Evening star., 1948-01-11
Calf Proposes
Compron1iseon.
Connection Rate
Suggestions Offered
At Protest Meeting
In Silver Spring

The Washington Suburban Sani-
tary Commission yesterday proposed
two substitutes for its new water
and sewer connection rates on i'm
proved streets in Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties.
The proposals were submitted by
Commission Chairman Dwight B
Gait at a protest meeting Of approx
mately 200 nearby Maryland build
ers and plumbers in the Silver
Spring Armory. r..
Increases from $3.50 for each con-
nection to $225 for water connec-
tions and $3.50 for sewer connections
on paved streets were approved re-
Gently by the commission after it
was agreed that plumbers would
make the connections on unim-
proved streets. = The new rates have
been bitterly opposed by builders
and plumbers On the ground they
are "ruinously high" and will re-
tard construction along improved
streets.
Two Suggestions Made.
One of the suggestions advanced
yesterday by Mr.. Gait called for the
commission to resume making all
house connections to its water and
sewer lines at the rate of $50 for a
water connection and $40 for a
sewer connection.
Under the second proposal, the
commission would make connections
only on paved streets at the follow
ing rates: $75 for water connection
and $40 for sewer connection,
plus an additional charge for each
foot of connecting pipe. This charge
has not yet been fixed, according to
Mr.. Gait. y
Montgomery County Commits
sioner Wesley I. Sauter asked
whether the commission could take
care of an estimated backlog of
1000 house connections if Mr.. Gait S
first proposal was accepted. Mr..
Gait replied in the negative.
F. Barnard Welsh, attorney to the
Montgomery County Commissioners,
then asked why the commission
could not contract with plumbers
to catch up" on the backlog. To
this, Mr.. Gait replied the commits
sion would take it under advise
ment.
No Action Taken.
No action was taken on the pro-
posals pending a meeting soon be-
tween the commission and repre-
sentatives of builders and plumbers
in the area. ..-
At the beginning of the meeting,
Donald E. Gingery. chairman of the
Montgomery County Division of the
Washington Metropolitan Home
Builders Association, asked that
plumbers be allowed to obtain per-
mits from the commission for max
ing street excavations for water and
sewer connections along both paved
and unpaved streets. Bonds would
be furnished by the plumbers to pro-
tect the commission from legal ac-
ton arising out of any negligence
in restoring the streets to their orig
inal condition.
In the meantime, Mr. Gingery
said, the commission should hold
an emergency meeting with plumb
ers and builders and grant them
relief from the new rates.
Attorneys Ruling Cited.
He contended the commission
could delegate to builder OF
plumber its authority to make street
cuts without getting a permit from
any governmental agency.
Mr.. Gait reiterated, however, that
attorneys for the commission have
ruled it cannot legally delegate te
any one its authority to make
street cuts.
When we award a contract, we
adopt the contractor as our agent
just as though the commission itself
is making the street cut" Mr.. Gait
explained. 1T is not the same as
delegating our authority to plumb.
er or builder to 60 into shat street.
But he added that corrective leg
islation probably would be sought
at the 1949 session of the General
Assembly.