Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-10
Unsound Economics.

The Star has for some days past been
endeavoring TO point out the fnconsis'-
encies of the proposed increase In 'he
water rates for the purpose OF extending
the metering n means or postpohihe
the day when an additional conduit VIII
be required to supply the capital lhe
figures to which Ii has called atten'loh'
taken from the annual report or the
u,,ter department for the fiscal year end
ing June 80. 1910. have gone to sho"
that about 81 per cent of the donhestlc
consumers are now using only half OF
their permitted supply and are thus pay
inc for twice as much water as they
actually use: that the effect or meterihs
is to reduce not only the consumption
of water but the revenues OF the depart
ment; that in order to raise a suihciei.
amount of money to pay 1or the COM
plete extension of the metering system III
a period of five years 1t VIII De neces-
sary to add about Is per cent 10 'he
average water rate, including all CON-
sumers both large and small. and much
larger per cent to the rate PAID ny the
large consumers if the injustice OF
mulcting the small consumer in an addi-
tional sum to what he now pays In ex-
cess of the water actually used is recog-
as at present
But all this. convincing as 1t is OF the
lack of logic in the proposed rate Al
crease. is beside the main mark. 1t does
not bear upon the real question OF
whether it is necessary to add to the an
nual water tax in order to raise an ex-
traordinary fund for the purpose OF
continent. When all has been said
81 v1ato
profits or losses of the water department
the case reverts to the essentlai I'M
soundness of the proposition to pay for
what is no less than a part of the hSeo
plant a permanent extension or the sSs-
TEN. by an increase in taxation.
For years the District has been en-
deayoring TO obtain from Congress an
EQUITABLE mode of annual appropriations.
senarating the items of current mainte-
nance and permanent Improvement, SO
that il would be possible to keep up lie
Districts administration from year 10
vaar on an ADEQUATE scale, and to pay
on a lons-term basis for the large puolc
works chiefly beneficial to posterity Inc
fact that Congress has not Yet recognized
rho iustice of this contention in no wise
lessons its soundness and reasona bleness,
and it is disquieting to see the commas
sioners contemplate the ADOPTION Z.
virtually the same policy in respect to
rhe water rates and plant extensions that
Congress has imposed upon the District IN
its general finances.
To pay for the extension of the meter
system by an increase in the annual rate
is equivalent to adding to the real estate
taxes both rate and assessment, Tor the
purpose of paying for large works OF d
permanent character, such as sewers ana
bridges and buildings. Congress has not
exactly done this in its pursuit or the
pay-as-you-go policy it has adopted
toward the District, but ii has done the
next thing to il by taking an ineduitable
percentage of the annual tax revenues
for the refunding of the floating debt
and thereby curtailing the allotments -
current maintenance The Commissioners
propose to go one step further in the
water meter matter and increase the tax
rate TO defray the expense of a project
which i'm all respects corresponds TO the
sewers and bridges and buildings and
FREDERICKSBURG improvements for which
the District has in late years gone IN
debt 10 the federal Treasury on short
term basis.