Evening star., 1911-08-27
The Law as to Water Rates.

In their consideration OF the recently
raised question OF increasing the water
rates for the stated purpose of provionns
a fund 10 extend the meter equipment
the Commissioners should most carefuiiy
study section 1as of the Revised Statutes
relating TO the District of Columbia,
which runs as follows:
"The water rates levied in Washington
and Georgetown shall never be a source
Of revenue other than as means o.
keeping UP to said cities supply OF
water bnt shall constitute fund ex-
clusively for the maintenance, manage
ment and repair OF the system OF water
distribution
II was unauestionably the intention OF
Congress at the time that this section
Was enacted TO regard the rates strictly
as constituting a maintenance fund ana
not as an equipment fund. 1t went on
to specify that any surplus rates should
be paid into the Treasury of the United
States: but there was no thought that d
surplus would accrue In any material
amount, inasrnuch as 1t was the piaih
purpose of the law to give the people OF
Washington and Georgetown water at
absolutely cost price. A surplus OF rates
would mean a profit, and the United
States had no intention of going into the
business of selling water to the people
OF the District for gain.
The question arises in the present con-
nection whether the extension of the
meter system is part of the "mainte-
nance. management and repair" of the
system of water distribution. 1t surely
is not an item of repair" 1t is hardly
maintenance" 1t may be manage
Enf SIICh construction Is
strained. inasmuch as the meters. once
installed. become part of the perma-
nent equipment, supposedly lasting for
wears and recurring no material per-
centage Of replacement. They are to be
reckoned as of the, permanent installa-
ton. just as the mains and valves and
service pipes. Plainly the process of ex-
tending the meters will soon be virtually
1inished Will the Commissioners of that
day reduce the rate if it has been raised
to provide an installation fund?
Much more logical and equitable and
more in consonance with the letter and
the spirit OF section 19s would be the
making of appropriations from year to
year for the annual extensions of the
meter system. The rates would remain
then as now. strictly for the "mainte-
nance, management and repair of the
system Of distribution. They would not
require any spasmodic fluctuations to
adjust them to the actual needs Of the
service. The consumers could be assured
of reasona Bile degree of permanence In
the tax rate, regardless of occasional
plant enlargements and provisions to
check and regulate the use of the water
supply.
Under the present system of charging
a minimum rate. which applies to most
domestic uses, the average householder
pays now for more water than he actually
consumes annually. To raise the rate hori-
zontally throughout the District for d
temporary purpose would not be fair to
such users, for il would still further add
to the margin between their actual con-
sumption and their annual tax. II would
be a departure in that respect at least
from the prohibition placed by Congress
upon the employment of the water rates
as a source Of revenue other than for the
maintenance of the system.