Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-21
Free Water for Uncle Sam.

4ASS w aux AOA OuGIC 0dms
The statement having been made in
hearings on the District appropriation
bill that water rates in Washington
were 81 per cent below the average rates
IN 81 American cities, Representative
Simmons. addressing Col Ladue, said:
Why, Colonel, you surprise me. be-
cause like to believe what the WASH
1ngton newspapers state, and / have
seen them maintain in elaborate and
numerous editorials that Washington
was already paying far in excess Of
what 1t ought to pay for water and
what other cities paid, and that once
again the good old United States should
come in here and relieve them of the
water rates. I am afraid they did not
consult you on this
OF course, the issue over the water
taxes has never been whether or not
the good old United States should
come in here and relieve them of the
water rates" The question has been
whether money for capital expenditures
ON plant enlargement should be raised
BY main assessments plus funds taken
from the general revenues of the Dis
trict, to which the United States pro-
poses to contribute about 81 81 per cent
In 1891, or whether these funds should
be raised by increasing the cost of
water.
The engineers who mapped out the
flye-year program of necessary expendi-
lures on the water distribution plant
favored the former procedure. They
said: These expenditures are believed
TO represent a capital investment and
hence should be charged to the general
revenues of the District. To in
crease the rates to take care of these
capital expenditures would not be in
line with ordinary commercial prac-
tice."
But the Commissioners, with their
eyes on the diminishing size of the
general fund under the existing system
Of District financing, let ordinary COM
mercial practice" go by the board and
again resorted to the expedient of show
ing up the water rates as they did in
1925 and Mr.. Simmons subcommittee
agreed.
As for the table and the average rates
In other cities, The Star queried by
telegram seven of the cities mentioned.
selecting them at random. The inquiry
was not conclusive merely indicative.
These cities were asked to name the
factors that entered into their rate
bases. Six stated that their rates
are fixed to raise revenue sufficient
to retire bonds or pay interest and
provide for maintenance and operation.
The other city replying, Springfield,
Mass, explained that its rates have
been in effect since 1886, when the
city purchased the plant from private
interests and there Is no relation be-
tween bonded Indebtedness, interest,
cost Of maintenance, cost Of expansion
and the fixed water tay.
Results from this inquiry are elabo-
rated elsewhere in today's Star It is
mentioned here merely to point out that
O table giving water rates in other
cities Is not complete unless 1t attempts
to dispose Of the factors that go into
the rates. washingtons rate would be
higher still-Capt. Hugh Dram suggests
that 1t would be rs per cent higher--if
the city was now retiring bonds and
paying interest on its equity in the
water plant amounting to about $685.
100000. This equity has already been
purchased through general taxes, main
assessments and water rents computed
on q basis that Is made to yield
profit for use in plant enlargement and
which now maintain a plant supplying
the United States and the municipality,
its agent. with free water. It is also to be
remembered that seven of the twenty
seven cities in the table have lower
rates than Washingtons proposed new
rate.
Yesterdays Star disclosed that plans
for the new House Office Building sug-
gest tapping the Districts water system
to use 1,30o,0 gallons Of water day
to ventilate and cool the building. In
addition to the fact that this use OF
water would overtax mains and reduce
the water supply to private consumers
in the area affected, the water would
be paid for wholly by real estate
owners and taxpayers in the District
Good old United States" would cool
the feverish brows and calm the heated
minds of members of its House of Rep
Tesentatives at the expense of the I'M
represented taxpayers of this COM
munity. The end, desirable as 1t may
be, does not justify the means.