Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-01-03
Abolish the " ater Commission.

As the City Council Of Wilmington
10 Democratic, and under the present
gerry nander OF the wards likely To re-
main 80 for some time TO come, we can
hardly be accused of an extreme lean
ing to the Republican party, when We
call upon the Legislature to abolish the
Water Commission and remand the
charge of the Water Department Of our
city back to the control Of the City
Council, where 1t should be left. We
advocate the abolition of the Commits
sion hrst because it was organized to
put = Democratic leader into per-
maneut Office which the people decided
At the ballot-box he should no longer
I'LL, and second, because 1t is self ovi-
dent that the Commission will entail
an additional expense to the city that
must result in additional taxation. -
Under the old system the appropriation
of $40, 900 tor the Water Department
WAS found to be amply suffic .ent to
carry on the works. Under the pre-
sent system it is evident the whole
revenue of the department. $50, 900 will
be required. This involves the raising
OF the tax-rate next year TO not less than
$l.75 on the 500. People are now com
planning of the high taxes of the present
year but they should save their COM
plants until next year. The present
fiscal year will end with deficit OF
something like $40, 900, and this deficit
has been caused chiefly by the opera
lions Of the Water commission. 1t is
well-known that the Legislature is to
Be asked TO authorize loan of $4,000
70 meet the deficit, but how is that to
aid the tax payers It will have to be
paid of some time.
At the least il will require abou,
8 900 additional to the interest ap
preparation, annually, without any de-
crease of the principal. Even If it be
provided to pay of $4,000 of the prin
cipal annually, that will only entail
heavier taxation, and will not remove
the cause OF the creation of the year
deficit. Egeey year there will be- the sam,
kind OF dencit 10 meet, more or less
perhaps in amount.
This is all caused by the Water Com
mission. Inc small expense incurred
by Republican resistance to the Water
Commission going into effect, is but al
atom of the aggregated additional OK
pense of supporting the Wate
Commission. Enough is now known
TO convince the people that i
II too costly an arrangement TO keel
up. If the people are satisfied to pay
tax rate OF Sl.75 within ten cents o
what Philadelphia pays, including he
ten cent tax for the new public build
ing, the city and the Water Commission
may both be carried on for a few year
~ that rate
1t is now known that it is impossi bl,
20 meet the expenses OF the city an,
keep up the Water Commission ON
less tax rate than Sl.I5. Anythinl
less will only leave a glazing deficit a
the end of every fiscal year
The only way TO meet this difficulty
and reduce the expenses of the city i,
70 abolish the present Water Com
mission, OF provide for Com mission
ioss expensive, and one in which tn
people will have some say. The legis
iative committee of the City Council
should make an early move to brin
this matter before the Legislature i
the early days OF Its session, aud Will
asking tor the right To borrow $40, 90
10 pay OFT the present deficit, ask an,
urge that the cause which led to th
deficit, and will end in deficit ever
year, 10 AbDhsued.