Evening journal., 1899-01-03

and a Democratic City Council
Let us leave the past and look to
the future. Give the commissioners &c.
6oS92 for an emergency fund, cut the
present schedule in two. and they stllll
have an the money they need to run
the Water Department. The other
$77, ,229.7O remains in the pockets of the
water consumers, where It properly be-
longs. Not all ofit mind you, but most
Of it, for CITY Council, being deprived
Of this very convenient source Of epe-
cial revenue for general purposes, Will
have to increase the tax rate to meet
this deficiency, but consumers OF water
viii only pay their fair and proper
tionate share Of the Increase. The own
ers of vacant lots and other property
which does not come beneath the per.
vue Of the Board OF Water Commits
sioners will pay their fair share, and
the consumers Of water will be saving
many thousands of dollars. The Water
Department would not suffer by such
reform; the consumers Of water would
benefit their numbers be augmented
by reason Of the cheapness OF the ser
vice; the Brandywine is a practically
inexhaustble source OF supply and the
additional expense Of enlarglng and
extending the service would be fully
met by the increased patronage Of the
department. Persons who are now
paying s10O for water would pay but
$50; those paying $50 would pay but
S25' those paying s25 would pay but
$3.50, and those paying $3.50 would
pay but S625. The cut would hold good
from one end of the schedule OF rates
to the other, and the department would
not be harmed, but rather benefited
and, In addition to that, It would be at
tending strictly to it's own business
not interfering with that Of City Coun-
ell, and be in no position to be accused
OF taxing one class Of our citizens for a
specific purpose and for their own pe.
culiar benefit and. after taking from
them nny-dve per cent. more money
nan ii should, turning it over to ely
Council to ease the burden OF persons
Who 80 not contribute a cent 10 the
support OF The Water Department
suppose that, at thc end of the year
1899, the emergency FUND of s9,6O3. 92
anna fr,.s tp4,ucho1 rf.t..4 Al. -..
derived in addition to that has been
ample to meet all requirements as it
was during 1895 It should still be
kept TO the credit Of the consumers Of
waiter and for use the next year. ii
needed II not needed, then in such an
event, buginees sense would dictate
that unless an extraordinary expendi.
ture Of that sum over and above the
regular revenue Is meditated, in fixing
the rates for the year 1900 no provision
should be made for an emergency fund
which is already in hand, but that they
bo reduced to such a degree that that
additional and unnecessary sum be not
collected, but permitted to remain
where st rightly belongs-in the pock-
cts OF the consumers Of water. BY the
adoption Of such an honest business
course in dealing with its patrons the
Water Department would be doing
simple justice--nothing more. It would
have all the money it needed, and what
more can It ask? We do not believe
that even the Water Commissioned
themselves viii contend that these fig.
ures and the propositions based OF
them are not correct. They them
selves supplied the figures. and tn,
propositions are purely mathematical.
The Board Of Water Commissioner
may say that If City Council is de
prived Of this surplus - will have t
raise the tax rate. Suppose It does
and it probably willis it the duty O
the Board OF Water Commissioners I,
put its hands into the pockets Of tn,
consumers Of water and make up 70
City Council a fund to enable 1t, 70
] political purposes, to keep down tn
general taxes Of non-consumers O
! water who pay only their fair proper
tionate share under the general levy
, he burden Of general taxation faltn
/ on the water consumers, who have E
1 own improved property before they ar
subject to water tax? We think no
We do not think that the Wafer Com
missioners themselves thiak so. Tn
owners Of unimproved or other pror
erty which does not come within tn
reach Of the Board OF Water Comml.
n eioneIs may say so; but they won
, think so. IL would be mental disten
per if they did.
The general tax levy and the wat,
tax should be kept separate and. d,
tinot. They have nothing to do wit
\ each other Nothing but the graspin
endercy of the Water Department h,
formed a bond between them. Collec
:, ing, as it did, more money than
y needed or knew what to do with, u
rHrrI