The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-22
A MuNICIPAL PROBLEM.

&c one of the interesting questions OF
IN. dav and IL has been an open ques-
ton as TO how far municipality OWL
ing water works. gas works eie0''I0
plants and the like should make pro"'
ont Of those persons who patronize 'he9e
particular departments Of city govern
mont Has a municipality the rlght 10
make money out Of such WORKS! mas
n the right TO use water ana gas anu
electric lights for the public conVeh-
ionce without charging up the cost Oh
the same TO the general expense ao-
count Of municipal government"
This question was raised in the Guy
Of Danvnle several years ago. ana We
are interested TO observe that 'he us
cuseion is now on in full force 4 res
olution has been introduced In the cry
council providing that "from ana amer
the 1gt. of March. 1899, the electric "kD''
gas and water used and provided pS ''''
CITY for public uses and purposes ''
charged 10 the city al the same p'lo'
n which electric light. gas and water are
furnished by tho city to private eau,
zons. and that the cost thereof be polu
out Of the public treasury
Mr. Henry r. Miller a prominent Jaw
yer Of Danvine. in a communication TO
the Register undertakes to sho" ~
good lawyers logic that the resolution
is entirely proper. and that no o'her
course than that outlined in the resolu-
tion IS entirely just to all the taxpayers
~ Danville. lie contends that, taking
M account Of interest charges on the
cost Of the plants. all the disbursements
in the water and light departments are
NOW maid out Of the funds collected from
the citizen patrons Of the departments
for the water and light used by them
and al the end Of the year there is gen
orally left a small cash balance 10 the
credit Of these departments. In o'ner
words Mr.. Miller holds that one class
NJ tax-pavers. to-Wit. those who pat
ronize the water department ana the
light department OF the city, pay INTO
the city treasury sum Of money equal
10 the running expense Of these depart
mems and ar additional sum in profit
which goes TO the general account
whereas the city gets all the water ana
gas and electric light used for the pub
lie convenience without any cost what
ever TO the general taxpayer. IL is
clear Mr.. Miller points out. that this IS
q specles of class legislation, that NE
citizen who patronizes tho water and
gas departments of the city pays more
taxes than the citizen who does not
patronize these departments or TO
quote his own words:
"WhatcVer of tax IS in the water and
ight bills is not imposed i'm ACCORDANCE
with law. It is eXacted not Of AN prop
crty owners equally and uniformly Dul
only OF the patrons of the departments
and these patrons pay not according 10
their property holding. but according 10
their uses and needs OF water and light
n a tax-psver SIS not a patron Of the de-
partmonts. me pays no part whatever or
the costs and expenses of the benefits
that the city takes from the depart
rncnte and so long as this tax Us Kept
I'm the water and light bills the city can
not get any part OF IL from the TAX
payer who is not patron.
There is something 10 bee said on the
other side. For one thing the interest
ON the sum invested in these plants
must be taken into account as well as
the wear and tear on the machinery.
Again. the profits which the city makes
on it's water and gas are turned into
the general account and the patrons Of
the water and gas departments have
their taxes reduced by that amount.
Moreover. there are many patrons Of the
water and gas departments who do not
own city property and pay taxes, and
who are I'm this way made 20 bear por-
ton OF the public burden. Taking all
these things into consideration, We do
not think that where citizens are sup
Piled with a first class article Of water
and gas az a fair price they lose any
thing much under the present system.
Yet there Is no doubt in our mind that
Mr.. Ntiucr's contention IS right in prin-
chile and that the system which he adj
vocates IS The only system which can be
fairly maintained. Water and gas works
are public conveniences. They are not
for the benefit of any one class Of cit
liens They are for the benefit OF the
entire community. No city could get
along without them No city would be
tolerated without lighted streets and an
abundant supply Of water with which
90 wash the sewers and Quench IRE.
Therefore it is but right and proper that
the expense Of constructing such works
should be borne by the general public,
and that the interest on The bonds should
be paid out Of the general fund. Then
to be entirely fair, the cost of maintain
ing these works from year 20 year
should be charged TO the general ace
count. and the municipality and indi-
vidual citizens should pay prime cost
for water and gas consumed. We say
that ON The great American principle Of
equal and uniform taxation no other
system than that which We have out
lined ear be maintained. We are not
prepared 80 say. however. that the
change would be expedient
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Supt. Evans. of tho Richmond Wealth
or Bureau. deserves the thanks Of the
people of this community for the ex-
cellent service he has rendered. He pre-