The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-04
WILL REPORT TO BOARD
Complaints of Higher Rates Since the
Taxing Of Water Company.
BUT THE WATER COMPANY SAYS NOT
Officers and Directors Claim That for the Firlt
Time in Ten Years They Are Making
Investigation And Chsrgirg
Accordingly.

Is the Raleigh Water Company
raising the water rents?
This question has agitated the Raj
eighties. Recently complaints have
been made with such persistent fire.
quency that the Water Committee has
decided to- hold meeting and inves-
tigate as to whether there is any
truth in the reports or not.
In the contract made by the Water
Company with the city, the rates are
fixed, and the company has no more
right to raise the rates in any instance
than it has to violate any other city
ordinance.
But complaint has been made with
great frequency and the matter has
been repeatedly brought up in meet
ings of the city aldermen. After dis
cussing the matter at some length at
the July meeting, on motion of Alder
man Drewry, the matter was referred
to the Water Committee, with in
strucions to investigate and report
at th@ next meeting. At this meeting
the matter was called up and motion
madegto drop the matter, but it was
agaiE stated that complaints were be-
ing Abade, and at the committees re-
quesE they were given more time for
theirS Investigations. The absence
fronT5tht city of one of the members
of tlfe-Water Committee had prevent
ed an Eearlier investigation. Notice
was given yesterday, that on next
Thursday afternoon at o'clock, a
meeting will be held in the Mayors
office. The committee desires that
any citizens who may have any com
plants to make will be present, and
they will be given hearing. They
haveSno power to compel the attend
ancev of witnesses, and will simply
hold the meeting to allow any citizen
to make known their complaint. The
Water Company will also be given a
hearing at the same time. From the
evidence taken, the report of the COM
mittee will be made and it will be
acted on on the following night, by
the Board of Aldermen. The commit
tee is very DESTROYS that any one
whose rates have been raised should
attend this meeting, so that a definite
statement may be made to the board
and the matter finally settled.
At the June meeting of the alder
Ilen, III WAS CcClCcO W pldCC thC w
ter Company upon the tax books for
taxation. Until this time the company
had paid no tax and the city had been
supplied with water free. After the
listing of the company's property,
the city paid for its water at the same
rate as individuals. 1t is said that the
difference was largely in favor of the
city. 1t is said the tax of the Water
Company will approximate $1,000,
while the city used less than 5000
worth of water.
At the July meeting of the Board
of Commissioners, complaints of
higher water rents were first made.
Alderman Drewry stated that com
plant had been made to him by a
number of persons that the water
rents had been largely increased dur
ing the month. number of other
aldermen stated that similar com
plants had been made to them. In
one instance the increase in the rent
being stated as 800 per cent. The fact
that these complaints were made in
in one month after the company had
been placed on the tax books, lent col
or to the charge that the company
were trying to make back the taxes
they paid by the increase.
One of the directors of the Water
Company was seen last night in re-