Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-09
ABOUT THE METERS
Rent Payer Doesn't Want Burden
 10 Fall on Him.

Editor Of the Democrat
 In one paper and another there are notices and warnings Of various kinds calling taxpayers and prop erty owners" here and there to at tend meetings to take action upon this proposition to install meters broadcast. Evidently it has not struck the rent paper that he is tho man who pays the taxes, just as tho man who sweeps the crossings pays for all. When taxes go up, up also go rents, and some property owners" and taxpayers" see in this sugges- tion of metering houses first-class opportunity to raise rents still high- CT. Every rent payer in this state must admit, because he has the eyi- dence with him, that rents in this town are higher than elsewhere, though wages are not as high in proportion. And because of the un- reasonable and unstable boom on realty here. real estate agents are living in the lap of an unearned lux ury
 Assuming that a meter is placed in a house, the owner of that house in- creases the rent perhaps dollar a month, certainly not less, probably more He perhaps may be charged three or four dollars more year on account of the meter being in the house, though 1t may be that he may not pay as much as he is paying now. But out of the tenant in whose rent the meter has been installed the property owner grinds out half dozen more dollars than he himself | is taxed for water rent. And the peculiar thing about this is that ftherc is no redress for the tenant. no cure, no use in complaining, only get out if he doesn't like it.
 The rent payer ought to know that he is the actual taxpayer, though the indirect one. How often do the as- sessors hear this complaint from the property owner Well that tenement of mine was idle so many months and I think you ought to come down on the taxes?" The fact. or alleged fact, that this mans rent was idle for l time, is to him reason why his taxes should be reduced If the prop erty owners do not get relief from one board he tries another and know of such cases that have been successful, simply because the rent. it may be store, was idle for some time.
 But has the tenant any relief from the indifference of a needless prop erty owner, who is enabled to pay his taxes simply because his tenant pre- fers to pay his rent rather than do the Inevitable. move out?
 Water pipes may leak, ceilings may be on the verge of collapse, they may he yellow with age or from leak ing water from the rent above, walls may need papering, and in various ways honest and respectable and of ten old time tenants are thus obliged to suffer. rather. than as have said, undergo rot only the expense, but worse, the bother and inconvenience of the only operation of effecting (cure, move out. There is no other Icure. The property owner" and the ''taxpayer" will tell his tenant so. Move out. There's nothing keeping you here...' is what he says. He all lows nothing for his indifference, his negligence. his cruelty to decent peo- pie, but when he suffers he nies to some of the municipal boards for re- lief. am opposed to this idea of mcter- ing houses. for 1t is not the owner Of the house but the rent payer that shall suffer if the ides is successful. It was killed once by the voice of the people. but seemingly the Vox Populi doesino count in this town with a republican board of aldermen.
 Every rent payer In town should give his whole attention to this mat ter of meters. because it is not the owner of the house who shall pay for the use of the water, but the rent payer. It is not the property owner who pays the taxes. it is the man who pays him rent. and 1t would be a good thing if the rent payers were aware of this as we'll as are those who are designated property owners and taxpayers
 RENT PAYER.