Evening journal., 1899-01-17
TUESDAY. JAN. II, 1899.
wArER DEPARTMENTS Apollo
GIST.

We have received from some person,
signing himself Taxpayer the fol-
lowing communication:
Mr.. Editor: The Every Evening Of
Saturday contains a caustic criticism
OF the new city charter bill, combined
with a defense OF the Water Depart
ment. The promoters of charter leg
islationmay not be entirely right in the
course they are taking, but it Is evil
dent that they aim to give Whining
ton a better form Of government. If ]
understand their attitude toward the
Water Department they do not intend
to abolish that department, but only
10 reduce its expenses and bring about
a reduction OF the present high water
rates. That the rates are higher than
they should be Is demonstrated by the
large surplus accumulated each year
The favorite Democrtlc argument in
every national contest for years has
been that a government should raise
by taxation only such sum as may be
required to meet the expense OF an
administration economically conduct
ed. But here, right in our local gov
ernment we are asked to believe that
the people should be taxed more than
double to create an annual surplus.
There Is an Inconsistency about this
that needs to be cleared up. The
WaterDepartment as ofDemocraticcre-
alton and If it is to be continued Il Is
only fair that 1t cut down the chargee
for water, otherwise the Democratic
party in Wilmington must amend lts
platform.
III is not our practice to give public.
ity to anonymous letters which we re-
ceiye, but the above contains much
that is worthy OF public pc
raisal. The writer must be not only a
water consumer. but also a person who
keeps in touch with the drift OF public
affairs. We wish W say to him tha,
The editorial lexicon OF the Ever,
hNening contains no such words IA
honesty, fairness and consistency. II ia
nnder its present management. a der.
riment rather than pubsc use. Ii,
every instance its editorial policy is 10
he found running counter to the hest
public opinion. It's editorial articles
on city, county and state affairs are
based on its day-book and ledger. and
on It's list OF past and present PERSONA
grievances. No man who is not dis
posed to knuckle and truclkle to the
wnims and fancies Of the owner OF the
Every Evening need expect either fair
or kindly consideration in it's col.
umns.
We challenge the Every Evening to
come out and oppose the new city char
ter bin In its entirety or in any vital
particular. We challenge it to become
the champion of Board OF Water
Commissioners. which reports ex.
penditures amounting, in round fe
ures, to $4,000, and a surplus OF Sse.
200 collected from water consumers
and diverted from It's proper uses t.
those OF the general fund. There IL
no department Of our city government
which so clearly demonstrates the
need Of a new city charter than the
Water Department. It has everythine
1t needs, pays liberal salaries to its
employees, and by its extortionate -atee
squeezes from water consumers $3.50
more than it needs; and not only re-
sorts to such extoEtion, but compounds
The wrong by permitting the surplus tc
De used to keep down the taxes OF non.
consumers Of water. Does the Every
Evening presume 10 defend such
course? Cur correspondent is right II
his understanding. The charter bill
which has been approved by th,
Board OF Trade Of Wilmington doe.
not contemplate abolshing the depart
menr but It does contemplate doing
away with a commission when
no mauer what ils member
may be in private hgliness life
has demonstrated its utter unwillingnes
TO administer with an equal hand tn
public affairs which have been entrust
ed to its care. It IS time to abolisl
such commission. This is not par
tisan matter Democrats, Regular Re
pubhcans and Union Republicans alik
consume city water. and when the
know that they are not only payin
twice as much as they should 70
water, but nearly $4,000 besides, an
that that extraordinary surplus is be
ing used to keep down the tax rate q
non-consumers Of water for the benef
Of city councilmen, who are only too gla
to obtain such relief, partisan line
viii be lest sight Of and the waite
consumers will stand shoulder
shoulder in a demand that the rat,
be reduced not less than SO per cen
and the burden Of taxation under n
general levy placed where it properl
belongs. Can such matter as thi
which affects every water consumer
the city. be made a matter Of par
tbntention9 II is plain matter
business, and commOnsense will IL