Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-10
THE WATER BILL.
The Commissioners Send Their View
to Chairman Hemphil.

The Commissioners had a board session this
morning and gave final consideration to the
bill ''to abolish water rents for the use of Pol
tomac water for domestic purposes in the Dis
trict OF Columbia" As the result of their
conference this morning they addressed let
ter to Representative Hemphill. chairman of
the House District committee. In this letter
they saids This bill was prepared and sub
mitted by the Commissioners in Difference to
the general sentiment of this community. and.
in view Of the favorable financial condition
and resources of the District, which render
feasible as we'll as desirable the transfer Of
this burden from the water-takers alone to the
general public, except when the use of the
water Is directly connected with the conduct Of
business for profit. In this connection the
Commissioners take occasion to again invite
attention to the following statement of their
views quoted from their letter originally
transmitting the bill to your committee:
"The assessment of these water rents under
the existing law, and the keeping of the records
incident thereto, are effected by assessment
department, under the chief clerk of the water
department, separate from the assessors Office,
with separate complement of clerks and other
official paraphernalia. One Of the results of
the proposed change would be the discontinue
ance of the chief clerks Office of the water de-
partment and the consolidation of the remain
Ing uuties Oh tnat OIUcer WIN tnOse OF the
assessor to which they are germaine, and plac-
ing them under the latter's supervision,
thereby materially conducting to economy and
convenience. The water rent is not permanent
tax, but is a flexible charge. changeable from
year to yesr at the pleasure Of the authorities,
subject to the restriction only that it shall be
sufficient to pay certain liabilities incident to
the extension, maintenance, and operation of
the water department, and never be source of
revenue other than as means of keeping up
in said cities of Washington and Georgetown
supply of water. Whenever the expenses of
this department are augmented there must be
corresponding increase in the yearly charge
upon consumers, and this necessity is the
source of much embarrassment to the authori-
ties and of irritation to the community by the
frequent additions to the water charges, while
the amount of water supplied per house is not
only not increased, but in many cases dimin-
ished, and there is consequently general de-
sire for the abolition of this charge for water
used for domestic purposes
1T is proposed to continue rent charge in
cases where water is used for business purposes
at rate bearing relation to the quantity used,
which can be ascertained with reasonable ac-
curacy by the use of meters or otherwise.
''The Commissioners believe that the amount
of rents that can be collected for wster used
for business purposes, without hardship to the
consumer, will be sufficient to pay ali liabili-
ties on account of the interest and sinking-fund
now chargeable to the revenues derivable from
water rents, and that the ordinary expenses of
pipe distribution in the future can be readily
met out of the general revenues"
The Commissioners further recommend that
the words lin business of any kind, conducted
for purposes of profit" in lines and TO- sec
fully or for other than domestic purposes" in
serted in lien thereof g"