Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-13


THE FREE-WATE1 BILL.
Iss Prsvisseus ~ Finally Agreed Upsn
~ the Co00issiensrss
rAH srIL SENT WITH LRrrIx TO coNeRBas-RIAsoNs
pHoaD 4oR ADotfsnuo DOMESTIC wATn 1AfRs--
WATER usuD FoR Busunsa YuRrosBs 70 n
cHAAoKD 1oR, ETC
The District Commissioner have nnisnsd their
eonAdsration Of the so-called 'free-water" btll'
ana to-day sent IL TO the two District committees
OF Congress with the following letter: 1.-THE Com
misNonerA In accordance with the general senti-
msot OF the citizens of the District have prepared
ana nave the honor to transmit herewith, with
recommendation for favorable action thereon, 3
oran OF . bill TO abolish rents for the use Of
trict Of Columbia
THE mt act OF Congress authorizing the use by
tne lats corporations OF Washington and George
town Of the water furnished through the aqueduct
charge for the supply and use Of said water, but
only gave them the necessary authority 70 do So
Of Potomac water 70 the inSaoitsnts Of soss ci1ss
Snouid not involve any expense upon the United
states The corporation Of Washington BY its or
charges for SUCH use and dsvoiysd upon the water
registrar the duty OF enforcing their collection
ordinance for the collection Of annual rates Tor the
use OF water By an ordinance approved May g.
lSSe. loan Of $50 COO was authorized to meet the
expense OF the Introduction and maintenance OF
the water establishment and Its redemption In
.oor 3anoai instruments OF Is cents each provided
foo og sae evy Of water tax OF 90 cents per front
the water-ma,ns were laid. This act also provided
Tor committee 10 plan distribution OF the water
law is faithfully executed By the councils and the
citlzens, they will a. the expiration OF four years.
rNOt ofr in hfo oNN VIII INF to
OF !. WEIGH against the District Of Columbia and
Timothy Lubey tEquity No. 512O, 80 Macarthur
orainsnce fcr the collection Of water rates in
0eorgetown was In force (prior to July II, 1875
no Waler rates have been collected from persons
Ine COLLECTION OF these water rents under the
existing law and the keeping OF the records incl
gent thereto. are effected by an assessment de-
partment under the cn1ef clerk OF the water Office
separate from the assessors office with separate
superintendent. complement OF clerks and other
proposed change would be the dlscontinuance Of
Inc chief clerks ONCE OF the water department.
ana consolidation or the remaining duties or that
omcer Win those OF the assessor, to which they
are germane, ana placing them under the Iatters
supervision, thereby materially conducting TO
economy and convenience
"Ihe water rent Is not q permanent tax, but is
nekloie Charge, changeabie from year 70 year at
tue pleasure Of the authorities subject 10 the re-
Strctl0nS only That 1t shall be sufficlent TO nav
certain liabilities incident 10 the extension main
tenance and operation or the water department,
anu never be a source OF revenue other than as q
means OF Keeping up In said cities Of Washington
anu SeorgetoWn supply OF water.
"Wheneyer the expenses Of this department are
augmented there must be a corresponding In
crease IN the yearly charge upon consumers and
THIS necessity Is the source 0I much emparrass-
ment 10 the authorities and OF Irritation TO the
community Dy the frequent additions 10 the water
cnafges, " bile the AMOUNT OF water supplied per
house rs not only not increased, but in many
SaSss dininlshed and there Is consequently
water USED Tor domestic purposes II is proposed
10 con 1nue rent charge In cases where water is
USED Tor business purposes at rate bearing rela-
uon TO the quantity used, which can be ascer
tained with reasonable accuracy by the use OF the
meters or otherwise.
"lhe commissioners believe TINT the aynoune NJ
rents That can DE collected for water used for Dust
nesS purposes without hardship to the consumer
VIM oe sumclent 70 pay all liabilities ON account
OF t0e interest and sinking fund now charHeable
10 tAe revenues derivable IRON water rents, and
that Inc ordinary expenses OF pipe distribution In
Ine future can readily 10 met out OF the general
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL
Ine provisions Of the bill, which have been modi-
ned some since it was originally drawn by Mr..
Wheatley, are as follows:
That from and after the 3Oth day June, A. D..
1852, no charge oy way OF rent, or rate or other
wise, shall De made or collected from any person
oy The District OF Columbia or the commissioners
,ncr s .or tne n use OF FSsomae water In said Dis
mlsaloners, said Potomac water Is used In
business. OF any ktud conducted for pur-
| 1880 Va PoAS III WHICH case Jle au.
tnorty OF the said Commissioners as to
rates or rents shall remain as under existing law.
ana mat from aud after said date the cost OF sup
plying potomac water to the Inhabitants OF the
District OF Columbia, with said exception and the
cost OF interest and sinking FUND on water-stOck
b0nds, and on account Of Increasing the water
supply Under act OF July 10, 1882, shall be Charged
| 10 ana betrayed out OF the same fund and In the
| same manner as other general expenses or said
D,strlct: PROVIDED, however, that this act shall
not extend or apply TO assessments for water
mains winch snail continue as under existing law
! mat all rents Tor wafer and All taxes for water
mains shall b. collected by The collector OF taxes
on bills prepared by the assessor OF the Dtstrlct
and by him furnished 20 the persons liaUle there
Tor, ana the amounts thereof when collected snail
De deposited and applied as general taxes In said
District; that all provisions OF law requiring Do
| uuon OF property owners as o condition precedent
10 tne laying OF water mains are hereby repealed
and the commissioners Of the District VI Columbia
water mains In any portion Of the District OF
Columbia as In their judgment the efficiency Of
Inc service shall require and the al yropr1ation
therefor warrant; that any person who shall tn
the District Of Columbia, commit waste or the
fotomac water supplied from the Washington
Aqueduct or Potomac Water Works shall be
deemed guilty OF q misdemeanor, and shall on
conviction thereof, be ine0 not TO exceed 300 or
snail oe imprisoned not 10 exceed thirty days or
tnat nothing herein contained snail In any wise
Affect any existing power OF the proper authority
IN SAID District 10 shut on the supply OF water In
all cases where waste ID committed"
10 Look After ahe Liquor DeaIers.
TEMPERANCE PEOPLE FORMING AN ASSOCIATIONS.
m nj