Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-11-06
rHD WATER WORKS COMMIT.
TEE

THE WATER WORKS COMMIT.
TEE.
We believe the joint committee on
water tax assessments meets tonight
for the consideration Of the ordinances
regulating the water rents Of the city for
another year.
A good deal Of public interest will DO
given their action. There Is very gen.
eral feeling that the water tax ordinance
now in force is unnecessary and extor-
tionate. -------
A levy Of about $4,000 is made upon
the people every year, professedly Tor
the expenses Of the water works, which
Council knows in advance will be about
SOS 900 more than is necessary to defray
the expenses OF that institution, and
which Council and the people know has
not heretofore been applied TO the ex'
penses of the water works.
IL constitutes a very unequal tax
upon the property holder and non prop
erlv holder. The latter bears the prin-
cipal part OF the burden, not because he
derives more or as much benefit from it
as the property holder does, but simply
because an arbitrary and unjust assess
ment is made upon him.
There can be no pretence on the face
of the ordinance that this tax is intend
ed 10 bear alike on all classes Of citizens
in proportion to the benefit derived from
it.
There can be no pretence that 1t Is
Levied with any reference to the proper
~ interests OF thosewho must pay for
il.
There is and can be no pretence that
the tax levied and paid into the city
treasury for this purpose is applied to
this purpose or that the amount is nee
essary for this purpose.
We do not question that the excess
over and above the amount necessary to
defray the expenses OF the Water Works,
is a part OF the city revenue that has
been needed for legitimate expenses,
and il not obtained in this way, must be
in some other.
But why not in some other way?
WHY is il necessary to deceive the peo-
pie in order to obtain the necessary rev.
enus for the city expenses? Why is 1t
necessary to tax man ior water and
then :2ply his tax to the streets? Why
is it necessary to tax class OF citizens
excessively upon what they do not use
in order to make them pay for some
thing they do not use.
Would it not, in fact, be more straight
forward, more equitable, and more sat
isfactory to the public; would it not,
above all, better exhibit the good or bad
policy of the city government, to raise
sufficient money directly and distinctly
for every subject OF public expense?
The p6op'e would then understand
that they were paying so much tax for
streets; so much tax for water; so much
tax for salaries, &C., and they would not
be hoodwinked. They would know
when to kick against a tax, and when to
commend it. They would know, when
the collector came around, how much
money they were called upon to invest
in muddy streets, or in muddy water, or
in other muddy enterprises. They
would be clear upon the application of
the money, whether the enterprise was
muddy or not. BY such course the
public would become better acquainted
with the extent and direction OF the pub
lie expenditures.
There is a legitimate way OF raising
revenue and an illegitimate one. We
regard the course with the water tax as
illegitimate. A better method could be
pursued. The revision OF the ordinance
80 as to make the revenue from the water
serve only its legitimate expenses, will
correct the whole wrong and open the
way to more satisfactory plan OF OBJ
tanning revenue. As long as the water
rents bring in an excess OF revenue
which serves to pay the expenses Of
some other department there will be nc
effort made to compel that other depart
ment to stand on its own merits. We
will have better streets, better water
AMI better management generally in the
different departments OF the govern
ment, and Cor less money, when each
department goes before the people, SC
to speak, asking for the money required
Il