The Washington times., 1901-08-15
AFFAIRS OF The DISTRICT.
An Exception TO the Regulations
for Assessing Water Rents.
An Old Ruling of the Engineer Com
missioner observation-disclosures Com
paints should he Addressed to
Superintendent of Street Cleaning.

| missioner Revivcd-Gnrbagc Com
pinints should lie Addressed to
Superintendent of street Cleaning.
! ]. II. McCalley, of 123 Seventh Street
| northeast, recently complained of the ex-
| cessive water rent upon his Premises. lie
! stated that the house is 90 feet wide and
! i6 feet in depth. and that it is a two
| story and basement house with two rooms
| only on each floor. He said that when he
! purchased the house the water rent was
$3.50, but now, he says. it has been in
creased to sl1.33 year.
| The matter was referred to the Water
! Department and George F. Green, the
! Registrar, announces that last month he
reported adversely upon an application
from Mr.. McCalley to refund portion of
the rent paid for 53-foot frontage,
because the bill as then stated was in
conformity with the regulations. Con-
tinuing, Mr.. Green says:
1T appears that this is a case where
the water rent. according to the regula-
lions is greatly in excess Of what it
should be, for which reason / recommend
that the office be authorized TO base the
rating upon a frontage of fifteen feet on
the alley, with the distinct understanding
that such action is not intended to give
any ground for action for the refunding
Of any sum already paid in excess of such
frontage"
Capt. Chester Harding, assistant to
the Engineer Commissioner, in forwarding
the above report to the Commissioners
calls attention to the practice of the En-
gineer Department under ruling of the
Engineer Commissioner of several years
standing, that the water rent Is to be
based upon the least dimensions of the
general plan of the house. He says that
in conformity with that ruling the bills
for the present year and for the two years
Immediately preceding are erroneous. and
Captain Harding recommends that bills
based upon the fifteen feet depth of the
house be rendered. and that the amount
paid in excess of the true amounts be re-
funded.
This recommendation has received the
approval of the Engineer Commissioner,
Capt ii. C.. Newcomer acting, and has
been forwarded to the Board.
f. E. Cleaveland. Secretary of the Co.
lumbia Polytechnic Institute for the
Blind, 1903 II Street northwest recently
wrote to the Commissioners relative to
the water rent of the institution He en-
closed bill for the rent and asked what
steps were necessary to secure exemption
from the asse ssment on the ground that
the institute is in the nature of 6 charit-
able institution.
The letter was referred to the Water
Department, and George +. Green, the
Registrar, has reported, calling attention
to the language used in the appropriation
act of June 80 1895. which provides:
THE Commissioners of the District of
Columbia are hereby authorized to fur
nish Potomac water without charge to Or
phan asylums and charity schools
to an amount to be fixed in each case
by the said Commissioners not to exceed
the rate of 100 gallons per average
capita of inmates per diem; and for all
water thus used in excess of such an
amount the institution shall be charged
at the prevailing rate for the use of wa
ter in the District of Columbia"
THE Columbia Polyte clinic Institute for
the Blind" says Mr.. Green, has six in
within the purview of the above cited
act AS the number of inmates will doubt
less be increased In the near future |
respectfully recommend the maximum al
lowance be allowed TO said institution"
Capt Chester Harding the Engineer
H9mGms IS ne n f2rwardng the ABOVE
recommendation that the officials of the
institution be informed that in order TO
secure exemption from water taxes 1t
vice metered, under which circumstances
the Commissioners are authorized to fur
nish water free to an amount not exceed
ing 100 gallons per diem to each inmate.
Captain Harding says that the meter
should be of an approved type and that
il must be furnished and installed by the
institute.