Evening star., 1953-05-15
Sanitary Unit
Explains Rise
In Sewer Rates
Tells Prince Georges
And Montgomery Of
Mess 1t Inherited
By Chorles [. Hoffman

The Washington Suburban
Sanitary Commission put its
cards on the table last night to
show why recent increases in
sewer and trash disposal fees
were necessary.
The Republican three man
commission brought in all its
experts to explain its case before
Prince Georges and Montgomery
County civic leaders and the
press.
Criticize Predecessors.
AS a matter of fact, the COM
missioners indicated that when
they accepted their appoint
ments they got a 'pig in a poke. ;"
One of their early discoveries,
they said, was that their prede-
cessors had not met legal pro-
visions requiring detailed
financial statement and audit.
Reports for 1949 and 1850 still
were not complete when they
took Office in 1851, they said.
This Is a devastating criticism
of your predecessors" Walter F..
Mulligan. president of the Prince
Georges Civic Federation, ex-
claimed.
Raymond w. Bellamy, chair
man of the commission, however,
said part of the delay was caused
by a shortage Of business ma
chimes.
Says Auditor Misinformed Him.
Mr.. Bellamy added that about
30 days after he took Office he
called in the Washington auditor
who had handled the commits
sion's account since 1918.
He said the auditor reported
everything was in good shape.
Later, he added, the lew COM
misSioners found out differently.
The auditing firm is no longer
retained by the commission.
Townsend Wainwright, the
commissions financial consult
ant, said that when he was first
retained in 1949 he found no
complete audit for any year later
than 1916.
Mr.. Wainwright presented to
the group the commissions re-
Gently completed 1852 financial
statement, which is accompany
ing the commissions advertise
ment for a SGT million bond
issue to be sold May %.
Seek to Erase Deficit.
The higher rates, Mr.. VAIN
wright said, are aimed at erasing
the 1852 deficit of $807,872 by
1857 and putting the commission
in the black.
According to the statement,
the commissions water system
last year had a surplus of $6,135,
but the commission went into
the red by $438,424 on it's sewer
system, $297,616 on the Mont
gomery County trash collection
and $77,967 on operation of the
Bladensburg incinerator.
In the past, Mr.. Wainwright
said, the sewer system has been
charged partially to the water
bill and much of the commits
sion's operating costs have been
paid through bond issues.
He said retention of the pres
ent rate of -27 cents per 1000
gallons will bring in $2.5 million
this year and will build up a
$453,643 surplus by 1857.
The new sewer charge based
on an additional IA cents per
1000 gallons of water used
should permit the commission to
erase the anticipated 1858 ac-
cumulated deficit of $572,038 by
1857, he added.
The new 81 per ton rate for
trash disposal at the Bladens-
burg incinerator and the CO.
cents-a-month increase in the
Montgomery trash collection fee
will make the two operations
self-sustaining and reduce the
accumulated deficit considerably
by 1857.
Criticizes Rate Raise Delay.
Henry Smelling, president of
the Montgomery Civic Fedora
ton said the only criticism he
had was that "the rates should
have been raised sooner"
The commission had been
roundly criticized in recent weeks
for raising the rates without a
public hearing and behind closed
doors.
Indications last night were
that the commission if it had to
do over again, would follow the
same procedure.
Commission Counsel Arthur C,
Keefer. named to speak for the
members, said the commission
ers themselves were required to
set the rates and he saw no
benefit to be gained from a pub
lie hearing,
George F. Nesbitt. Montgom
cry County Council president,
praised the commission for hav-
ing "belatedly done a wise thing
in getting outside consultantS." :"