Evening journal., 1899-02-04

are now nestled on the bosom Of Pat
rick Neary, were wondering what u
do, Senator Pyle had prepared his bin
reducing the water rates OF the city 40
per cent Patrick Neary himself as
sisted in the preparation Of this BILL
He made certain suggestions which the
friends OF cheap water gladly accept |
ed. recognizing their practical worth.
This bill provides that the reduction
Of 40 per cent shall take effect On Jan
uary 1. 1900. That was Patrick Neary 5
suggestion. There were Others who
favored compelling the Board of Water
Commissioners to disgorge 40 per cent.
of the collections made this year. but
Mr. Neary gave excellent reasons why
this should not be done. They were
that to make the reduction go into ef-
feet on January /, 1900 would give
the two departments a year in which
to adjust themselves 10 the new con-
ditions; that the tax rate increase un-
der the general levy would be made
In an off year when 1t could not be
used as a political bugaboo, with
which to scare City .Councllmen, and
that, it being an economic and net a
political question, It should not be
used to jeopardize the interests of
either political party at the approach
ing city election. There was no hesi-
fancy in accepting these suggestions
Then the published schedule Of water
rates was taken and a uniform cut OF
40 per cent made, that figure being
suggested to Mr.. Neary and meeting
with his approval The only excep-
ton made in that cut was in case OF
vessels, which pay five cents a caslx
for water Instead OF making that
three cents, It was retained at five
cents. The water meter rates were
left as they were, such large con-
sumers already obtaining the full
benefit Of 40 per cent. cut. This is
the bill, and now let us study its ef-
feet. Last year the receipts OF the.
department were $4,000. They will be
the same, or more, THE year. The ex-
penses last year were $4,000. After
making the 40 per cent. cut the reve-
nue. In 1900 win be sos S,OOO That Will
meet $4,000 expense and leave
surplus Of $4,000, TO be used for emer-
gency purposes. The surplus this year
will be about 100000. city Council
has already received the 1898 surplus
Of $4,000, which was $4,000 more
than the estimate Then, why
this complaint IN 1900 City
Council will increase the gen
eral tax rate to make up the $780,
900 deficiency, and consumers and non
CONSUMERS will stand on an equal tax
footing The Water Department viii
have all the money It needs and $780,
600 besides; City Council viii have
just as much revenue and the differ
ence will be that the water consumers
will not be paying 100000, Of which
non-consumers Of water should bear
their proportionate share. No one
= would suffer but the nOn-consumers OF
water who are now escaping a large
part OF their just burden OF taxation.
Then these three men who are nes-
T tied on the bosom Of Patrick Neary
raised their reverend faces to high
heaven and said: "There is nobody
y back Of this bill. It will never do
Give us Patrick Neary's water meter
+ bill. We have the Brandywlne creek
= fu. Of water We have reservoirs
d with capacity sufficient to meet the
s requirements for many years to come
q We have pumps with sufficient capa.
; city to pump water for a city twice
r this size. We have everything W,
3 need; but let us put measure OF
: the water Of the poorer classes Of oui
r people Let us make them regret
!, every time they turn the faucet, fiuei
the convenience or use the pave-wash
4 Let us put premium on filth and dis
/ comfort, and raise the meter rates af
s ter the Legislature has adjourned. w,
i- want the Neary meter bill. We wan
g Il to compel us to do what we can d,
e OF our own voiiton. We want it 70
e bluff. We know that we have ful
IL power to place these meters in, bu
n we want to fool the Legislature. 1
i is going to do something TO us, an,
d We viii ask it to do something whicl
u we can do for ourselves II we want to
i State Senator John Pyle IS nobody
IS he water consumers Of the city ar
a nobody, and hence there is nobod
back Of Senator Pyle'e bill"
" And then these three men who ar
y nestled so comfortably on the expan
3 sive bosom Of Patrick Neary lock int
n his eyes and say: See what we hav
D. done for you. We have endorsed you
% meter bill" And then Patrick Near
Of looks into the beseeching eyes Of thes
he three men who are nesting on hi