The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-08-08
Frank Statement Made by
Water Works Company's
Representative at Meet
ing Monday Evening.
WATER RATES BASED
ON MAURY'S REPORT
Admission Is Also Made that
the Franchise Is Not Val
ued at Anything and that
the Rates Are Raised.

the Rates Are Raised.
The following points were brought
out in the discussion OF the proposal
of the Richmond City Water Works
last evening: KS
Howard Dill. superintendent OF the
plant admitted that the laboring man
must help pay the water bills OF the
heavy consumer and manufacturer.
Company ofiicials declared that ac-
cording to the proposed franchise, the
company could force meters on all
but the company could not
refuse to furnish meter II desired
by consumer.
Councilman Matt Won Pein stated
that the minimum rate il one OF tho
worst knockers" for the poor man.
The new contract would compel tho
average householder to pay at least
50 annually whether that much water
is used or not.
In answer to questions Mr.. Dill de-
clared that one reason the rates were
raised was to give the city good In
vestment return at the end OF the Arst
year.
B. A. kennepohl. member of the city
council at the time the present fran
chise was given the water works, urg.
ed that the city drop the municipal
ownership plan at the present. He also
said that twenty-five year contract
was too long.
The question Of nre pressure and
fire tests were discussed.
Attorney Ray ShisAley, epealanx NJ
the ofactal Representative A. IT, Nu4G
works, when asked II tho valuA 81 tho
franchise was considered ii the $780,
600 valuation placed on the plant BY
Maury. answered In the negative This
is In direct contradiction Of Supt Dill's
statement at the meeting last Thurs
day evening.
The laboring man will help the rich
man pay his water bills This state
ment was made in different words by
Howard Dill superintendent OF the wa.
ter works at the meeting Of the city
council. board of works and interest
ed citizens last evening at the city
hail. The small consumer will pay
heavier in order that the large con-
sumner can secure lower rate. II the
water is used by meter. rate OF twen-
ty cents per 100 cubic feet il to be
charged for the first 1900 cubic feet;
for the next 5000 cubic feet rate OF
fifteen cents per 100 cubic feet will bo
charged and in excess of $500 cubic
feet a rate of six cents per 100 feet
will be charged. DR.. Dill explained.
however. that the large consumer will
be obliged to pay Just as much a. tho
small consumers for the first 800 Gu.
bic feet and for the next 5000 cubic
feet, but he said that in order to re-
cure the revenue the company was
forced to offer q low rate to the heavy
water users.
Average Water eiii -.
As brought out by questions last ev-
ening the average small consumer will
be Obliged to paw 50 water bill an
nually whether that amount OF water
is used or not according to Ray Shiye-
ley, because OF the minimum rate.
Attorney Ray Shiveley in taking ex-
ceptions to B. b. Johnson's statement
that the average householder would
pay about SIS annually for water, gave
list OF figures compiled by the COM
pany.
I'VE find that Mr.. Johnson had ilg-
ured the rates with meter and without
| meter" said Mr.. Shiveley. This 10
manifestly unfair, az the company
would be obliged to charge either by
meter or without meter It II obvious
that 1t could not charge by both For q
six-room house $6 will be charged; for
water closet, 81; for bath 81; and
for wash stand 81. We are not Agur-
ing the cost of sprinkling In this. Now
the consumer who pays So annually
will be allowed to use 22,50O gallons
before he pays more"
Councilman Won Pein declared that
the minimum rate should be lower and
; that the large consumer should not be
given water paid for by the small con-
sumner. The minimum rate is one OF
the worst knockers in the proposal
for the poor man. The water bills will
be increased greatly. II he economies
he will pay 50 whether he uses that
much water or not"
Explained by Dill.
At this juncture Mr.. Dill took the
floor. He again explained that the nrst
object of the company in raising the
rates was to include the profit sharing
and purchasing clause feature which
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