The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-11

beneficial to the ratepayer and to the corpora
lion, the history OF The payment on stoc :, the
contribution OF stockholders, etc, Ia ignored In
the consideration OF The pl esrnl rates imposed;
ana In taking the supposed valuation OF the
worss and property ~ the corporation as re-
ported by the committee OF the WHOLE il is sim
ply TO base the demand on this showing that
material reduction be made from the present
rates. The report OF The committee OF the whole
then subsequently places the value of the wores
NJ S21,65O. 600. Upon this valuation II Ia pro-
posed TO allow, as The result shows 5.542 per
cent In addition 10 operating exercises of $780,
GEO and lakes amounting 10 So, 900; valuation,
S21G5o.00o. al 5.542 per cent $1,000, 900;
operating EXPENSES, $4,000; taxes. $4,000;
total, 81 .G82. 600
Tie allowance proposed TO be made. as
potted by said committee of the who'll is: For in
terest. $40. 600; for operating expenses, $780,
GOO; for taxes. So 900; for dividends on stock
6S2000
This supersiructuIe of building up and In
creaSlng the valuation Is accepted for the pur-
pose OF showing that. even with such figures.
certain important POINTS have been overlooked,
ana IL Is lmmaterial, therefore, 10 show the in-
cOngrulties OF this ccnce, when the showing as
presented warrants ana calls for reduction at
The present time, as The first step to accomplish
by subsequent action next year water rates that
Will afford jus ice 10 all concerned.
REVENUE.
It appears from their exhibits that il business
principles are To characterize the action In This
matter the following revenue would suffice,
10 Wit For interest, $40, 600; for operating
EXPENSES, 100000; for taxes. $4,000; for
par value of stock, $495,0O0; total, Sl,5I7, 600.
This amount of revenue would b. ample for
all purposes, and. taking the revenue for Tie
year 1892 as The basis, S1,674,62S, would leave
surplus Of S157,S2 TO which estimated
increase OF revenue Of $4,000 for the year
would warrant The very moderate reduction of
1919 per cent, especially when operating
penses Of $4,000 would be an ample allow
anee IN lieu OF The $4,000 conceded.
This concession ought 10 be considered lib
efa. aud more regardful OF the pecunialy pros
perty OF tile corporation than AN income which
requires specl0us arguments TO enhance the
rates.
A II HE demands OF The corporation are granted,
except the rates of Ter cent OF The amount of
its present capital STOCK, and tue making of this
present stock at par value, on which dividend
OF az er cent Is allowed, is more than equal 10
dividend Of per cent on the amount OF actual
Investment. This Is certainly more than fair.
There can be no doubt that The stock OF this
corporation. with such a dividend guaranteed,
would be favored, and offer great inducements
Tor Investment. Tie present conditions, as EN-
bodied in his order, are substantially those OF
former orders tie reduction being such as will
oe amply reimbursed by the Increased collections
OF the ensuing year.
Practically The reductions are but nominal,
and merely bear the impress of a reduction.
GENERAL AND SPECIAL RATES.
The ratepayers demand The passage OF an
order on when they Will be IDLE 10 obtain, Mt a
moderate conversation. all The benefits of The
use OF water for ordinary purposes without being
suO1ecied under the caption OF general and
special rates TO mcre ased charges. The rate
payer, under generui rates. should have The right
without further charge 10 have at least one
basin, one closet, one urinal aud one bathtub for
Il may Justly be asked II that be not the case
what is the water furnished ana charged for I'M
der rates according TO square feet. II for any
purpose il must lie that for which a family Of
human beings require its use-for cooking, wash
Ing, bathing and sanitary purposes. he rates,
aplarently reasonable under the circumstances,
by means OF charging Tor the building and then
for ali purposes in detail for which the water
can or may be used by the family render this
system obpONiOus.
The second paragraph after the note in sec
lion l provides where additional floors more
than the ground floors. are occupied by one lam
lily, The rate Tor each such floor should be three
quarters Of the ground-Seryice rate, etc This
IS evidently wrong and could not be Intended 10
prevent a househo der who might live in two
or three story house from occupying the same
unless he paid for each Of the three floors oc-
cupled by his family zone family tlree-iourihs
OF, IN addition 10 the giOund-hOOr rates for each
tioor SO OCCUPIED, and so on through tie enttl 0
paragraph, which is not clear 10 most of lis pro-
visions. II this be 4 fact and the corporation
could charge (Which is undoubtedly tile case)
these rates The revenue would be greatly ILL
creased
METERS
Our citizens are entitled 10 the use OF meters
at least under certain circumstances. even II
your honorable board should indorse the prOpO-
stIOn that meters are only used 10 discover and
check waste and excessive use. II mat is the
only reason why meters are used then they
onght not To be permanently affixed 10 buildings,
and wafer charged and collected for when eX-
etSSVely used or wasted. by meter rates, and
when less water than The amount allowed is
used compelled TO pay by the general and
81 eclal rates. III meters are 10 be kept attached
10 premises exceeding two months then the rate
payer should have the right TO elect and pay for
water used by meter mea urement and not have
meters attached TO harass and annoy rate
payers II occasionally an excess OF water Is
used II meters are used only to check and
tepress waste. when that is accom- pllshed The
order should provide Tor their lie mOyal.
MIGRANTS.
The ch1ree for bydrants is fixed at 50 so each
TeT month, aud when IN appropriation Is made
foY Voc
number OF hydrants TO be erected during the
year, anu, Notwithstanding The ssity and de-
mard for the erection OF hydrants our citizens
are met wlIb the felonder thai tie funds Will not
permit Of any Increase and their demands are
relegated 10 the next fiscal year, aud the same
condition controls each year aud prevents that
protection 10 which they are entitled This CHARGE
ought to be fixed That the number Of hydrants
may not be controlled and checked by an unrea-
sOnable and unjust imposition Injurious TO prop
eriy and property rights.
The actual amount paid for hydranis for the
water used in protecting lie property OF our cIi-
Zens and The business OF This corporation, IN case
OF ire. GOes not represent but Is in excess of the
usual meter raies liked by The order, and the
erection OF hydrauts should not depend upon or
be subordinate TO fixed charges that prevent
IheIr erection. Tie order should fix the amount
TO be paid for bydrants erected, or 10 be erected,
without limit or charge for each hyGranI under
tile approprat ion made fOr each year, hundreds
OF which may not be used during the year for
FIRE purposes.
MAINS AND PIPES.
The order IS also deficient In one very mpor-
tant particular ana places no respOBsb lIty on
the corporation 10 extend ITS mains and pipes to
districts that may require them for family use or
for hIe protection. This order should provide
regulations by which the corporation should be
ole TO comply with all demands OF our citizens,
when ordered by your honorable board, TO extend
Its mains aud pipes.
Tie reductions demanded are to the house.
holders IN the establishment of water rates. for
unless this Is done the benefits OF a reduction,
even such as recommended, would not afford re-
lief to those most emitted thereto. If applied
then to general and special rates with The alter
aIions suggested, the benefit of such action Will
be apparent and appreciated by the ratepayers.
All OF which Is respectfully submitted.
l.. r. ELLERT. Mayor.