Evening journal., 1899-03-14
NO TlnE GOVERNOR.

upon Governor Tunnel the necessity |
for yetolng the Pyle water bill. If the
governors action in the matter is die
tated by reason he viii sign the bin
and thereby receive the thanks OF
thousands Of Wilmington men who viii
benefit under its operation. We do not
propose to appeal to the prejudice OF
the governor, but merely to show him
why the bin should be approved.
First-The assessment Of the city Of
Wilmington Is S4O,OOO,OOO.
Second-The tax rate under the gem
eral levy is S1.4O on the 800.
Third-There is no water tax for fire
protection.
Fourth-The present water rates
brought in a revenue OF 100000 in
1895,
Fifth-The expenses of the depart
ment were s62, 600 not counting $4,000
worth Of pipe which was purchased for
use in 1899, 1900 and 1901.
sGxth-That under the general levy
the water consumers and non-con-
sumers pay their proportionate share
OF the taxes for general purposes.
seventh THAT after they have done
this the water surplus is placed in the
general fund, thus compelling the
water consumers to pay into that fund
$50 900 ever and above their fair share
under the general levy.
Eighth-That this keeps down the
tax rate Of non-consumers and those
whose water consumption is dlspropor
Itlonate TO their real estate holdings.
Ninth-That most Of the men who
are endeavoring to defeat the bill not
only get their water at reduced rates
on meter measure, but they own vast
quantities OF property which is escap-
ling It's fair share Of taxation under
this system CT collecting a big water
surplus from one class Of our citizens
and using 1t 70 Keep down the taxes
OF men who own property which either
does not require water. or the assessed
value OF which Is entirely out OF pro-
portion to the water consumption.
Ten.h-That the Pyle water bin pro-
vides a reduction Of 40 per cent. to take
effect in January, 1900.
Eleventh-That that cut will reduce
the surplus about 100000.
!, Twelfth-That fifteen cents on the
500 added to the general assessment
OF sl0.OOO,OOO win bring in just S6O,OOO
/ So that the general fund will remain
unimpaired.
/ Thirteenth-That this 100000 for
D general purposes which is now coming
exclusively from the water consumers.
n win be contributed proportionately
4 under the general levy by water con-
simers and non-consumers.
Fourteenth-II this 40 per cent.
e cut will leave the Water Department
r s62, 600 for expenses and $780, 900 for an
a emergency fuiu.
j, Fifteenth That since 1868, with the
4 exception Of one year, the average an
2 nual increase OF water revenue has
e been $4,000.
n siNeenth-That that natural in
d gcrease in 1899 and 1900 will swell tn,
n emergency fund to $4,000.
,r Seventeenth-That the water con.
,r sumers have contributed TO the genera
"a fund in surplus and interest $500, 900,
le Eig.hteenth--That. despite this, of thl
ls s677 900 worth of water bonds issued
IS 1854 900 remain out and unpaid.
re Ninteenth-That the general funl
is has taken sSO6.OOs from water con
N sumers and only credited them witt
b. sr2S0OO.
Is. Twentieth-That had the Water DE
ry partment spent it's money for it's owl
ed legitimate purposes from year TO yea
IS. there would have been no such out
ed standing Indebtedness.
s. Twenty the interest o
or th-se bonds is paid over and aboy
to the surplus.
,r- Twenty y-second-Tha this BIZ pas.
w. ed the Senate by a vote Of - to 3. tn
It only Wilmington member votin
against 1t being Senator Knox, a r,
Of publican, who is in hearty sympath
ne with the corporations and vacant i,
nd owners, who are diyidirV this wat,
surplus to keep down their taxes undl
yer the general levy.
sci Twsnty-third-iTha it passed n
We House By a vote Of 25 TO 6, with OF
ltic Of its friends absent. The six M,
he who voted against 1t were all. but on
it's Regular Republicans, and the exec
oss ton was a Union Republican. One
the them, Representative Kitchen, stabl
and the Water Departments horses. al
pc gets from $50 to $50 a month fro
be the department The standing OF I
seat other Regular Republican members
aful easily explained by the political cod
'ain p,exion Of the department.
ing Twenty That every Den
,en- lcratic member Of the House with