Evening star., 1943-08-24
Proposals 10 Improve
District Wafer Office
Expected From Board
Special Group Of Experts
Believed to Have Found
Bosis for Criticisms

ments in the systems of filing, COL
lecting and accounting for District
water service are expected to be
placed before the Commissioners by
the special board of municipal on
cials investigating the operation of
the water registrars Office, it was
indicated today.
There is reason to believe, some
observers said, that the special
board is finding support for at least
some of the sharp criticisms voiced
in the recent report on the Office by
Controller General Lindsay Warren.
Aside from the mechanical opera
ton of billing and collecting water
rents, one of the important ques-
tions under study is whether the
District should hold property own
ers as well as tenants responsible
for payment of water bills.
Held Occupants Liable.
Years ago, it was recalled, Dis
trict judge, Joseph Barnard, held
that the occupant was the one
liable for water bills. The District
has not sought to compel property
owner to pay tenant bill.
The controller generals report
recommended that action be taken
against property owners.
The Commissioners may ask Con-
gress for legislation specifically
holding the owner liable in case of
a tenants nonpayment.
Bills Bring Complaints.
District officials also were hearing
complaints over the size of water
bills.
Registrar Ralph L. Hebbard said
today the department has been be-
hind schedule in billings and. he
agreed, some mistakes had been
made in meter readings
He added, however, that probably
a large number of water users were
confused about the size of their bills
because of the billing system. under
which an advanced minimum for
year is rendered on metered ac-
counts, with bills for excess usage
over the minimum being applied
after the end of the year on next
years advanced minimum charge.
More Complicat tions Arise.
Further complications arise. Mr.
Hebbard pointed out, when there is
failure to pay bill or where pay
ments or billings are held up pend
ing decisions on complaints.
One such case involves two rented
frame dwellings at 25l8 and 2520 F
street NV, served by common
water connection in the back yard
of one, there being no plumbing in
the houses.
A water bill for l941 was held up
by the registrar because of q COM
plant by the rental agent for the
property. John o. Allen. 1416 F
street NV, that there was leak
in the water connection. and there
was further delay because of claim
for an adjustment of the bill.
Bills Totaled S1O8.14.
After the leSk was repaired
later reading of the meter Mr.. Heb
bard declared, showed that water
consumption at the two premises
was greater than indicated by the
reading before the leak was re-
paired He said he did not know
why this occurred. At any rate,
he added, new and old bills totaling
$l0814 were rendered last March l9.
When the bill was not paid. notice
was served that the water would
be cut off.
Health Department officials were
notified and an inspector was sent
to the premises to tell the oc-
cupants what they must DO to avoid
creating a health nuisance. DR..
Daniel l.. Seckinger. deputy health
officer, said today he planned to
ask the Board for Condemnation
of Insanitary Buildings to consider
whether these buildings should be
condemned.
One Bill Triples.
Another protest filed with Mr.
Hebbard. Commissioner John Russell
Young and the chairmen of the
House District Committees, by John
j. Riseling 1903 Park place NV.
who asked how his latest water bill
could be more than three times the
size OF his bills for 1899, 1910 and
| l94l.
Mr.. Hebbard, after looking up the
records, said today the bills for the
earlier years mentioned were merely
the minimum charge. which was all
: that could be billed because the
/ meter was out of commission. Later
he said, the meter was repaired and
put into service and that the bills
for l94l, 1912 and l943 reflected use
of more than the minimum metereo
! allowance.
He added that there must have
been a mistake in the meter reading
last year and that the correction OF
this added an extra layer of charges
to the bill recently rendered.