Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-03-02

proving The Water Department requires
the undivided attention Of some competent
business man, and that he be held accounta-
bic for results. The City Council has been
kept largely In the dark as to condition
of its affairs, aud has never, at least of late
years, taken them into serious consideration.
The members of the Water Committee are
seldom or never brought together to deliber-
ate upon its affairs, except possibly in rela-
tion to some contract or job.
There arc some consumers who seem to
think the department was run principally Tor
their convenience and pccuniary profit, and
the management has seemed to encourage
them in such belicf-if they are referred TO
here it will be only in general terms and not
for censure-for they, like all the rest OF
US, are justified in buying supplies as cheap
as possible AS has been before publicly stat
ed one consumer, some years since, but undtr
the present management, had water for some
years for $500 while the superintendent OF the
department estimated TINT it cost the city
$1,000 per year to pump the same. The
integrity of the consumer impellcd him after
wards to provide partial supply from other
sources. Another consumer who for years
paid $500 per year was successful recently
under recommendation of the committee In
getting his rate fixed at $500. There are
timated charges, for special services, have
one and half to two inch pipes connecting
their places with the city pipes, when the
city has not even a cut OFF 10 such service
pipe, and when the street pipe with which
their connection is made is cut of for re-
pairs while they are not using it Tor their
special service are nevertheless obliged TO
shut down business. There are others pump
ing their own supplies in part whose pumps
are largely imperative and who almost
under the eye of the committee and supcrln-
tcndent use a full supply of city water with
out so much as saying by your leave. There
are others who though having meters to
measure the water consumed, and having 1t
too at the lowest rates, whose meters have
been discovered to have been tempered with
so as not to register cor-ecty-wh at other
times take water from places where it could
not be measured to them, and all this is known
to the superintendent and committee. The
employees of the department report such
things to proper officers, but no one IS prose
cutcd under the ordinance applicable to
such cases. No one is reprimandcd for
such irregular conduct, and no one
invited to make just payment for
water so used and matters grow worse as
time rolls on. Reductions discounts and al
lowances are made apparently by reason oil
favorltism. Consumers who at one time
could get no reduction or discount after
change of social or business relations get
such allowances. Other consumers have had
water for more than two years, against whom
no bill has ever been made and no rate fixed,
and no vote or order that water should be
free.
More than half the water pumped is uscd
for purposes that were not contemplated
when the works were constructed, and is SC
used without paying any proper share, II any
at all, of maintaining the works.
| If half OF thrcc-fourhs of the water pump
ed is used for other than the legitimate pur
poses for which the works were constructed
the city should insist on receiving
fair compensation for such water
There is no justice in making the common
people pay for the water for the large con
sumers more than there was few years age
in making the poor pay the taxes for tho
rich
The principal difficulty comes from ''estimdt
cd rates" to large consumers, rates which are
a scandaous disgrace TO the common sense
and integrity of the persons who made then
whoever they may have been.
II the city is in the gift business let !. bt
done in business way, and let 1t be known
how much il gives, and to whom.
1t is understood by the civil service rules
in vogue in the departments in the city to be
piece of impertincncc for any member to
say word or do thing other than by way
of assent to what the chairman says ant
does.
No explanation is vouched, no refcrenc,
made, no investigation is ordered when sucl
facts as are stated herein are declared il
City Council as was recently done.
In presenting this matter, since it has ap
peared to many as matter of mere pcrvcrse
ness, it has seemed wise to present one sid
with its full forcc.-All which is respectful
ly submitted.
| A,nup