The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-03

SORT OF WATER FAMINE
The Department Absolutely
Crippled by Shortage
of Revenue.
RENTS COME IN SLOWLY
Their Total Amount Is Only
Enough 10 Pay East Jersey
and Interest on the Debt.
RENTS COME In SLOWLY


There was not rush to pay water rents
today Water Registrar Peckham and his
assistant Daniel Smith, were kept busy
yesterday, but payments promise to come
IN slowly. The six re-assess6rs who were
appointed several months ago, have fin
Sished their work and have returned new
and revised assessments which will in
crease the revenue over last year by about
sl3, 900
The receipts last year were Id the neigff-'
borhood of 500 900. This year they may
run up to $725, 900. 1t will require nearly
81, 600, coo to meet the obligations of the
water department this year. OF that sum
between 900 and 900 was left pay
able by the old Street and Water Board.
During the last year efforts were made
to wipe out some of the previous Board s
indebtedness. When about $4,000 had been
paid, City. Treasurer Dickinson announced
that the water account had been exhaust
ed and that he would sanction no more
payments. The Street and Water Com
missioners kept right on auditing claims
and the Finance Board hastened to con-
cur in such claims as were found to be
absolutely correct.
Since last August not a warrant of the
water account has peen signed by the
City Treasurer. Merchants who were
called upon to furnish supplies to the de-
partment protested vigorously and de-
manded payment. With a view to reliev-
ing the situation strenuous efforts were
made by the Street and Water Commits
sioners to enforce the payment of all
water rents which were in arrears. The
arrearages aggregated S2lO,OO0- OF this
sum about one-half was collected. That
was placed to the credit of the water ac-
count, but was soon eaten up by the pay
ment of salaries to the employees of the
department. Now not only are claims
beng hung up but salaries have been
stopped. Water rents became due May j,
but interest will not be charged until
July l. Then only one per cent, will be
added. On September two per cent will
be added, ana on December l three per
cent. will be added. After December 20,
interest at the. rate OF seven per cent.
Will be imposed. Up to noon today only
$36.75 had been paid in.
Those who paid did a lot of kicking. The
last act of the old Republican Street and
Water Board was to raise water rents.
The new reassessors have added little
here and there, and every one VINO has
suffered an Increase is making vigorous
objection.
An effort is to be made to enforce the
payment of water rents this year. The
| first money collected will be set aside by
| the City Treasurer for the payment OF in
terests on the bonded debt of the Water
Department. Provision is next to be
made for the liquidation of the claims OF
! the East Jersey Water Company, which
have accumulated at the rate of about
| $1,000 a day, BY the time these two items
have been disposed of, together aggregat-
| ing 100000 there will not be a dollar re-
mailiing for the payment of the old hung
up claims or for the maintenance of the
department during the fiscal year.
1t has been suggested that the Board
of Finance should raise sufficient money
| by direct taxation to wipe out the indebt-
edness of he department.. Some favor
securing legislation which will permit the
issue of additional bonds. To both propo-
sitiens Mayor Hoos and the Finance
Board object. There is only one way 10
make the water department self-Sustain-
| ing, the Mayor says, and that is by sweep
| ing reductions all along the line. II the
| Street and Water Board is not willing to
reduce the working force of the depart
ment, he says, he will oppose any and
| every movement TO increase the depart
ment debt The Mayor has notified the
| Street and Water Commissioners that ne
wants to confer with them about the fu-
| ture mana cement of the water depart
ment II reductions are not made at
Belleville and High Service, there will
| doubtless be a clash between the Mayor
! and Board.
Corporation Counsel McDermott is back
| ing Mayor Hoos up in his attack upon the
nagement of water department af-
i n