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Editorial
May 2, 1961
Montgomery County Sentinel
Rockville, Gaithersburg, Montgomery County, Maryland
What is this article about?
Editorial questions whether the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission can justify the cost of a lavish 40-page annual report amid customer complaints over increased water-sewer bills due to winter snow delays and a rate hike.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Can It Be Justified?
The position of a public service organization is a precarious one—and a case in point is that of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
We have just received two press releases from WSSC showing just how precarious. The first release was designed as a humorous note, explaining why some WSSC customers are receiving bills somewhat larger than usual. The Commission blames that on the heavy snows of the past winter, which kept meter readers from their appointed rounds. Thus, some customers are being billed for up to seven and a half months of water-sewer use, instead of the usual six-month period.
Incidentally, the Commission pointed out, a small portion of the increase can be attributed to a three-cent rise in the WSSC sewer use rate, which went into effect January 1.
The other release announced publication of a 40-page pictorial annual report. As an interesting publication, the report is a good job. It has four-color illustrations on the cover, it is beautifully printed, its photography is good, its presentation is well done.
The question that almost simultaneous receipt of these two press releases is this:
Can an organization conceived and operated in the public service justify the obviously large expenditure needed for such a pretentious presentation of its "progress" for the past year?
The position of a public service organization is a precarious one—and a case in point is that of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
We have just received two press releases from WSSC showing just how precarious. The first release was designed as a humorous note, explaining why some WSSC customers are receiving bills somewhat larger than usual. The Commission blames that on the heavy snows of the past winter, which kept meter readers from their appointed rounds. Thus, some customers are being billed for up to seven and a half months of water-sewer use, instead of the usual six-month period.
Incidentally, the Commission pointed out, a small portion of the increase can be attributed to a three-cent rise in the WSSC sewer use rate, which went into effect January 1.
The other release announced publication of a 40-page pictorial annual report. As an interesting publication, the report is a good job. It has four-color illustrations on the cover, it is beautifully printed, its photography is good, its presentation is well done.
The question that almost simultaneous receipt of these two press releases is this:
Can an organization conceived and operated in the public service justify the obviously large expenditure needed for such a pretentious presentation of its "progress" for the past year?
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
Wssc
Water Bills
Sewer Rates
Annual Report
Public Spending
Meter Readings
Snow Delays
What entities or persons were involved?
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Justification Of Wssc Annual Report Expenditure
Stance / Tone
Critical Questioning Of Public Spending
Key Figures
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
Key Arguments
Wssc Customers Receiving Larger Bills Due To Snow Delayed Meter Readings Covering Up To Seven And A Half Months
Small Portion Of Bill Increase From Three Cent Sewer Rate Rise Effective January 1
Wssc Issued Humorous Press Release Explaining Billing Increases
Wssc Published 40 Page Pictorial Annual Report With Four Color Illustrations And High Quality Production
Questioning If Public Service Organization Can Justify Large Expenditure On Pretentious Annual Report