Evening star., 1944-05-23
Fowler Sees Rate Rise
When Larger Program
Becomes Necessary

supplied more than z billion gallons
of water without charge to the
Federal Government in the fiscal
year 1943, would "be better off If it
owned its own water system" was
made by Chairman Coffee of the
Subcommittee on District Appro-
priations, it was revealed in reports
of the hearings today.
At the outset of the hearings,
Budget Oficer Walter L. Fowler told
the subcommittee that If water bill
collections are increased 1t will not
be necessary to increase water rates.
When the estimates (for the
aqueducD are presented, we must
either approve the items recon-
mended or take the responsibility
of something happening to the water
supply. That responsibility, of
course, the Commissioners hesitate
to take.
Rate Increase Possible.
However, if the Washington
Aqueduct situation continues as it
has, we shall have to increase the
rates when it begins requiring mil
lions of dollars for an enlarged pro-
gram" Mr.. Fowler declared.
At tn request of the committee
Humphrey Beckett, superintendent
of the Water Department, supplied
figures showing that the Federal
Government received without charge
7,316, 6,856;198 gallons in the fiscal
year 1943, valued at $684, 1888. The
District Government received less
than 3,000,000,000 gallons without
charge.
1t was brought out that the WASH
ington Aqueduct. for which the esti-
mate of appropriations for 1945 was
$909, ,518, was under the control of
the Secretary of War. Maj. D. M.
Radcliffe, resident engineer of the
engineers Office, told Representa-
tive Stefan, Republican, of Ne
braska that the Federal Govern
ment's interest financially in the
District water system was $4,000, 900.
V6AuCu a. E0 MullOA,
The present value of the entire
aqueduct system is ap-
proximately $23,O00,0 900, Mai. Rad
cliffe said, adding that the figure
did not include the cost of the dis
tribution system. Mr.. Stefan then
asked.
so the citizens of Washington
have put into the water system the
difference between $4,000 and
$23 ZOO, 900, is that it?"
Eyes" replied E. A. Schmitt, head
engineer of the aqueduct. Asked
If any computation had been made
to determine how much free water
had been given to the Government
during the past 100 years, Mr..
Schmitt replied that the subject
had been covered In the Shingler
report Of 1888, and that the question
OF free water was under study now.
Maj. Radcliffe told Mr.. Stefan
that the Pentagon Building received
its water from this system, where
upon Mr.. Stefan recalled a state
ment OF Representative Engel, Re-
publican, of Michigan that Penta-
gon has 4 acres of toilets.
Estimates Federal Use.
Maj. Radcliffe estimated the to-
tai water used by the Federal Gov
ernment had a value of $500 900 or
$400, 900 year, but pointed out that
at wholesale rate it would be
lower.
Il think the District would be a
lot better off to buy out the Gov-
ernment's interest in this system"
observed Mr.. Stefan.
Mr.. Schmitt, however, replied that
1T has been, considered by some,
and I am not attempting to state
,he War Departments view, that the
investment, If it bore interest, would
tend to pay for large part of the
water the Government gets"
Il still think the District would
be better off if it owned its water
system" concluded Mr.. Coffee.
During the hearings it was brought
out that daily consumption in March
Of this year was 1902 million gallons,
an increase Of 6.6 million gallons
over the previous March, and that
progress was being made in COL
Letting unpaid bills.