The morning call., 1894-09-22

UHe convention, your candidate for
Mayor" said Chairman Deuprey.
Three cheers and tiger were given as
Mr.. James came forward bowling. They
were repeated. and it was a minute before
he began reading from the paper in his
hand.
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen of the
convention" he said. Il thank you for the
honor that has been conferred upon me. |
am no stranger to you. My personal
record ana my political record are known
10 you. You need never be ashamed of
any act of mine. either politically, officially
or in the capacity of citizen. l Will stats
ilght here, and | want you all to hear it,
mat L am not under The control of any
trust, corporation or boss, and l have the
courage to assert my manhood in the
peoples interest at any and all times"
MIR. James did not make much OF an i'm
iression with his oratorcal effort: in fact,
the convention rath,r laughed at his
efforts. but he kept bravely at 1t. and con-
cluded In a savo of cheers and cries of
Good boyi" Good byw
Following the speech of acceptance by
Jefferson G. James, the Forty fifth Dis
trict announced that it had nominated
Joseph n. Marks for Assem- blyman. The
nomination was ratified by the convention.
The following communication was
handed to the chairman. but in the confu-
sion of the proceedings failed 10 receive
reading:
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 81, 1894.
Hon. Eugene " Deupreg-DEAR SIR: II was
decided by our Supreme Court in 1889, in the
case Of the Spring Valley " alter WorNs against
The City and County. that The Board of Super
Vlsors cannot arbitrarily and without judicial
investigation fix a rate which The water company
considers ruInous 10 its interests In view OF this
cisiOn it has been the perennial duty of the
Supervisors 10 make a thorough investigation
OF the subject IN order to lay legal foundation
for material reduction OF water rates; ana
they have had ample power TO do so. This
they have never done, and the wafer company
only had 10 object TO auy reduction in order TO
force retreat by the authorities 10 the former
and higher rates; that is, rates satisfactory TO
the company. Virtually The water company
has, under this decision and by taking advan-
tage OF the nOn-actiOn OF the Supervisors at all
times, fixed Its own rates.
BY the platform Of the Democratic municipal
convention now iu session the candidates for
Supervisors are pledged 10 make a clear-cut
reduction OF 10 per cent; that Is they pledge
10 arbitrarily fix water rare in violation OF
the law. Such pledge is, of course, no pledge
who will not vote for candidates who are un-
pledged on this question.
write this for the purpose of calling your
attention TO this matter In due time, and
through you to charge the convention with no.
tce of this error in order that it cannot be
hereafter claimed thai 1t was que TO an over
sight. The only prop-r pledge, ia MY humble
opinion, is one requiring rates 10 be fixed at a
figure which will produce a reasonable income,
n pa a ind
amounting 10 over twenty millions OF dollars,
for mat is the company's own exaggerated val
uation, but on actual investment. For Instance.
profit Of 10 per cent on just valuation of the
property actually owned land used" by the
company over and above expenses OF supplying
the commodity.
This valuation the Board OF Supervisors has
full authority TO ascertain, and they should be
pledged TO make the proper investigation and
ascertainment. In this calculation the fran
chises-that is. the right to dig up and occnpy
the streets and enjoy a mOnopoy-shOuld not
be considered. or made basis of calculation,
for these were granted by the people without
consideration and are enjoyed by the company
temporarily. These franchises constitute the
largest item in The valuation represented by The
outstanding stock Of the Spring Valley Water
Company.
a careful estimate by competent engineers
has placed the cost to reproduce the company's
plant at between four aud five millions OF dol
lars. Yours very respectfully,
7. c. SPELLING.
Quite number of motions were made
toward the close of the nights session.
An attempt was made to have the conven-
ton meet at an earlier hour to-day, but tue
motion TO that effect was lost, and the
convention will not resume ito session un-
iii o'clock Tonight