New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-22
TIE NEW WATER RATES DISCUSSED
STRONG OPPOSITION DEVELOPS on THE PRO

| STRONG OPPOSITION DEVELOPS on THE PRO
| PosAL TO INCREASE THE METER RATE.
The weekly meeting Of the Board OF Public I'm
! provements held yesterday afternoon, was almost
entirely devoted discussion OF the proposed new
scale OF water rates. which was brought before
last weeks meeting Of the Board and which was
designed to make the water rates In the different
boroughs uniform. The subject came up yesterday
in the form of a long report from the Commissioner
of Water Supply. William Dalton. The document.
besides being an exhaustive statement Of the
sources of the revenue derived from water supply.
also contained recommends tons from the Commits
soner concerning the proposed new rates -
Brooklyn Mr.. Dalton said: In Brooklyn the law is
mandatory in requiring all expenses for mainte-
ton OF the water debt to be paid from the coilec,
bly, therefore prohibited from establishing any
new scale that thus reduces revenues N brooKlyh.
Concerning the uniform rate Commissioner Dalton
said that both sections and 4'S Of the city char
ter called for uniformity of taxation. So long as
there were differences in the scale for different sec
lions of the city the taxpayer who had TO pay the
right TO be taxed AZ the lowest rate.
tons estimatee. will make the following additions
in bulk 10 the charges In the present Manhattan
and Brooklyn scales;
Frontage for Manhattan and The Bronx by
applying the higher Brooklyn rate the increase
being from 81 TO 81 on houses % certain NM
rate Of Manhattan n 10 cents per 100 cubic - -.
feet In pace Of -. cents e''"o
Charge OF 81 for closet and s. for bath. now
and tn. Bronx .........'..,..... 200 900
50 a cOset and 81 for a bath. now
free or nouGed IN frontage rates Brookyn.. 275OoO
Charge 80 for c.oset and 81 for a bath. now
free or included in frontage rates Queens. 1900
Extending the old New-York charge OF 81 for each
extra family addition 10 one in each house 20
The borough ~ BrooklNn Observation-Disclosures. 10000
~ Observation-Disclosures.
To,oi es,,r,afad $40
The proposal to Increase the meter rate in Brook
lyn aroused opposition. Commissioner Shea
said he thought that an increase in this rate would
be a hardship to the many large iactories and
establishments In Brooklyn which bought their
water by meter. In some places. he said. water
was given away TO foster industry and in Yonkers
only four five cents hundred feet charged
In reply 10 this Commissioner Dalton said that he
did not want 10 saddle excessive rates on any one
but the dollar rate had been charged in the old city
Of Ncw-YOrk for thirty years. and complaint
had 10 his knowledge ever been made Other mem
bers Of the Board were. however inclined TO take
Commissioner Shea's view.
The argument finally closed by President
Peters OF Manhattan offering resolution asking
the opinion Of the Corporation Counsel on several
sections OF the charter and also asking the Con-
OF the water sinking fund When this statement
and opinion received the president OF the Board
OF Public improvements is 10 call special meet
ing to consider the new rate before II goes to the
Municipal Assembly
RESTAURANTS AND LICENSE FEES.