Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-25
BOOST IN WATER
RENTS OPPOSED
Weller Points Out UnfairneSS
That Would Follow New
u. S. Building Plans. j.,

Foreseeing an alarming increase in
the water rent assessed against Dis
trIct residents, which would be neces-
sary under the present policy TO pro-
vide for the installation and ultimate
~ the water supply for the new Fed
eral buildings TO be erected here under
the $50,O00,000 building program,
FRANCIS Il. Weller. representing the
Washington Board of Trade, today
laid protest against the "unfairness''
OF the situation before Chairman Mad
den Of the House appropriations com
iIlittee and urged the appointment OF
commission 10 seek a remedy.
MT Weller specifically recommend.
ca the inclusion of an appropriation
OF SZU,OOO in the present District of
CoiumDla appropriation bill. now pend
ing III Congress, for the use Of a spe-
claI commission to be instructed to in
yeSISate the relative interests OF the
Federal Government and the people ,
of Washington In the ownership ana
operation Of the water-works system.
with view to determining the equita-
Die share each should pay for it's up.
keep.
Speaking officially for the Washing
ton Board OF Trade, which has gone
on record favoring the proposal. Mr.,
Weller urged the appointment of a.
dislnterested commission of two en-.
slneers and an expert accountant to
make such an investigation.
Source Of Funds.
THE fact may not have bean cal,ad
10 your attention." Mr.. Weller pointed
OUT TO Mr. Madden, that all expendi- I
lures Tor the extension, maintenanca
ana operation Of our distribution sysl
tenn pumping stations, etc. are paid
ehtlrely out of the funds Of the Water
department, collected from the private
users or water, and none of the an
nuaI Government appropriations for
Dlstflct or Columbia expenditures are
aiIotted TO this cost. We feel that
tnere should be no more reason to ex-
cIuoe water Department requirements
from governmental contribution than
there is to exclude the building and
maintenance Of schools, Police and
FIRE Departments, etc.
On account of the rapid develop
hent or this city, the Water Depart
ineht FUNDS required to make extern
SONS IN the mains. etc, do not meet
the actual requirements. Moreover.
certain or these funds are used in ex-
tension or mains required for Govern
ment buildings and institutions, the
c0stS OF which are entirely borne by
Weller said
During the war a 24-inch main
was laid on B street to supply thA
temporary Government office build
lngs' the cost Of which was entirely
pofne by Water Department revenue.
IL IS now proposed to extend this main
along = street to supply the group OF
new office buildings.
AT the present time the triangle
south OF Pennsylvania avenue is now
supplied by water mains which, upon
the completion Of the new building
PROJECT viii largely be abandoned.
Wants U. s. to Pay.
eve submit that the cost Of sun.
plying water to these new offices
should be borne by the United States
Government, which as 1 have sold.
pays nothing for the water and con-
tributes nothing toward the up-keep
OF the distribution system.
Inc Board Of Trade recommends
that an appropriation of sec, 900 be
incorporated in the present District of
Columola appropriation bill for the
appointment of a disinterested com
mission of two engineers and one e1-
pert accountant to investigate the
relative interests of the Federal Gov
S'iAN INC people OF washing
ton in the ownership of the water
works system of this city with view
later of determining the equitable
contribution Of each party toward
the development and maintenance Of
the water supply and distribution
system"
Mr.. Weller also pointed out that
only last year the water rent assessed
against District consumers was
boosted 1213 per cent. This increase
he fears, will be only a small part OF
eventual boosts resulting from extern
slons of water mains and water sun
plles for the benefit of Federal
agencies.