Evening star., 1941-09-14
BY J. A. OIEARY.

Ds "a "
Two formidable obstacles arose
yesterday in the path of proposed
heavy increases in local water rates.
Acting after protests by civic
groups, Chairman McCarran of the
Senate District Committee called on
the Commissioners to delay action
on the Water Departments sug-
gested rate boosts. Senator McCar-
ran also instructed r. F. Car1alier,
committee counsel. to investigate
basic phases of the water situation.
simultaneously. Commissioner
John Russell Young revealed that
he is opposed to the rate increase
proposed in the Water Department
estimates, and indicate that efforts
would be made to find some other
means to raise revenue to finance
capital outlays suggested for next
year-outlays necessitated chiefly bv
the Federal Governments expanded
defense activities.
Emphasizing that he was express
ing his own personal view, and was
not speaking for the Board of Com
missioners. Mr.. Young declared he
felt that it would not be fair to
burden home owners with sharply
/ boosted water rates in the face Of
rising costs of living and the i'm
pending heavy increases in Federal
taxes
Called Unfair Burden.
He agreed that the rate increase
proposed. calling for an increase in
the metered consumption rates from
s075 to Sl2 a year and a reduction
in the minimum allowance from
$500 cubic feet to 48O0 cubic feet
would place an unfair" and heavy
burden on small consumers. The
ordinary householder would have
to pay lis per cent more than at
present rates under the proposed
/ change.
Commissioner Young said he had
not made up his mind what might
be done in place of the proposed
/ rate boost, but pointed out that one
/ alternative might be to have the
Federal Government advance funds
to finance needed capital improve
ments, the money to be repaid by the
District, with no interest charges,
over period of years.
AS another alternative, he sug-
gested that the District might order
modified rate increase by restor-
ing a 25 per cent rate cut which,
he said, was put into effect some
years ago. He said he wasn't certain
| that TIE figures were correct but
believed this move would place the
minimum metered consumption rate
at S1088 for $500 cubic feet. He
said he believed this would be a
more equitable increase.
Aims of McCarran Probe.
The three major points that Sena-
tor McCarran instructed Committee
Counsel Camalier to probe are:
l. The existing dual management
and control of the system by the
District government and the Army
Engineer Corps.
2. Free water furnished to Federal
and municipal buildings.
3. Lack of conservation.
The Water Departments esti-.
mates were contained in its 1943
budget recommendations Hearings
on the entire budget are scheduled
to open tomorrow at 10 m. at the
District Building.
In addition to its proposed raise
in rates on metered service, the Wa
ter Department recommended in
creasing the minimum rate for un-
metered service from $685. to S12,
and a boost of from 81 so to $3.50 a
linear foot in assessments on prop
erty owners for new water mains.
Senator's Statement.
Declaring Mr.. Camalier's survey
should be made at once and before
any increase is ordered, Senator
McCarran said:
I'm view of the many protests
voiced by the people of Washington.
through their accredited citizens as
sociations, over the proposed in
crease in water rates, have directed
R. F. Camaliere counsel for the Dis
trict Committee of the Senate, to-
ask the Commissioners for certain
information and to defer action with
reference to the 1943 budget for the
Water Department of the District.
1T may be possible that by reason
of the expansion of the city and in
creased population, and the large
number of new Federal buildings,
municipal buildings, industrial
establishments, apartment houses
and private homes, the Water De-
partment may be justified in its far
reaching plan to increase the facili-
ties for the protection of life. health
and property of the people of ths
District.
However, it is thought that an
increase of approximately ITO per
(See WATER RATES, Page A-30