The Washington times., 1895-03-29
CHARGES Gin Be REDUCED
Lydecker Tunnel Debt Drains
the Water Department.
BURDENS OF POOR PEOPLE
They Form More Than Half the Burden
Bearers-Ratss Kept High Because Con-
gress Requires the District to Use the Sur
plus IN Paying for Something 1t Did Not
Get-No Need for Haste in Liz quidating It.

The imminence OF water famine is not
the only phase of the water problem to
which the attention of District citizens
has OF late been attracted. The discussion
OF ways and means for ayerting the threat
ened depletion OF the supply haG started u
train OF thought that extends beyond the
Great Falls dam and its proposed elevation,
and that includes great deal more than
the projected test of the Lydecker tunnel.
The subject, prominent in the minds OF
many is not alone the needed increase in the
volume of the Potomac supply, but rs well,
how 20 accomplish reduction in the con-
sumer's taxes.
1t is admitted that the water rates are
not Of themselves exorbitant, but the fact
is shown that there is every year an aug
mentation Of the District surplus revenues.
This accumulation, the tax payers say, Is
not consistent with the principles OF good
government, in view of the fact that there
is constant demand for public improve
ments, and heavy debt, with Il PROPOSE
tfOn to increase ii.
1t is urged that the charges for water,
already reasonable, can be reduced to
still lower figure without detrment TO
the service; TO the point, for example, that
will meet the actual expense Of maintain
ing the system, and no more
REGULATION OF RATES.
The schedule of water rents is fixed by
the Commissioners OF tie District, under
the authroity conferred by act of Congress
approved June 10, 1879, and the rates for
domestic purposes are regulated according
to the number, Of stories and front feet
respectively Of their dwellings. Upon
all tenements two stories high, with a front
width Of sixteen feet or less, the charge
is $3.50 per annum; for each additional
front foot, or fraction thereof % cents, and
for each additional story or part thereof,
one third of the charges first quoted.
For general purposes, where dwellings
and business houses are combined, the
regular charge for domestic use, accord
ing to the foregoing rates, have the addition
OF SPECIAL charges, which vary in amounts
from So TO $50 per annuTn, whie q one
inch jet attached 10 a fountain. VI rther
on lawn or in business luase, ~
rated at : so peranlam, with sInaiIcf hizes
in proportion.
The number OF subscribers listed on the
books OF the water department up TO the
close OF business on Tuesday OF the present
week was 3,237. The aggregate OF
revenue derived fram the collections through
that department slast year was S245,
500 90. or within Ia fraction OF a quarter
of million of money. IL is alleged that
much more than half of this ,amotant is
collected from persons OF modest incomes.
Since tie creation of the somewhat IA
nous Lydecker tunnel, still non-produstiye,
there has been an annual charge upon the
water fund, to fquidate the liability in
Cured, amounting TO about $50. zoe.
NO NECESSITY FOR HASTE.
This general surplus, which the Taxpayers
of the District created, reached a point
where its bulk attracted tie attention of
Congress, which body, in tic exercise OF
its vested power, appropriated therefrom
5000, coo Tor each orrtwo years toward
the. discharge of the Lydecker debt, and
,thaEe was stlli a balaEceleetsin the Treas
ury to the credit of the fund.
- Itais claimed that there was no necessity
for haste in paying Off the Lydecker obi
CATION, the original contract granting
twenty-five years time in which To extin-
guish It, the payments to be made iii equal
annual instailments.
Ii 8 further claimed that had the $780, !
600 of surplus been augmented by the appro
priation of an equal amount from the general
government, according To the terms OF the
partnership agreement aud the total sumde
voted to punlic improvements, there would /
have been a corresponding increase in the
sewerage facilities and street paving, it is
contended, in sections no W neglected.
II is said, also, from pretty good authority
thatthe main reasonCongre sshadforiumping
on the general surplus was to avoid the ap
preparation of the general governments
share OF any fund that mig hit have thus have
been devoted to district uses.
The aggregate, for the two years, that
wasapplied to the Lydecker debt, W it'll a like
amount on the government side, would be
81 leo 600, almost one-sixth OF the bond
issue which Congress was recently asked to
authorize. At tue rate of 100000 an
nually, therefore, as the taxpayers argae,
the needed improvements to sewers and
streets, for which che 81 SEQ, 900 loan was
asked. could be made and paid for before
the dawning of the year 1900.
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