The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-19

Total $s4oWS
II might be noted in this connection that
cel is the cost OF the fireboat, which was
struggled into existence as d part or the
water department. No one. I presume.
Will contend that the water department
should maintain the fire department
Section I OF the ordinance provides spe-
cifically for the payment OF interest. |
quote from the ordinance: ''To provide
for the payment Of interest on said bonds
there is hereby levied. set apart and spe-
officially appropriated an annual tax OF
sia mills on each dollars worth or proper
~. real personal and mixed. with said
city OF Seattle $50 such tax TO be assessed
70 become due and TO be collected an
nually, until interest and principal OF said
bonds are fully paid up and discharged
as other taxes are levied and collected for
general municipal purposes" The other
issue OF bonds for water purposes was
authorized by ordinance No. 1,s7i. ap-
proved February >. 1892, ratified by vote
OF the people on March 7. 1892. The amount
was sos. 600. and was applied for improv-
ing pumping station and distributing sys-
tenn. Section reads: There shall be
levied each year by the city coun-
Gil OF said city. in its annual
tax lew tax upon all prop
nrfv in said city taxable for the payment
Of said bonds as may be issued in pur-
suance Of this ordinance. sufficient TO pay
the interest on such bonds as the same
shall accrue. and the amount or such
tax so collected shall be by the treasurer
of said city credited TO a special fund Tor
the pavrnent Of interest on such bonds.
and provides ''that no part OF IL shall be
diverted to any other purpose"
These two bond issues make up the en-
tire bonded debt Of the city incurred for
water purposes. The council and the peo-
ple have declared by their votes how the
interest shall be raised, and how PAID,
and any attempt 20 make the water con-
sumers carry burden incurred by the
whole city. by an express vote. is with
out authority. Moreover. the tax levies
Of the city during the past FIVE years
viii prove these interest levies were
made This year they were % mills,
and the transfers from the water re-
CENTS have been in The nature OF loans
70 the city 10 provide funds 20 make UP
for delinquency In tax collections In
other words. the water fund. made M
from the monthly payments OF the water
consumer with the shut-on man always
I'm prospect. has served AS a bank 70 make
up for the delinquency Of real estate
taxes It Is unnecessary TO add that
those loans" "a they are called. are
never returned. and my statement mat
the s1rplus il applied to general city ex-
rensrs is the plain truth or the mater.
7 rresurne OF course. that the CITY ON
cia1s do their duty. and credit moneys
collected % the proper FUNDS. ana 90 not
,,sa the money levied and collected Tor
sneClTc purpose - any other. IL this IN
,er.s. "a Maid once. why should the sur
rl,,s uafar revenues he used 70 pay X
arafrp II il needless 70 say they are nov.
y NAY he argued that the water con
a,,r~,e~z should carry this burden. II :
svrrcjAot answer that the people voted
o,na-vv4sa and plainly DECLARED that the
~@fe ait 80 VA
Z, WHY should the water consumers,
the owners and renters. carry this nNT-
sav7 WHO owns the water plant o. tHis
~it,+ tha consumers or the entFe CITY
Has not the owner Of every vacant Aol
along a nine lire In this city received ~
added value 20 - property oy reason @
,ha mourning OF the water deat. ana
-he.,ts he not be taxed for his share o.
,ho -os+e Even where there are no pipe
,,res the property has ar added value,
Ns,o,,ss within The limits ~ a city own
srw = water plant capable Of extension AZ
snail expense 20 any part % the city
", afse state that about tleaV9 mas
-. - ,or extensions 81 Tire water
.-...-. ara ;hRt portion cannot Re con-
1890 a. diverted from the fund. can
-. 800 with you Is there single
,-.its lesson Why the owners or tenant.
aI9~- one strAe; should pay the cost 81
laying a main on another street. Sacn
rfzn
Re than TO use II for interest, but u Is
eli 10 proner charge against the water
-e@.fc,s Extensions ~ the system are
sir,niv AsfifiouS 20 ire plant, and should
- horne BY the entire city. just as fhe
original first cost ~ ire plant was SuP-
r,9xe TIE city council we're TO TX sever
80 ~ r. Per month uron every house
having a sewer connection. laying no tax
~ -ats mon Intervening vacant lots. AMI
should AMY the receipts % paving the
fn,eres. On the bonded sewer oeos O.
building rev sewers IN other streets
S7lch a nerwsrSi1n - IRE taxing authority
would rot - tolerated, and yet the dis
r,s~ftser Of the funds reeesved from wa
Ter rates nzs been largely upon Just this
basis
a., thoroughly aware that ira use O,
ire annual surplus fer th~ construction
of the cedar river gravity system = open.
~ a measure. 80 ire ssna~ ossectaSns
have bean urging. BIT there Is tais vita!