Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-08
Citizens Voice Objections to
Change in Water Rates.
AN APPEAL TO CONGRESS
Propose Amendment to the District
Appropriation Bill.
ISSUE WITH COMMISSIONERS
Rhode Island Avenue Associations
Letter to Representative Burle-
son and Senator Gallinger.

| In it's fight against the increased
water rates, ordered by the District Com
missioners to go into effect July I, 1912,
the Rhode Island Avenue Suburban Citi-
| zens' Association has appealed 10 the
Senate and House conferees on the Dis
trict appropriation bill to insert in that
bill the following amendment:
THAT the water rates in effect July I,
| 1911. shall not be increased, nor the num-
Der of cubic feet allowed under the exist
| ing minimum charge diminished"
To Senator Gallinser. who is chairman
of the subcommittee OF the appropriations
committee having charge of the District
| bill. and to Representative Burleson. who
| occupies similar position i'm the House.
| the citizens association has written let
tiers, urging that this provision be insert
| ed. and asking for hearing If the con-
ferees desire more information in regard
| TO the matter.
September 30, 1911. the Commissioners
| ordered that beginning July 1, 1912, the
meter rates for water would be as fol-
800: number of gallons. 5000; gallons
per day, 154.
Associations Contention.
The association holds that this order re-
duced by one-half the number Of cubic
feet allowed under the minimum charge
Of $3.50 and increases by 80 per cent the
| water rate, which, under the minimum
charge, allowed 10000 cubic feet for $3.50
| 1t increases the rate So per cent for water
old water rate, which, under the minimum
used in excess Of the minimum allowance.
| which was cents for each 100 cubic feet
under the old rate to 4 cents for each loO
| cubic feet.
| The order of the Commissioners. it is
oIc nil
| of water heretofore enjoyed. and in
| creases the cost for all used over and
above the minimum allowance. as shown
by the old rate. as follows: Minimum
charge, $3.50; cubic feet. 1900: number
| Of gallons, 112. 600; gallons per day. 800.
In the letter to Representative Burleson.
! signed by the officers of the association,
they refer to the fact that the Congress
sion Record of January %, 1912, contains
the following:
"Mr. Burleson. will read what the
commissioners say:
".Water rent bills are delivered to house.
holders annually at the minimum rate OF
50 per annunl. which allows the use OF
1900 cubic feet, or 200 gallons OF
water.
| eff you think this statement Is correct.
you win have no objections whatevey to
making the provision opposing any
| change in rates. We have been under the
impression that the Commissioners have
Messrs. Judson and Johnston in favor.
and Mr.. Rudolph opposed.
Alleged Burden on individuals.
"If it is the intention Of the Commits
sioners to increase the rates. the whole
people have been taxed to make the ex-
tension to 81 per cent of the District.
land not. it is proposed, to make the IN
dividuals pay for the extension to the
MI 10 n
BILE and .unwarranted. We have meters
(which the whole people helped pay Tor.
tNow II Is expected that we shall. In add
ltion to our regular taxes, come across ana
pay for the meter extension to those
residences not metered. 1t does not ap-
lpeal as being fair: This extension should
be made by direct appropriation, and In
no other way"
The association calls attention In the
letter to Senator Gallinger, to the TACT
that the Commissioners are not unit In
ordering the increase in water rates. The
letter says:
"Mr. Rudolph is in favor OF meter ex-
tension and SO are We, but We do not,
with him, think 1t right to make the in
crease in rates to purchase meters The
meters up to this time have been pur-
chased by appropriation. and we think
! this a good scheme. To bear this out, we
would refer You to amendment 2O2. page
} 4S. commencing at line IA OF the present
District appropriation bill. which provides
} by direct appropriation OF $3.50 for the
purchase, installation. ETC., OF water
meters to be placed in the marine bar
racks and other places named. Now, If
1t is q wise provision to make the extern
sion indicated by appropriation. why
n should the people be made to pay for the
extension Of water meters to private resi-
dences?
| Necessary to Raise Revenue.
"The Engineer Commissioner SAYS il
the meters were bought outright it would
still be necessary to raise the rates, as
1.-The water rent received after meter install
llation would be decreased. and the raise
| would be necessary to offset the dimin-
ished revenue. To this We would reply
memorandum showing the cost Of pump
ling $4,000 gallons OF water is $1.20, and
If the Commissioners cannot do business
with $3.50 margin per meter then 1t is
time they go out of business.
"Then again each property owner is
required to pay SIPS front foot for
the water main laid in the street. One
hundred feet makes the sum $125. an in
voluntary investment tied up forever.
The interest at 6 per cent is $50 per an
num- which added to the $3.50 minimum
makes the rate for a hundred-foot lot
SO, provided he does not use more than
| the minimum allowance or water. The
Commissioners are pleased to refer to the
minimum rate of only $3.50. We cannot
| DISPOSE Of the water main, and the in
terest on our money so tied up is GER
tainly worth as much as the money We
borrow"
| The letters to Senator Gallinger and
| Mr.. Burleson are signed by Bristow
Adams. president; c. s. lockwood. vice
president; Charles Mendil, secretary: I.
8. MaiIon. treasurer: Henry r. Rienberg.
Dan C.. Vaughan, s. 8. Simons. Arthur
Minnick. I. 8. Mallon. r. w. Conklin. ].
Marion Castell, MILFORD H. Dunn. H. r.
Christie, ]. D. Ashby. Charles M. Has
setback and Daniel Beckwith.