The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-06
Protests Likely to be Regis
 tered Before Council.
waterworko Superintendent Declares That Excess Charges are Due to Defective Plumbing Upon
 Premises of Sufferers.

Many citizens of Montgomery are con- piaining of what they term exorbitant charges for water by the city water
 works. They declare that the municipal
 administration is requiring citizens to pay excessive chargss for water In order that the revenues may be increased, and, in
 fine. that the city officials are attempting to run the government successfully by cver-charging for water. and thereby seeking to protect the city administra- ton against larger deficits.
 The Montgomery system of water works Is owned and operated by the city The Superintendent of the water works sys- tenn. answering these complaints by citi- zens. says that excess charges are made only where an excess of water Is used and that the matter is regulated entire ly by the consumer; that If furnished with statement of each complaint, he can make proper explanation of the cause of the excess charge.
 The City Council will hold it's regular
 monthly meeting Monday evening at 8
 o'clock, and 1t is likely this matter of ex- cess charges for water will be presented to the Aldermen by more than one citi- zen who feels that he has a grievance. The ordinance regulating the city water works provides for minimum meter rate of 8 per quarter for 20.000 gallons of wa ter. All water used over 10000 gallons is termed excess water and is charged for accordingly. The city is liable only for breaks in the street pipes. All water es-
 caping on account of breaks in the pipes on the premises of the consumer is,
 therefore, to be charged to the consumer.
 The Superintendent of the water works
 contends that in nearly every case of ex- cess charges for water where complaint Is lodged, 1t has been discovered, upon in- vestigation, that there were breaks in the
 water pipes on the premises of the con- sumer. Consequently he holds that iIn-
 der the city ordinances 1t is his plain duty
 to require the consumer whose water
 bills are correspondingly increased to pay the excess charge.
 Of course theie ere consumers. such as
 hotels and livery stables. who expect ex- cess bills but these are rot among the complainants It is tho consumer who
 has a small family who has been. in the
 majority in registering complaints where l his water bill has averaged 8 and A each cusrter for "cxcess charges" Sonae of these consumers vehemenIly declare that these excess charges are unreasonable, 1 al d unfair.
 1 While the question of ex cess wat 1T | charges has been discussed in all its phases in Montgomery since the city ac- quired the water works system, 1t has become more intense during the past few days owing to the fact that just at this | time consumers are paying their water ! bills for the quarter beginning July 1. "I shall never complain about and am
 willing to pay my part of the expenses of our city government economically ad- /, ninistered," said Hon. J. K. Jackson | Private Secretary to Governor Jelks yes | terday. Tn the last few days" contin- | ued Mir Jackson numbers of our best | and most conservative citizens have fully | criticised our water department. am charged with an excess of more than Sl for water at my residence during the quarter just endei. l did not use that much water and I keep my plumbing in | good condition
 MT. Jackson lives at 40 South Perry Street. He said that several weeks ago upon his arrival at his home from his office, he saw a negro workman busily engaged on a water meter in front of his
 residence Upon inquiry Mir Jackson said | he learned that 1t was the meter for his residence He asked the negro what was
 the trouble with the meter.
 | You ain't using enough water" MT
 Jackson says the negro replied. "and I've l got to take tniS Heter to lhe olioe ohV | see what is the matter with 1t" | The negro took the meter away. | Since that time have had excess
 water bills" said MT. Jackson.
 Asked for an Interview as to the exces!
 water rates, MT. David Fleming, Presi | dent of the City Council, said:
 "I am at present paying twenty-five
 more per cent for water per quarter thar
 paid two years ago. At that time
 paid $3O a quarter, but the bill has SC
 increased that l now pay $40 quarter.
 This. however, Is due to the fact,
 think that I had fixed rate two year:
 ago, whereas I now pay by the meter rate. The water, of course, came cheap
 CT under a fixed rate than under meter l rate"
 In response to statement as to hi. experience, Judge w. H. Thomas saic | that he could not say that his water | bills had lately been excessive. The