The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-18

was the head, and said that his company
was Just now struggling into existence
and was competitor OF the Contra Costa
Company, and that To reduce the water
rates now would throttle this young car
poraIion and kill it in its inception, or al
any rate endaDgrr il very much by putting
down what Mr.. Dingee considered a fair
rate for water. Mr.. Moore asked that the
Council walt until Mr.. Dingse could ap-
pear before it before it took any action III
the matter.
Mr.. Dow wanted 10 know if Mr. Dingee
looked 10 the Council to keep up water
rates so that he might dispose of his water
bonds.
Mr.. Manuel said that representation
was the first law of nature. and that IL the
Council did not reduce water rates 1t
would be tarIed and feathered.
Mr.. Towle said that MIR. MoOre's CON-
pany had not filed a statement with the
Council as requested, and that il really
had no Official standing before the Council.
Moore said that his company existed.
however. and that the Piedmont company
was really too crude yet TO make stale
ment.
Mr.. Towle said that tomorrow night an
ordinance would be introduced, aud Mr..
Moore again begged that the matter be
postponed.
Manuel said that this Council. should not
take cogniZance of the Piedmont Water
Company because it came at this eleventh
hour and asked for time. He said Mr..
Dingee knew and everybody knew Just
what was going on.
Dalton said that the meeting had been in
session an hour and nothing had been
done. and that Mr.. Watknson ought to be
on the stand in order that the committee
could get to work.
Mr.. Martin arose here and said that this
new company had thrown some new light
on the subject. and he asked how could
this Council fix rates on the income OF the
Contra Costa Company when it is not
known what, With this new company in
the field. its income would be- He said ii
would be unfair TO fix the rates for one
company without knowing what the in
come of other companies would be.
Mr.. Dow SAID that Mr.. Martin usually
made goUd points, but he thought that this
was about the poorest lie ever made.
Mr.. Moore did not think il was neces-
sary for his company to file a statement.
Further argument was cut short by Mr..
Towle proceeding with the questioning Of
WatkinsOn, the accountant.
At this point Mayor Pardee took hand
and began on line of questioning. He
read from the Schuyler water report of
1885. which was gotten up to offset The
LIE Count report. The Mayor questioned
Mr. WatkinsOn from this report and Mr.
Martin begged that he might be allowed 10
answer, which he did, but without much
effect.
The cost of the water plant at the time,
by expert testimony, was but So, 900, O00
and Mayor PaTdee could not fully under
stand why the figure should be as high as
Sc, eco 600 now. The report also said thai
the figures in 1885 would be questioned,
because they were excessive at that time
These figures rather staggered the water
people, aud the Mayor. proceeding with his
line of questioning. had the enemy on the
run. MIR. Martin interrupted at one point
and the Mayor said: hold on, Mr.. Mar.
tin; you can chip in after awhile" This
Quieted the attorney and the Mayor pro.
ceeded. He go, the accountant pretty
well mixed in accounting for the loss OF
that extra S2000,000
Here the questions switched off on the
assessment question. Mayor Pardee
wanted to know why the property worth
Sc. coo, 900 was assessed for only ST26, 000
This question brought up several explana-
tons from rs many different sources and
nothing definite was arrived at on the sub
ject
The conversation after this was general
and informal. and out little of general in
terest was brought out. Mr.. Dow learned
by close questioning that the income of the
company In 1890 was $4,000; in 1891 was
$3.50 GOO; in 1892 S396,00O. and in 169;
S407. 900.
1t was brought out that all the money
expended by the company in any Improve
meniS, whether now In use or not, wa
considered in the cost of the plant. II wa
also brought outsthat persons with wind
mills using other water were given waite
at less rate than regular patrons. Ii
conclusion Mr.. Martin begged that tn,
Council deal leniently with the water com
pany in fixing rates and that it be given
chance to be heard before any action b,
finally taken; that there was ample time
because the Council was now clearly
within the law because of having com
menced operations toward the fixing u
rates, and that it had until July TO fix tht
rates.
The Council was about 10 adjourn, bu
Mr.. Dalton objected. He said the people
were looking to the Council to DO some
thing tonight and he thought sOmethinI
should be done. Mr.. Manuel said h
would like 10 ask again if the Tribune hat
/ its bills deadheaded. The Mayor ais
asked if the Times was in the same beat
Mr. Watkinson said he would look tn
matter up.
When questioned regarding the waite
company and politics. Mr.. Waikinson salt
not naturalized. A question developed TIT
fact that the president of the compan.
! drew a. salary of $500 per month.
Mr.. Dalton arose at this juncture (
| correct. he said. an impression that had 20
abroad to the effect that an ordinance ha
already been drafted. This was not true
| he said. nor had he stated that certain
reduction was certain.
After more further general conversation
the meeting adjourned. Chairman Capel
announcing that there would be a meeting
in the Mayors office afterward at whic
only Councilmen would be admitted. 1t i
! confidently expected that this caucus will
l.. 81. - - T..I
on an ordinance to be introduced to-mol
| row night.