The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-30
Comptroller Indignantly Refuses
to Accept Figures of Manu-
facturers' Secretary.
CHARGE OF FAV0RITiSM MADE.
Water Rate Reduction To BE
Pressed Before the Assembly
According to Il Letter to he
Water Commissioner.

The long controversy between the s..
Louis Manufacturers Association and Ben
G. Adkins, Water Commissioner. and
Comptroller James Y. Player. oyer IN. r,-
ductlon of water rates TO manufacturers.
reached a climax yesterday when Air
Player forwarded reeponsr To Secretary
Charles +. Ware, declaring his opposition
10 the measure FOR the present. and Civ
ing reasons Tor his decision.
The statement from Mr.. Player was o.
casi0ned by Il communication dated E"-
ccmber Y and addressed to Mr Adkins, IN
which Secretary Ware declares that u
bill for adjusting the present water rates
now before the Municipal Assembly Will
be pressed in every possible way"
Mr. Ware states that the association has
decided tie uniform rate of cents for
water used for manufacturing purposes. to
which the Water Commissioner and the
Comptroller agreed some time ago, would
not be fair one to the manufacturers,
and that even the 6-Cent rate. which the
association advocates. would no; lie sat
isfactory as a permanent levy.
1t has been decided to fight the mat
ter to Il finish through the papers and
letter.
Mr.. Ware states that by compgrison he
Is able to show that manufacturers paying
water rates are charged LOO per cent more
Tor their water tndil those paying license
rates. that manufacturers paying license
rates hay. not had the proper rating by
INSPECTORS. that on alleged deficit ,'aused
by certain 'faVuTt d ones receiving their
water at cost has A"eu satisfied by alleged
excessive rates chan gru manufacturers
and that no i'lspec ton o: CONSUMERS using
water ut license rates has been made.
In conclusion he declares that former
t"mmsFI"u': Fl1d Is better qualified 10
tstitnal" tn" cost of operating the 81
LOUIS Water Department than any other
person come ctcd with il. ana as "a consc-
puonCs. Mr.. War" Ignores the figures com
piled by Mr.. Player.
Comptroller Payers letter follows:
Dec =. i:e!. Chares l.. Ware. ESQ Soc
CITY: D"nr Sir | am in receipt of COPY - your
i9;ter Q. the ..t9 instant. u .W#rcr Commits
meier raS@ al cents to manufactures. note
that you state III" scent rate would no' To-" n
fair one To- uscrs ~ water through meters % ard
intimate mat even the Scent rat" which y"u
demand world not be altogether satisfactory
III conversation with yourself and son told
YOU distinctly that as far as / was personally
al this time a lower uniiOitn meter rate tnan
cents u manufacturers. but that thought
We could safely make such reduction during
;he next hssai year without :mpairing the in
teErity OF the Watrrworks fund. At the same
t;me gave your son a copy OF letter which
Water Commissioner Adkins wrote me. setting
forth tho improvements to ard tho extensions
the near future
note the closing parassarh Of your letter in
which you urderscOr" the statement that the
BIZ! now tetgfc the Assembly Will he pressed in
every possible way: and in this connection I
remember that both YOU and your son intiuIated
very broadly that il necessary the question Of
reduction of water rates 20 the manufacturers
world become = political factor in the next
campaign: and. besides that. YOU went further
and not only intirlatCI hut stated as q fact
that voI knew Of instances where favoritisnI in
tho rnstter OF rates. rather the int-o,luct on
Of meters was shown TO certain persons who
had dealings with the administration through
Let me state 10 you frankly that / do not
officials OF the Manufac ttlrers' Aggociation as
basis on which 70 make approrriptIons or re-
serve balances In any Of the revenue funds for
NE ,hs maintenance an1 protection oi any part,S
are In much better position to know the de-
mand' r'! OF the densrtnents OF The city soverr,-
figuring and will make our own estimates. We
have been pretty successful. i, would seem. dur
Ing the past four years in conducting the bust
ness Of the Municipality. and think there is
no trouble IN showing very. clearly that what
the city in the past. and the course we have
pursued will prov" 10 be the bes; policy to fol-
Now. when the Manuracturers Association.
through its officials. IS willing to take this nnes.
eliminating personalities and threats Gf roIt..
ica pull and Influence. /. on Of the officials
talk to them. J'ntI tnon personally viii not
consent - take the cous rrH'ion of the matter
up other basis. or coGrsa / am nriv
speaking for mvsef. II tho WAYS and Means
committees 0f the two houses OF tn. Municipal
Assembly choos" To allow themselves To- he
hui!yrngged. huildozch and subjected 10 polit-
Teal puliI and criticirms into taking steIs u
reduce water rates bcvond the safety point
cannot Interfere. nor / he held rnGIy0ns BILE
Cor 1t. But ! propose to resist as far as in
me lies sny reduction IN rates for til. coInir;
wear beyond the scent meter faic for manu-
featuring purposes. YER truI~ yours.
(Sisnedj JAMES y. PLAYER
Comptroller.