New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-22
DALTON DEFEATS HOLAHAN
LOWER WATER RATE ADOPTED BY THE
BOARD OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
COMMISSIONER OF WATER SUPPLY MAIN
TAINs THAT THE DEPARTMENT is AND
WILL BE SELF-sUPPoRTING.

TAINs THAT THE DEPARTMENT is AND
WILL BE sELF-suPPoRTING.
President Maurice F. Holahan and Commits
sioner Dalton of the Department OF Water Sup
ply, were arrayed against each other yesterday
afternoon at the meeting of the Board of Public
improvements over the adoption OF the new uni
form water rate Commissioner Daltons report
was 50 lower than the other. and after heated
discussion the lower rate was adopted
IL provides for a uniform scale Of water rents
with q sliding scale from frontage of sixteen
feet 10 fifty feet and from one story to five
stories. This is on the basis Of one family, with
81 a year for each extra family. One bath
and one water closet allowed each house.
but additional baths to be So and water
closets 81 President Holahan. Bridge Commits
sioner Shea and Deputy Controller Levey voted
against the minority report. Commissioner Dal-
ton was congratulated on the result.
communication from the Controller which
showed the financial workings of the Water De-
partment for the lest year was read and opened
the discussion. The Controllers figures gave the
income for the year at Sc 215 900 and the operat-
ing expenses s., CO., 600. deficit left at
the end of the year of S1.215.000, which
caused by payments 10 the funded and bonded
debts.
DALTON DISPUTES THE CONTROLLER.
A communication from the Commissioner of
Water Supply which disputed certain statements
of the Controller read. 1t is in part fol-
lows:
The Controllers statement is for the year 1896
II shows balance of 1926 94s go for the sinking
fund. after deducting the cost of maintenance and
as The amount required in 1895 to anortze the prn-
cipal of the water debt, leaving a deficit OF ST.
/ maintain that from the viewpoint of sound
municipal finance these figures sustain the state
that the Tater System Is n0W and w Of an
tenance INTEREST CHARGES and adequate support Of
present scale of rates or 10 the scale presented by
me at your meeting On Jenuary 81: l VIII go fur
rnent made by the Controller in recent public
e h but Pu0 source Of gTo1 o tSs S SRy
At a meeting of the Board on May s, 1885. a de
yng The tOta st zig gate 9 debt at s 81
him as available for the sinking fund in 1885
amounts 10 2.62 per cent Of this debt. On general
nancer viii aueston the Absolute suceney Of
this percentage for amortizing the debt.
TWENTY YEAR LIMITATION DENOUNCED.
L am aware that this point I will be met with
amended in 1894 limits the period for the redemp-
iS2 7s g was required as a sinking fund install
nent in 1925 to comply with this constitutional re-
ouirement / DO not hesitate 10 characterize this
requirement as arbitrary, unreasonable and OPP
principles Of municipal finance and in this l am
confident of the concurrence of the Controller.
/ propose 10 show, however that this alb
furd limitation does not necessitate increase of
charges in a scale OF rents.
that the entire water debt shall be redeemed out
ter specifically requires the Board of Estimat-
sep ec 70 lne5n0f IN efeh annual 9o6
ers OF the Sinking Fund shall certify 10 be neces-
demption of city bonds falling due. This has been
second-so FAR as it concerns the water debt this
provision of the charter has been, and will
way. with the exception of the Brooklyn system
the cost Of maintaining and operating our water
tax leVies, end not out of the water revenue.
AVAILABLE FOR THE SINKING FUND.
to Sosrta the syan BILE fSs
The account should stand follows:
Receipts from water revenue as reported by
Cost Of maintenance BROOKLYN 80
Interest ss5ss pa PAD on 5 Water o
F9 nc: s sysis sss f ae aso sH ie
Total Sc s52
Cost Of mai msn. ss69 ox. Brooklyn a.s.s
Interest Ter on Water bonds t taking aa m so7 81
Balance sinking fund. So, 11s. 7s1
The increase in water revenue for 1899 over the
1ondroIers statement OF receipt for 1898 is s4S6,,
increase Of $4,000 IN the water revenue for suc
snd buildings, without increased charges in new
viii therefore weld urens for e Tor , so9
greater by several hundred thousand dollars than
the s., ,279 90 required in 1888
II the surplus water revenue of the old city of
YORK since 1865 had been applied exclusively to the
smoruZation OF the water debt, and diverted TO
ii the redemption OF other municipal obligations the
present water debt would be about SIG 900 less
2 tnsn the amount stated by the Controller in Nav
100000. ~ D0 i0O"0eu ny
II the water revenue received credit in accord
ance with the established charges for the water
which this Department furnished free Of charge to
AZ other city departments. buildings and Offices
me annual revenue would be increased about S5o1 :
,SU WITHOUT including the Fire Department and the
Department of Street Cleaning In the former cIfv
or brooklyn some Of the charges for this wa ter
supply were paid into the water revenue
HoLAHAN ANSWERS HANSEN
President Holahan made the statement that
under the minority rate the people of New-York
would get water cheaper than those Of anv civ
in the world. Before we get through with this
want the people TO know that they are not to
be burdened with unreasonable water tax ="
he declared.
Deputy Controller LeYey pointed out how his
office stood IN the matter. He declared that the
law requiring water bonds to mature within
twenty years was responsible for the differ
ence OF opinion.
Ex-Sherin E. J. H. Hansen obtained the priv
ieges OF the floor, and 1t was proved TO him by
President Holahan that he had no ground for
any objection at all. The eX-Sherih said he