Evening star., 1903-07-16

cation respecting the inequita BILE manner in
which water rents are at present levied" "
wrote Mr. King, land suggesting what Is
in my opinion plan more reasonable in its
effect upon all. l herewith submit little
schedule illustrating more clearly the fact
of the inequality and the injustice of the
present method. This is not a SuppOSititiouS
case solely.
The Plans Outlined.
"Plan No. 1 shows a four-room house
with a frontage of sixteen feet two stories
high, with cellar. Under existing schedule
the water rent is $3.50 per annum. Later it
appears that the owner of this house. wish
ing to avo old the WEAKNESS of step climbing,
decided to rearrange the rooms. Plan No
2 shows the same number of rooms, with 4
frontage of thirty-two feet. But under the
per year.
Again the house becoming too warm
the owner removes his kitchen to the cellar,
whereupOn under present schedule covering
rates it becomes u three story house Cellar
being used for domestic purposeS), and the
rent assessed as per existing schedule is $40.
Later room Nc. was turned into a store.
which added 81 more to the annual rent
making it S11. Store proved a failure. Store
was then rearranged as a Doctors office. to
be kept three or four hours per day. The
81 for store charge was deducted. but 6;
(oftice charge) was added, making the rent
s13
This illustration tends to show that by
merely Encouragement of rooms, and no
actual increase in the value of property,
the water rent as levied under the existing
system is increased from $3.50 per year to
Sl3 4 year. Let it be understood that the
house here referred to has but one hydrant
The house and lot used in the Illustration
is worth. say. S1JtO. House alone, worth
$500 On two-thirds assessment of the
same. the general real estate tax is but 50.
The water rent charged is 81 in excess of
the general real estate tax.
The tax that is properly lev.ed should be
equitable and equtably levied from every
standpoint. Is it not clear that the present
system is radically wrong, and that a new
system should be devised; one that would
work justly, no matter what standpoint the
illustration is taken from
Refers to the Schedule.
In the Endorsement made by the Engineer
Commissioners upon these papers, that Off
cial, Col. Biddle. says the answers to the
questions raised by Mr.. King are given in
the schedule of water rents on the back of
water rent bills, and would seem generally
to be very clear.
LAS to the number of stories," says Col
onel Biddlc, 1t is stated that the word
story shall be held to include Easements.
cellars and attics used or fitted out for use
for domestic purposes. 1t is also stated
that in cases where dwelling houses and
tenements are also occupied for business
purposes, the regular domestic rate shall be
charged and business rate III addition. 1t
is also stated that such buildings shall pay
in accordance with fixtures. 1t has been
the custom OF the office where there are 10
hXtureS, TO charge II uniform rate of 81 tor
offices; this has been the custom Since as
far back as the year 1850, when an order of
the Commissioners adopted the rate of s.
for Offices
Private horses are charged for at the
rate of Sl.,tO each. as it is considered that
there is large amount of water USED for
washing carriages and other purposes in
private stables. Horses used for business
purposes are charged for at the rate of -
cents each. as the amount of water used is
considered to be less.
''As to the houses for which rent II as
been increased, the former rates charged
were Incorrect. There is no question bur
that the schedule adopted by the Commits
sic ners requires basement occupied for
domestic purposes to be charged as Il story
even though it may not come To the front
of the house. In great many instances
the number of stories in house in 70 Iner
years, was taken from statemunt of the
owner or his agent when application was
made for water, the office not having sufH-
cient force to check the statement uI. Bat
an effort has been made in the last few
years TO have each house examined by an
inspector from the water registrars Office.
From the report of such an inspect1 il is
evident that the houses mentioned by the
writer are three-Story houses according to
| the schedule. and therefore the charge. for
| this years rent is correct. If the writer
desires to have REORGANIZATION made of
| the houses the Office will have the same
made on request. but apparently there Is no
| necessity for it,
Regarded as Just.
With regard to the general proposition
| of the inequality of the water rates Col.
| Bddle says: