The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-02-26
coLLEcTIoN OF wATER RATEs.

The Board of Freeholders is wrestling
with the water collection problem. a
proposition to appoint Water Assessor
is made, he to go about and ascertain
what rate applies to house or service,
note changes in old and erection Of new
buildings, and the ever-changing rates
payable by water-takers due to domestic
mutations.
1t would seem that the Assessor idea is
a good one. One man can do the whole
duty, and there is enough to keep him
busy all working days. But it would be
necessary and wise to abandon the extra
collectors, and cut off expense rather than
create new charges. When the Water
Assessor reports the rate due from prem
ises, and payable by the owners of the
premises as now, that should govern I'M
til he reports an amendment due to
changes. Then let it become the law and
custom that the payor of the rate shall
come up and pay monthly, quarterly
or as may be deemed best, and if that is
not done shut off the water and refuse to
turn it on to the premises till the dues are
paid up. The making of the water fee a
lien upon the real estate amounts to little.
If disputed it involves law suits. which
cities nearly always lose-that is, vic
tory costs as much usually as the full
amount of the judgment obtained But
to refuse to supply the water until all rates
due from the premises are paid enforces
payment, and is far more economical.
The Collector, with such clerical assist
ance as is necessary, will, under the pro-
posed system, have nothing more to do
than to supervise the work of the office
and to receive the money and keep the
accounts. With number of collectors
to go about collecting the water fees, the
opportunity to favor some and Cypress
others is open constantly. The system
projects an irritable subject into local pol
itics; the Deputy Collectors become small
politicians and bosses, and concern them
selves too much about the loaves and
fishes.
By far the better plan, then, is to re-
quire payment at the office as a condition
for any use of the water supplied. That
will completely settle the question of col
lections and insure payment for service
given by the city, because the deprivation
of IVatar raDdarS ,1roD,isog ,,,o1o rr II
was argued before the Freeholders that
two Deputy Collectors can do all the work
of collecting; that when they call to col
Iect the rate of the payor, if he is not
found, or does not pay, then no second
call should be made, but a notice be left
with him or for him to come, or send to
the Collectors Office and pay up. That
argument defeats itself If it is a good
plan to require payment at the office after
notice, it is a better one to make the no
tice general, and require all payments to
be made at the office, where the Asses
sor's report will be open to inspection and
correction.
1t may not be quite as convenient for
the payers, but it will be very economical
for the city, and thus inure to the direct
benefit of the water takers, since it will
lessen the city expenses without reduc-
ing its revenue. But it will do that other
good thing so necessary to be done-re-
move from political FRACTIONAL activity the
whole question of Deputy Collectors, and
over which the political bosses make such
q scramble every year or two.