The morning call., 1894-02-10
SEEKING LIGHT
AS to the Methods of the
Water Company.
The Oakland Courcilmen Are Finding
Out. if They Can, the Rates
Now Paid.

OAKLAND.-The Council met last night as
committee OF the whole TO take action regard
Ing the fixing of water rates for The city OF OAK
lana for the ensuing year.
All the members of the Council were present.
excepting MeS>rs. Barstow and Capel. mayor
Pardee was present, as was also 1Ies'uenl
Pierce Of the Contra Costa Company, the DOCK
-- keeper mr. WatkiDsou, and UfesteS fleIce' lhe
superintendent Of the company
Councilman Dalton was called 10 the chalT,
and Mr.. Manuel plunged al once into the merits
of the case. He asked MIR. Walkinson blunty
what the WORKS Of the company were worth,
and President Pierce answered S6,059, 900.
Mr. Manuel asked If the cost of mains laid
wears ago was considered 10 this amount.
Watkins0n said that any money paid out was
deducted.
Manuel said he was glad to hear that the cost
as fixed was not the present value.
It was developed that the company owns 1000
acres ofIand, aud controls many other acres.
IN answer to questions Watklnson said that
the charge Tor service connections on the east
. and north sides Of streets was $40 and ON rne
south and est sidrs II was SD so. 1t was
not true that service connections could be
made Tor 81 or So.
Manuel here asked some very pertinent
questions regarding the water works started by
man named Finch in West Oakland. wat
klDson was asked II the Contra Costa Company
did not 20 To Einch's customers and offer Them
water at half the rates they were paying The
bOOh keeper was not certain on this point, but
IL was developed that Finch is now an en-
pioye OF the Contra Costa Company.
Mr.. Manuel entered into the question OF re-
duced rates TO certain persons. He asked If
the Ilibune's water bills were deadheaded.
lie answer was that the Tribune building paid
water rates.
Mr.. Watkinson said in answer TO questions
that the company ala not offer MIR. Cameron a
dow rate II lie would not take the Diugee water !;
mat they were not reducing rates 10 Dingee's
MIR. atkinson said that Captain Shorey was
exempt from paving water rates because of con-
cesSlOnS made by MIN 10 keep tile water COM
panyS men OIL Jury duly.
Fir. Manuel saIu that he was Informed by
StOc holder that The company paid dividends OF
o per cent and over. and could stand 10 Der
cent reduction.
Mir WatKlnson said be was not responsible
Tor the opinions Oi others. lie staleu that
$4,000 N dividends was paid Ibis year.
which was ) 10 per cent, and that this all
the company did pay.
At tbs point Pres ldent IoWie suggested that
II would be a good IDEA 10 swear the water
comPany'S witnesses. Tie two Perces de-
HurTed 10 this.
President Pierce said that his people had
come 10 talk over the matter IN an informal
way and that he wanted no legal battle without
having lime TO make some PREPARATIONS 10
have lawyer, Witnesses etc, present.
Young Mr.. Pierce SAID that they did not
object 10 being sworn. but thai they wanted
lime 10 make some PREPARATION.
LIE tluef MI FieIce SAID something about
snap Judgment" etc, but Mir. Manuel
has ene0 10 inform him that there was no snap
Judgment being taken.
AT last Mr.. WaIkinson consented to be
sworn at word from the younger Pierce.
nut The very first question met Win very
strenuous objection. Mr.. Manuel said:
MI Nalkinson was the wriIeup for your
company Ia the Examiner few months ago
pad Tor out of the water company's funds Or
out oil Inc pockets OF individual stockholders ?''
lie objection was very prompt by young Mr..
Pierce and accordingly there was no answer.
Inc, next question was, "How much did you
pay Tor political purposes al The last election pr
More objection, y o answer.
Dir. WatklDSon said, ID answer TO a question.
mat there Vas an agreement whereby his com
pahy vas not 10 attempt 10 furnish shipping
VITA water Oh thr san Francisco side OF the
Day There was certain amount of money
received from the Spring VALLEY monthly on
account OF this. He denied that Mr. Dargie
had cDTne INTO the officr of the company at any
time ana got money Tor any purpose whatever
MI Manuel again touched upon the question
OF the Tribune water ates, and Mr.. Heitman
was on his feet with a strong objection 10 these
slurs cast upon tine only decent Republican
paper IN the town."
Why single oUI this paper? Why not men
ton other papers?" asked Hoffman, yebe-
mently.
Ii was soon evident that nothing could be got
in the shape vi information the way things
were going. and Mir. Dow asked that the
company be allowed little more time 10 get a
more lucid report in shape. This was Agreeable
10 all hands, and It was decided to put the mat
ter over until Monday Dight, when the Council
Will again TX night for consideration, which
viii probably be on Thursday night next.
There a very interesting c0nfab after the
meeting broke mp, in which, In an Informal
way, the Mayor, Councilmen Manuel, Barnard
Smell and the two Pierces TOOK part. Mr. Pierce
Is convinced that there will be a reduction
from the way he talk ed. He said:
Gentlemen, beg Of you not to XIII our com.
pany. We want to meet you people half way
and want to DO what is right Only give US
fair show"
Councilman was seen after the meeting
and lie said: lit will be a good deal warmer
IMAM IL was Tonight before we get through and
we are all prepared to go into detail. All the
methods OF this company viii Ee laid wide open
and when they are several heads in high places
Will fail IN the basket"