Evening journal., 1899-03-04
CAN THEY AFFORD 1T?


The state Serate has done its fun
duty by the water consumers OF the
city OF Wilmington. BY a vote of 13 to
g it passed the Pyle water bill yester-
day afternoon, and III the Wilmington
members II the House do their duty it
will become a law. The fight for
cheaper waiter is only half won, and
now that the senate has passed It by
such a nattering vote we may expect
to see these who are interested in It's
defeat bring an their forces to bear en-
the House members to encompass its
defeat in the lower branch. Repreeen-
ltatives Burns, Robertson, Donahoe,
lNlcNulty and HHchen cannot afford to
vote against the interests Of their con-
stituents for the sake OF the few in
terested corporations who are averse
ta paying their fair share Of taxes un-
der the genera, levy. Bvery man in
their respective districts who owns his
lltte home should demand that they
vote to relieve them of this onerous
burden Of taxation-of this $500 ci
water surplus which they are being
compelled to pay into the general fund
70 keep down the tax levy of the RICH
est persons In the city OF Wilmington.
II there Is a man I'm Wilmington who
does not want HIS water tax reduced 40
per cent, let him advocate the defeat
OF the bill If he wants his water tax
reduced 40 per cent, let him stand back
OF the bill
"a department. which has expenses OF
S62 900; a revenue Of 100000; a real
surplus of $4,000; and a declared sur
plus Of $4,000, and which uncomplain-
ingly turns over that $4,000 to City
Ccuncil for general purposes after the
water consumers have contributed
their fair share to that general fund
needs a reIbuke along business lines
and it has received Ut at the hands OF
The State Senate.
100000 of money contributed exclu-
s.wely 10y water consumers to the gen.
eral fund for general purposes must be
defective.
NJ is all weA enough to talk about
waiter bonds and interest, but we must
bear in mind that not until this time
has any particular interest been mani
Tested in those matters. There have
been twelve water loans, aggregatine
SS77, COO. lAt the end Of the present
fiscal year the water consumers will
have paid a surplus amounting to al
least $645CO00 In the face IL that
faet there are $5i5,OcO Of those water
bonds remaining out and unpaid. This
demonstrates conclusively that she in.
terost-in the water bonds is OF recent
origin and Tor the sake Of leg.slatiy,
exped.ency. Talk about interest! il
there any interest table which VII
c-ver such an extraordinary system o.
hnanciering? Loans which could have
been redeemed years ago are still bear
ing interest. Loans which would neyel
have been contracted had the watel
congumens' money been properly ap
piled, still figure on the interest list
Are the water consumers to be pre
lsumed to pay Off these bonds owe
lagain? Are they to be charged witt
Interest on. water bonds which shour,
never have been sold, or which ehOul,
have been redeemed years ago? Th,
water consumers have contributed tn
money necessary to pay on those bond
and K has been misapplied and use,
for general purposes TO keep down th'
taxes OF the non-consumers Of water
the owners of vacant l.ts and thos
whose property holdings are dispro
) portionate to the water rates paid
There are the conditions. and II IN.
. WLmington members cf the House cal
) afford to stand in opposition to givin.
= the water consumers in their district
/ the benefit Of this 40 per cent. rodue
p tion In ddfcrenco 20 the demand Of Ger
e tain & rporatione which share in tina
FS6 0o0 water surplus, We shall be yer
/ much surprised