Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-27

The meeting which tho Board of
Water Commissioners held in the rooms
Of the department, at Sixth and King
streets, Monday afternoon, was of UNI
usual interest 10 the average citizen and
taxpayer, both because of the import
ance attached TO several matters brought
60 the attention of the board, and in
consideration OF the fact that it was the
final meeting for the year just drawing
to close, when every one is anxious to
know the exact condition of the finances
Of the Water Department Secretary
Grche'sann report showed that the
Water Department will turn over to the
mayor ana Council of Wilmington this
year clear and above all expenses Il sur
plus OF SAL ,700.51. This will doubtless
; he God.send TO the Republican mem
bers of City Council whose manifest
jugglery OF figures has thus far failed to
conceal the depleted condition of the
! city treasury, although it will not meet
the deficiency.
Secretary Grohe informed the board
that the bill of George II. Sellers, for
$2,602.49, had been countersigned by
the city auditor and the secretary had
evidence that Mr.. Sellers had received |
his money. Mr.. Sellers, who was super
visor Of the construction of the water |
filter, presented his bill to the Water |
/ Department, which the board approved |
and sent to the city auditor. The latter |
refused to audit it on the ground that he |
was not furnished detailed statement |
of the figures governing the cost of the |
filter plant The bill came up for dis |
cussion at the last meeting and President
Porter expressed in emphatic terms his
opinion concerning the arbitrary action
of the city auditor. The board then
passed the bill over that officials head,
The latter realized the blunder he had
made in the interim since the last meet
ing of the board, for he has since audited
the bill and Mr.. Sellers has received tho
money due him.
A communication from two large
brewing firms calling the attention Of
the board to the difference in the water
rate charged manufacturers of malt
liquors and the rate charged other manu-
facturers Of this city, was read by the
secretary and discussed at great length
by the board. The communication was
signed by Charles .. Kurt, general
\ manager of the Hartmann d Fehren-
bach Brewing Co., and Harry J .Stoeekle,
for the estate of Joseph Stoeckle. The
slgners of the communication on behalf
of the brewers of this city, ask that a
uniform water rate be established and
that the present rate of % cents per
cubic feet as charged morocco manu-
facturers be the uniform rate for all
manufacturers in the city. The brewers
in the petition, claim that they are
among the largest consumers Of watec
in the city, and pay annually to the
Water Department about $4,000. The
communication goes on to say:
NIE apu1Iitp rf IA is rI,lo
and not the exception we are Justly en-
titled to the lowest possible rate under
the law governing yourdepartment We
respectfully submit that our business
should bear no greater burden than
other legitimate trades in this city and
that we should receive the same con.
siderntion ut your hands Us do otEel
manufacturers"
The present rate paid by manufac
tnreEs Of malt liquors is so cents pei
1000 cubic feet.
After the communication had beer
read Commissioner Hastings said thu
water rate vas It matter he desired t.
speak about and said that he was doubt
full whether the department had Il RICH
to Disseminate in its charges for water.
President Porter said the rate wa
fixed after great deal Of discussion
and he was in favor of letting it remail
us it is.
Commissioner Pickles said he wa
present when the rate was fixed and
twas done after great deal OF considcra
ton by the board
Commissioner lI0stings-"It seem
to me that we are discriminating b
charging two rates to manufacturers
Some of them have raised objection"
President POrtel--"I think the la
justties our action"
Commissioner Hastings-"lf the ma
ter is taken into court some one IL III
manufacturers whom we charge {
lcents per 1000 cubic feet woUlQ Win Il
case. We have no right TO charge son
80 cents per 900 cubic feet and othe
rs cents Tor the same amount OF water
President Porter-"l don't agree vii
you. the law gives US the power to Il
the rate"
Commissioner Hastings-"I don't 81
that | have all opinion to express
this time. But suppose some manufa
turer who is paying the SO cent "a
should decline to pay more than
cents, and we should shut the water .
lie could take the matter into court al
prosecute US. II is simply Il tax.
President Porter-"It isn't tax
all. 1t is a commodity"
Commissioner Hastings-"lt is a tn
The Water Department is public ms
tuition and We are public officers ley
ing a tax on manufacturers cousumi
the water"
President Portcr--"Hou arc entire
wrong. We deliver SO much water
20 much money, just the same as 4 CO
dealer delivers coal. Its commodi
pure and simple.