Smyrna times., 1903-05-20
COUNCIL SEEMS INCLINED
TOWARD METER SYSTEM
WILL NOT FIX PROPERTY TAX RATE UNTIL
ELECTRIC LIGHT RATES AXE SETTLED.


Majority Of Council Favorable 10 Introducing
Meter System and Others Want to Tax
Property 40 cents on the $l0O.
The Smyrna Town Council held an
adjourned meeting last Friday even
ing to discuss the fixing of the tax
rate for the coming year. Over three
hours was spent in a free parliament
tary discussion but nothing, was done
and finally the Council decided to
postpone action until the next regular
meeting which will be next Friday
evening. This was really done at the
request of Chairman Grieves of the
Light and Water Committee. who
stated that he had written to Middle
town, Lewes and other towns to ascer-
tain the basis of making rates for
electric lights. He had not heard
from them and after consulting his
committee they were of the opinion
that it would be wise to get sufficient
data on the subject before making
rates, One thing is almost certain and
that is there will be some changes in
electric light rates.
Wants Town Put on Meter System.
Chairman Grieves is strongly in
favor of putting the town on the meter
system and making the consumers pay
for what they use. Under such a sys-
tenn there is every reason to suppose
that economy would be used, and if
that the plant would be so relieved
from the heavy load that it would not
be necessary to go to the expense of
purchasing a new dynamo and boiler.
He declared that if we could lop off 20
per cent. by use of the meter system,
the present boilers, which are in an
excellent condition, would be sufficient
to carry the load. The meter system
was being introduced all over the
state with satisfactory results, and
Chairman Grieves was opposed to
placing burden on the tax payers to
meet a condition which the electric
light consumers got the benefit of.
Smyrna now has lower rates than any
town on the peninsula, and with the
service they were getting he thought
said consumers should pay more than
coal oil prices.
Reynolds Urges Tax Rate 4Oc. on SlOO.
Councilman Reynolds was opposed to
the meter spstem and stated that he
had consulted with some of the heav-
lest takers and they were not willing
to stand heavier tax than they were
now paying. He felt satisfied then,
that an increase in lights would drive
some of the best and heaviest custo-
mers away and he did not think the
town could very well afford to lose
them. He was in favor of increasing
the tax rate on property to 40c. on .the
hundred dollars, and thought that this
with the revenues from the Light,
Water and Sewer Departments would
be ample to meet expenses and leave
surplus in the treasury. One reason
ne advanced for keeping the electric
light rates the same, was the competi-
ton of the Smyrna Coal Gas Company.
de averred that the meter system OF
an increase in electric light rates
would cause many of the best con-
sumers to take their iEcandesceni
lamps out and go back to gas or coal
OIL. Councilman Stockly thought
that 35c. on the hundred was enough
to tax property and that more reve
nue. should be raised by the electric
hight system. The meter system
seemed to make the most favorable
impression and considerable time was
taken up in discussing this side of the
question. To get enough meters tC
supply the town it will cost from $500
to $1,000, but then if the economy
used in the meter system will save the
extra expense of bonding the towr
$4,000 to purchase a new boiler and
dynamo and other necessary improve
ments, it is a matter of most serious
thought and consideration. Dover
which recently adopted the meter sys
TEN charges 10 cents per killawatt anC
some towns are even higher. Should
smyrna decide to adopt the meter sys
tenn, 1t will be either 8 or 10 cents.
Total Assessment as Revised Is SI,OSs, ,25S.
Secretary Grieves stated that tn,
IoWn Assessment as revised after ap
peals were altered, amounted in full