Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-05-21
FOR LoWER WATER RATES.

HE PERSISTENT agitation OF
The Capital Journal has borne
good fruit, and this whatever
the final outcome may be, for 1t
has awakened the city council
men to the Importance Of the city wa
ter question and to the necessity Of
getting relief from excessive charges.
As the Capital Journal has frankly
stated it has no means Of information
that would permit even suggestion as
to what water rates should be charged,
that would be reasonable in the case.
But the city council in passing the
matter up TO the railroad commission
has done wise thing, for under exist
ing conditions that is the only body
that can get at the true inwardness Of
the situation and arrive at u just de- !
cision. To do this, to establish rates
fair TO the company and just to the
consumer, requires a knowledge Of the
actual value Of the plant; what it has
cost; what it has returned to its own.
ers and the amount they should re-
ceive as fair returns on their invest
ment. Salem people have no desire to
get something for nothing; no inten.
tion Of doing injustice to the Salem
Water Company or any other. They
expect to pay fair and remunerative
price for their water or anything else
they get, but they expect to pay only
this, and the council has taken the
proper steps to get this matter settled,
and a fair price agreed upon. It may
be so far ae the Capital Journal knows
that the prices charged for water, yield
now only fair return on the money
invested. We say this may be, but we
do not believe such is the case, nor will
we believe it until it is demonstrated
beyond all possibility Of doubt. We
do know that the water rates are great
or than the people should be called
upon to pay. When a family is com.
PEELED to pay moro for its water than
IL does for its bread, there is something
wrong with the water bills.
There are not less than 5000 families
in Salem paying on average of so
month, or $24 year for water This
would give the company an income from
this source of $4,000 yearly, and this
added to income from other sources
will make tho total at least 100000
yearly, This is Of course only an esti,
mate, but it is conservative one, and
We believe the facts will show that Sa.
lem pays for its water about $l25,OO0
n year. However, this will all be
thrcshed out by the railroad commits
sion, AT the samo time 1t is well for
the council to sec that the city is prop,
erly represented in the examination
and that its interests arc carefully
guarded. legal help should be given
the city attorney in the investigation.
It would cost something, but it would
be money we'll expended, The council
has taken hold Of the matter, and will
have the hearty backing of the entire
community in it's effort to get reduc.
tion in water rates, Money expended
in getting legal help to protect the
city's itorcSts will cause no quarrel or
criticism by taxpayers, for they as we
have said, expect to pay for what they
get, They are behind the council a
solid unit in this matter, and the coun.
ell will find them willing and anxious
to hold up its hands, and assist it in
every way,
The council has done the ominently
proper thing, and has the commenda.
tion Of every one in Salem.