors have
been paid for laying the mains, a debt due from
,cater mains to ,cdtsr rents; and yet, in the face
Of such conclusive evidence Of the suff1clency OF
the water rents for the purposes OF the law, it
Is proposed to increase the rents for the DUR
pose Of laying new mains in contravention OF
law. But there exists other evidence OF the
sufciency OF the rents, as we'll as OF the tax for
water mains, (Which prior to 1873 was thirty per
cent. less than now,) in the experience of the
sold Corporation" 1t adopted the present
rates in 1889, and they remained without change
Until dltcT ltS ui5SOluGlOil, III 1911, ana
during these twelve years, which included
period Of inflated prices, both for
material and labor, there was always a surplus
to the credit OF the water fund, which surplus
ranged In the latter days OF that corporation
from s42. 600 to 81, 0O0 (See the weekly reports
OF the First National Bank, then the depository
OF the corporation, from January to May, 1871,
published in the journals of the sixty-eighth
councfl) The number of water takers u1der
the corporation We're quite limited, ranging
from about twelve hundred In the year 1851 to
yrynf 10 In
water takers now amount to eighteen twenty
thousand, and should afford much larger pro-
portiOnate revenue. The wonder is, therefore
why the department should have become so
embarrassed as to require an increase OF thirty
per cent. or more on water rents In order to en-
able the present government to maintain it.
And, in this connection, another question is
presented: II, By yielding to the present demand
OF the Commissioners, precedent be set OF re-
curing water-takers to defray the expense of
laying mains to the suburbs and other unsettled
parts OF the city, what Is to be the limit to de-
mands OF this nature? May they not be extend
ed for the accommodation OF settlements out
side OF the city boundaries? 1t should be kept
constantly in mind that all OF the laws pertain
ing to the water system contemplated the pay
ment by every locality OF the expense OF sup
plying its own water, and hence water mains,
chargeable upon real estate, were authorized
On petition therefor, and laid on reasonable as
surance that six per cent. on their cost would
be realized from water-takerS on their respec-
tive lines. Thus the people, regarding the en-
actments on the subject In the light Of com
pact, have paid out OF their own pockets for the
laying OF nearly one hundred and fifty miles OF
street MAINS besides defraying the cost OF their
own service pipes and other necessary fixtures
and have also promptly paid the prescribed
water rents. Would 1t not be repugnant to every
sense of equity and justice to make further as
SeSsments, in the form OF increased water rents,
upon these people and their property, for the
purpose Of extending the benefits OF water dis
tr1bution to property In other and distant To-
calities, which has not contributed either
directly or indirectly, a farthing Ia aid OF the
present distribution?
1t is hoped that both the committee and Con-
gress will dispasSiOnately examine the subject.
In all Its bearings, before giving their Sanction
to the pending proposition.
JCSTITI..
AmuScMents, &c.
NATIONAL THEATER.-A dashing performance
OF "Pinafore" was given by Ford'S fine Company
last night. 1t will be remember that the very
last chances to- enjoy this popular opera are
aHOrded this evening and tomorrow afternoon
and evening The house shnnld he crondoa nt