The morning news., 1897-07-08
WATER METERS NO MORE.
THE COMPLAINT OF THE KICkERS
WAS THEIR DEATH BLOW.


.boudon the Meter system The
r;,v treasurer VIII be Notified To-
dov Of the Action Taken, and the
Ruline VIII Be Effective From July
tst-The Kick Was Too Strong for
+be Meters to Stay-Plenty of Evil
dencc of Their Ineficiency.
The water meter is a thing of the past.
The water commissioners met yester-
,7.v afternoon and heard the complaints
of citizens residing on streets where the
meters have been used for the last SIX
,,ontbs and after investigating the
charges against the system, the board
determined promptly to abolish all meters
IN the city and restore at once the former
eystem of ad valorem fees for water ser
,,iee to take effect from July l.
Prior 70 the meeting of the commission
ers. meeting of citizens interested was
held to organize the movement to induce
the board to do away with the meters.
Tho meeting was largely attended and the
feeling against the meter system was
forcefIllv manifested. The meeting was
held in the city council room. Mr. Will
liam B. Stllwen was chosen chairman,
and Mr.. ]. M. Guerard was made secre-
tary
The purpose of the meeting was explain
ed and Mr. T. H. Mcmillan moved that
committee of five be appointed to go be-
fore the commissioners and make the
COMPLAINT in behalf of the property own
ers interested and appeal that the water
meters be abolished. The committee as
appointed, consisted of t. H. Mcmillan,
Wright Hunter, G. w. owens, Frank j.
Kulman and John Lyons.
The commissioners were in their room
waiting to hear the complaint. Mr. w. L.
Gigniliat, representing the committee, be-
Ing the chosen promulgator of the move
ment, addressed the commissioners and
read the protest and petition, which put
the case of the anti-meter men very clear
". The protest was signed by Wright
Hunter, T. H. Mcmillan, Frank j. Kul-
man. George w. Owens and John Lyons,
and is as follows:
THE feeling of opposition to the meter
system is widespread, and is by no means
restricted to those upon whom the expert
ment has been tried. A general canvass
would show thousands who are opposed to
It.
"A very limited canvass, conducted in a
few moments that could be spared from
other duties, and seriously obstructed by
the recent public holiday, has developed
the fact that the opposition to the system
is almost universal.
THE advocates of the system admit that
they favor it solely because they save
money by it.
The opponents of the system, with but
few exceptions, object to the system on
the ground Of the public health and well
fare. Many of them also oppose the sys-
TEN on account of the defective work of
the meters themselves, resulting in unin-
territorial, but none the less serious, irreg-
ularity and injustice. However perfect
the meter may be theoretically, the evil
dence is overwhelming that, in practical
use it is simply a failure.
1T is difficult to find man (even among
those who favor the system) that believes
he is paying for just what he uses-neither
more not less-while there is abundant
testimony before you that variation in the
amount Of water used on premises does not
produce corresponding change in the
charges made up from the meter.
The most glaring Inconsistencies have
come to light, and frequent reductions and
changes in bills rendered have been made
Ihe mechanism is liable to get caught
anu cease to register for a shorter or
longer period; while on the other hand,
varying pressure, or other circumstance
Is haDle to cause it to register largely in
excess OF the amount of water passing
through it. Like the other meters IL Gre
ates universal dissatisfaction. and the peo
PIE nave no confidence in 1t as a true meas
ure.
we request your serious consideration
VI i,, 'he personal statements which
WIN be made when this men,
.tl olIal Is presented; to the letters from
o+SI' Ie VINO are absent: and to the numer-
ouS.y signed petitions and protests re-
tN'SuhG the removal of the meters. and
INV lure abandonment Of that system
h ttoae requests, coming as they do from
F"s aIcldhs who have made disease and its
ne-t teuuon study, and from men promi-
Vor, =. every department of the city's
n mn ana energy, call for reflection
e Iuese protests voice no siclxlv senti-
C,,,Sily' and arise neither from false
tba Suy OF iractious opposition, but give
danrg.ep Ieellng of a people who deem IL
ci,g.us gus TO trifie with the health of their
W6, anu unjust to adhere to a system by
Others u'e pay Tor less than they get
eet sor great deal more than they
- ana the general result Is unoertainty
aims ~ 'oai'y' This, too. when the law
ana W a' ana seeks to provide a uniform
dealt t -. rule wherever the citizen is
"Tbis 'll' oy assessment and taxation.
bloo5' Us protest made by flesh and
tha a. .ue next protest may come from
terror '" ,n specter whose very name As a
wcrSs 70 every southern city. The water
the nro were paid for by taxation, and are
fo- tbbi9'per'y OF the citizens, to be used
IRON, ''S,l S,l comfort, and for their protection
'"r, -'s.ase' as well as fire.
con.i3. cement Of profit is of secondary
conner.saa..loni but no possible profit could
proncr,,.a ne Tor the loss Of valuable lives
wogId land ana prestige, which the city
"Enviras,'eain 10 case Of an epidemic
this ~. 'Gnment must be considered in
anoiber H an other matters. or Il will be
Henrs "a. Ease Oike that cited by the late
viii " Grady. In which The nortb
white sa aii ,a the example and the meters
De Tho 4'l c.I mat the south can furnish viii
healtb 1.a.a9ount eo is this consideration q,
IN ,,. 30 dangerous is Il no exner,yaou, s.Tn y,
conseone,'yof iraught with such ferrIbie
selyes-t6is,ts TO to the experimentors, them
ana n IVA la' We urge. In our own nsmes
~. prorr, names Of our citlzens oenersS,
your borpn'.laind b,p' ana final action on The mart 80
WITH ,G'VIa apie body which ,.t,i = F.s ~ y.