Evening journal., 1908-04-25
MAYOR DIGS into
METER CHARGES
Chief Engineer LeiSen Again
Questioned by City SOIiCi-
tor Townsend
LLCONSUMER PAYS MORE

Chief Engineer Theodore A Leisen,
of the Watsr Department, was again
examined yesterday afternoon at the
Investigation being conducted by
Mayor Horace Wilson. assisted by City
Solicitor Townsend, into the affairs OF
the Water Department.
The testimony during the after
noon showed that the preseni
meter system has Increased the ex-
lpenses of the department rather than
decreased them, as it was believed the
system would do. II was also shown
that persons who use the meter sys-
TEN, being small consumers, princi-
pally, actually pay for more water than
they use, while large consumers, pay
ing the same water rate as the small
consumer, really pay less for their
supply. Mr.. Lsisen justified this seem-
ing unfairness by the statement that
the department was entitled TO a profit
on the meter. Despite this the meter
system was a success and worked 10
the advantage Of the small consumer
who would pay more for his water
supply without the meter system than
he does with it.
the afternoon session yesterday, Mr.
Leisen said that so per cent of the
water consumption at this time is by
meter. Last year It was "a per cent
Mr. Leisen explained the decrease as
due to the loss Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company as a consumer
Mr. Leisen said he could not deter
mine the cost OF pumpage, because the
] Il
Showing the cost Of meter mainte-
nance. The department had not done
so because It had not occurred TO Mr.
Lelsen 70 suggest it, The meter rec
ord was then produced. From it Mr.
Townsend showed that although many
small consumers pay $40 a year fol
meter service, many Of them use water
valued at only Sf.66, S5.26, S5.40, etc
From the same record Mr.. Townsend
showed that the department charged
large corporations for all the water
lconsumed. Then the city solicitor
asked why the department charged
small consumers for more water thar
they use and the large consumers fol
all that they use. Mr.. Leisen replied
that the small consumers were charged
for the minimum amount, while th'
large consumers WHO tACttQ INC IlilA'
mum consumption, are charged fol
what they use, yet at the same rate.
This minimum rate, Mr.. Leisen said
was fair.
'Mr. Leisen, you have said that this
tendency of the department Is to en-
courage the use OF meters. If small
CONSUMERS don't get what they pay for
do you think that encourages the us'
lof meters?" asked Mr.. Townsend.
Mr.. Leisen replied that he though
it did He couldn't explain why watel
lin Cleveland cost less than water II
lWiImington II was then shown tha
large consumers of water, namely thu
lduPonts and Peter j. Ford, were pay
ling one-third less for water for theii
buildings than were the small con
sumers. The figures were; Average
consumer using meter $3.50 per 100l
cubic feet; duPonts. 81 cents per 100l
cubic feet; Peter ]. Ford, AS cents pc
1000 feet Mr.. Beisen explained tha
all consumers pay the same rate up e
la consumption of 100000 cubic feet
THE large consumers pay proportion
ately less than the small consumers be
cause they use In excess OF 100000
cubic feet, Mr.. Leisen said. He addet
that the rate had been fixed by a pre-
lvious board He thought the method
of computation was fair.
Would Ii not DO fsirer FOR eysryon'