Arizona republican., 1903-12-12
Dodging the Revenue Question.

furnishes a revenue not exceeding
and confronted with figures that can
not be disputed and which show that
were the city to get all the business
its plant would be operated at Il loss,
the managers of the bond campaign
take refuge in the statement that the
water company conceals something;
that its receipts must be greater than
it Cl&ins. ~
Why didn't the Citizens committee
investigate Why didn't they send such
reliable accountants as w. c. Foster
and ~ ]. Rice with a committee OF
their own members to ascertain the
truth?
These men, or any other intelligent
committee could have ascertained in
two hours or less just what the reve
nues are The list of customers could
have been examined, and footing
made of their total payments TO the
water company each month.
And there are a dozen men around
town rYho Rave stcted as collectors at
enc time or another for the water COM
pcny. but are now engaged 'n other
business. All of them have always
agreed that the company's gross re-
ceipts aggregate about So 400 a month.
With considerable cunning some of
the leaders of the Citizens committee
insisted upon complicatiiig this prob
lem with an inquiry into the cost Of
the plant-an entirely irrelevant and
immaterial question at this time-a
question which would be important
only in case negotiations we're On for
the purchase of the plant. Such an IN
quiry. of course. would consume much
time.
But we fepeat-a complete list Of the
company's customers and the total
revenue derived from them could have
been ascertained in two hours.
Why was rot this done? Why was
superintendent Heaps invitation for a
dozen men to come and examine his
records on this point ignored?
1t was ignored because it was known
that Harry Heap was telling the truth
when he said the gross revenues Ct
the company did not exceed SiOCC0 a
year.
The invitation was ignored because
it was known that the result OF the
investigation would destroy the whole
fabric of the bond proposition.
It was ignored because the leaders
knew that to operate city plant
would cost at least $1,000 a month or
$4,000 Il year for fuel alone; and for
wages and repairs in addition to fuel,
IS, 500 more, or s17,5OO a year; that to
this must be added $4,000 for interest
$4,000 for sinking fund, and $4,1CO for
hydrant rentals to the water company
which cannot be cvaGed, or total
actual cash outlay of siS,6OO annually.
year after year; that to this must
be added s15,OGO a year for depreciation
of plant, or staggering total of $685.
eco year for cost OF operation.
The invitation was ignored because
the leaders knew that frightul de-
felt would have to be acknowledged
for the city plant when It was ascer-
tanned beyond their further bluffing
that $4,000 was the gross revenue.
And they were still less inclined to
have the facts brought formally before
the public when they remembered
that along with these figures the pub
lie would digest the fact that the city
|
than half of this revenue Of $4,000 a
year, when competing with the water
company.
And they knew, finally that this
gross revenue could not be increased.
because it would be shown that at this
very time the water company is col
lecting. water rentals from every house
and tent and shack in the entire city,
additions and suburbs. except an in
significant total of "a houses.
1t is much mere comfortable, in fact,
to ignore the question of revenue and
taxation, and say Tell with the wa
ter company"
But One " ay to Pay Taxes.