Daily Republican., 1883-05-25

The Every Evening has at last been
compelled to give some figures intended
TO show that the expense of running the
Water Department Of the city by Mr..
Mclnure aud his handy tripod Commits
sion will not exceed the cost Of running
it uuUer The present management by
the City Council. 1t fails to make such
showing by its own admissions and
its own figures We will use those
figures and "a few more that it has ne
elected. In the first place it says the
Council estimate is $40, 600 tor "A water
Appropriation orrect, but it is likely
10 be less-lt cannot be more. To this
it says should be added s., 100 for sa%-
paper Engineer and his Commits
sion, 81, 800 tor the first and $500 each
for the latter-total s., 100. We beg our
contemporary pardon, this amount
has nothing to do with it. 81 200 of it
is new money provided to pay the Wa
ter Commission and the increase Of the
Chief Engineers salary Only $500
should under any circumstances be ad-
ded TO the $4,000 appropriation, but
even that would make no difference in
the general tax rate, as it is included in
the Council appropriation for salaries,
and as the city pays the salaries it mat
ters not what appropriation it comes ont
of. But for the sake of argument W..
will give the Water Commission the
advantage of the 5000 and add it to the
estimated appropriation, So, 600, which
will make S45, 800. To this we will add
the Every Evenings item Of So 900
interest money, which includes s., 200
interest on the 500, 900 water right loan,
and which We believe is about correct.
We will also allow the 81, 600 sinking
fund appropriation, making in all ST.,
800 as the estimated Council expense for
carrying on the Water Works
4NoN ltl us lboh d. Lilt DlltT Slut. III
the first place the Water Commission
takes the whole of the revenue from the
Water Department, $85 900. In the next
place the Commission takes from the
city by taxing it so, 600 outright for the
water it uses. This III ust be added to
the So, 200 estimated revenue, making
in all 500, 900 To this must be- added
1920 at least increase of salaries
making 500, 200. But this is not ALL
The Water Commission is given the
power to borrow Sl2O, 600 tor Immediate
repairs and the extension Of water
mains. The interest on this amount al
four and a halt per cent. would be- s., 400
which Of course must be added to SlO6,
200 making Slll,GUO.
Now we are prepared to strike "a bal
ance. Under the present City Counci
plan the expenses of the Water Depart
ment cannot exceed $50, 800. Under
the plan Of the paper Chief Engineer OF
the Water Department and his little
Commission, the expense will be SILL
600. subtract from the latter SS6, 900,
and S24, 100 remain. Without hrlng
very minute or particular about other
items, which would run the latter
amount up 10 $4,000, our readers can
see tor themselves that the increase 81
EXPENSES to the city would at least b,
81, 100. This amount would have to be
collected in some manner from tn, AK
payers Of the city. g 900 Of il would |
have to be raised by direct taxation by
the city, Tue balance and as much |
more "a, is needed, wuuld have to be
raised by the new concern, when it get :,
possession, by al inCrets oI Watrrrrnt,
Any way We look at It the pcuplc have
10 pay it, and all they have 10 pay over
and above what they have been rHylu,,
annually, viii have 10 be- .aid to th.
charge ct 'h- tribune DhaI wants 10 run
the Water Works. Is rucr" reason and
force in our rSurcI or not Let the |
people Judge, The taxpayers vii, |
know and feel it when they come 10 pay !
their taxes ard their wafer rents
THE City Council had perfect del |
~" II Ia" Not might, First came the
Ions windy opinion Of Clty Solicitor
IurArr ''..LI the CRY Council that IN"
Water Commission was vUI -tifuiiOual |