Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-09
Metering and Water Income.

The Star has already pointed out tHdt
the effect Of metering domestic premises
has heretofore been To reduce the gross
revenue from the small consumers or
water. the sum Of S21.6lS,cS having been
cut off from the water department IN
come til the fiscal year 1910 from TINS
cause If all the domestic users are meter
cd The annual loss Of income from rates
will IN is estimated, he at least Soo,"'
The total net expenditures in 1910 We're
sea- 1000. rs against an income from
rates water main assessments ana nl1scel-
laneo;s sources of $500. Isl. So. This shows
a deficiency Of So, % in the fiscal
wear What is to he done To make up
this deficiency, provided the expenses
continue at the old rate and the meter
ing is extended?
Thus far III the argument of those at the
District building who are urging an IN
crease in the water rates the proposition
Is given the color of justification In a
plan 10 apply the new revenue to the cost
OF meter installation. VIII there be any
money left for meter installation II the
revenues continue to decrease as the
service is measured and the consumers
are given the minimum rate of $50 for
an allowance Of approximately 1o.,fD
cubic feet a year? Will not the added rate
revenues be required TO fill the gap left
in the water department treasury? OF
course. the new high rates, II established.
will for a large part of the time needed
for installation he working against the
unmetered as well as the metered, and
the revenues will not dwindle al the rate
of 81 ,61s.2s year for the entire time.
But when the metering is finished will
T. ,frad 10 run
the department under the conditions of
universal metering?
These are questions that the water
consumers of the District are entitled to
have answered by the authorities before
the new rate is ordered. They bear directly
upon the reason for the increase. They
bear. too. upon the very important ques-
ton OF whether the small consumer, who
already pays for twice as much water
as he uses. is to be burdened in an adj
ditional tax Of from 20 to so per cent
II the small consumer is not to be thus
taxed more heavily, what is to be the
rate of increase put upon the large con-
sumner. and how In later years will the
department adjust the striking discrep-
ancy between these two classes?
The best way out of this tangle of in
Consistencies is to let the water rate
remain as 1t is. extending the meter sys-
tenn steadily from year to year as part
Of the new work of the department.
paid for out of the ordinary revenues, and
as conditions change conform the rates
10 the actual current needs of the depart
ment. There should be no Determinations,
either against the large consumers, who
are heavily taxed now for the water they
use. or against the small consumers, who
are paying for twice as much water as
they use. There should be no hesitation
about going to Congress for appropria-
tons 10 continue the metering system
If the sum annually available out of the
new work allowances is not sufficient
10 advance the extensions rapidly enough.
There should. finally, be no qualms about
asking Congress to continue to regard
meters as part of the permanent equip
U4ent and TO insist upon the making of
appropriations for them on the half-and-
half basis in accordance with the organic
act. For il is. in the last analysis, quite
much TO the interest of the govern
lnent as to that of the District to post
pone as long as possible the need of a
new conduit, inaSmuch as the water serv-
Ice Is, in equity. the joint property oil
t.ese partners in the National Capital
establishment.