The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-12
SPRING VALLEYS BLUNDER.

There are people who think the action OF
the Spring Valley Water Company in elimi-
mating the Mayor from the legislative force
OF the city showed e master mind as d.
reedng the affairs of the company. There
are others who regard the course of the
company as falling little short of the hara-
kiri act. The company without cause has
invited 4 contest of strength with the city.
To save the few hundred thousand dollars
that a new ordinance constructed in accord
Rnce with the Mayors suggestions would
cost, the company has raised the question
whether the city has any rights which con-
hict with the interests of the company. In
other words, does the company own the city
or is it simply an agent to supply water at
fair rates?
1t Is not worth while In this place to dis
cuss the question whether the power to
veto water ordinance lies with the Mayor.
It is enough to say that for many years the
right has been unquestoned. II is now de-
MED to save the water company from q
degree Of regulation which was within
the right Of the Supervisors to exercise.
The denial VIII certainly arouse the people
10 an assertion of their rights. There is
more than one way to bring the water COM
pany under proper control. The Spring
Valley Company does not own all the
water in the State. 1t may be said in fact
that it does not own any. 1t has acquired
certain rights of distribution which it may
retain so long as they are not abused. But
no corporation has right TO exact exorbi-
tant rates for necessary Of life, which is In
its original source a free gift OF nature.
At times. when the eXactions Of the Spring
Valley Company have driven consumers to
the point of revolt and the construction Of
new water works has been considered, men
of influence not over-friendly to the CON-
pany have urged the equities of the situa-
ton. Spring Valley, they have said, has
invested some millions in works to supply
the city with water The stock OF the CON-
pany is held in the city and State. and was
purchased in solid coin In perfect good
faith. Would 1t be right, these people ask.
for the city to use its corporate credit to I'M
pair the value Of the Spring Valley prop
erty? There has been a general DISPOSE
tion TO listen to such arguments SO long as
the company was not oVer-greedy. The
people have thought it better TO stand the
drain than to commit an act that might be
considered an act of bad faith. But the
course Of the Spring Valley Company in re-
spect TO the veto of the Rogers ordinance will
silence the compsny's apologists. There is
4 limit to forbeRrance. There are extor.
tons that cannot be tolerated. The fnno-
cent holders of Spring Valley stock may
take warning from the fate of other eorpO-
Tations that have attempted to set them
selves above the people. A year ago the
Pacific Mail considered its position impreg-
nable. 1t simply laughed at the exposure
OF its contract with the Southern Pacific to
keep rates up to the Southern Pacific
standard fOr a money consideration. Where
is the Pacific Mail now? Its steamers start
from the same wharf as formerly. but they
sail little better than in ballast.