The morning call., 1894-09-21

the platform.
Delegate T. n. Wellin took the floor. He
was not ready. he said, TO adopt all that
appeared in the platform. There was one
section-that which related TO water rates
to which he took objection. II did not go
far enough, and it would not meet the ex-
pectations of the Democratic voters of San
Francisco.
That portion which allowed per cent
on the capitalization he thought was a
fatal defect. 1t would be easy for the
water company to get not only 5 per cent
on the actual property, but % per cent. He
favored specific reduction.
He was willing to allow the company to
get 5 per cent on the actual property in
use, but not on its speculative value The
chair suggested that Mr.. WeIlin put his
ideas in the form of an amendment. Mr..
Wellin then offered the following:
RESOLVED, That we pledge our Supervisors to
make clear cut reduction of 10 per cent on
present rates.
Delegate Marye arose to explain the po-
si1on of the Democratic party on water.
The chairman shut him off with the sug-
gestion that he would be heard at the
PROPER time. Mr.. Marye subsidized and the
chair proceeded to state the amendment.
He misconceived its purpOrt, however, and
his bluDder was received with laughter.
ANY number of delegates were on their
feet to put him right, but the chair was
piqued at his mistake and would only con-
cede the floor 10 Mr.. Wellin. The latter
stated his amendment again and then went
into statistics to show The correctness OF
his position.
Andy Clunie offered a suggestion which
he hoped Mr.. Wellin would accept in lieu
of his amendment. Mr.. Clunie read as
follows:
II move to strike from said report so
much thereof as provides for the fixing or
regulation of water rates by the Board of
Supervisors, and in lieu thereof move that
such matters be recommitt5d to the CON-
mittee on platform, with instruction to
proceed with the formation of plank,
adopting a specific order fixing water rates
during The term of office of the nominees
Of this convention for members of the
Board Of Supervisors, and that said order
shall be framed in cOnsonance with the
idea of Hon. Washington Bartlett and
Hon. E. B. Pond, as expressed by them
and recorded in the municipal reports of
this city and county during the period Of
time when they occupied the Office of
May and members of the Board of Su-
pervsors, and that such candidate for
nomination for member of the Board OF
Supervisors before this convention shall
sign a writing. pledging himself to vote
and work for the adoption of such order if
elected member of said Board of Super
yisors."
Mr.. Wellin said most emphatically that
be would not accept it, He wanted no
such proceedings ALI he wanted was
clear-cut reduction of 10 per cent, and that
was hardly enough.
Mr.. Clunie then offered his suggestion
as an amendment to Wellin's amendment.
2. +. Dunno arose and protested against
any such matter going before the commit
tee on platform. He didn'J think that
committee should be made into a commit
tee on water rates. 1t hadn't the time, nor
the inclination, nor the information. Mr..
Dunno was waxing eloquent when the
chair sugges ed he had better wait till the
amendment was put
When this had been done Andy Clunie
got the floor again, and in an avalanche of
words he said he desired to see this matter
referred to the committee on platform, so
that they could i1dorse a veto of eX-MayOr
Pond on the very same question. There
were cries of "Rats!' and "Put him out!'
aud Kisses, bat Clunie held the floor and
talked himself out of breath. When he
had finished there were more Kisses and
cries of 'Rats," but nobody seemed TO
have the least idea what Andy had been
talking about.
P. F. Dunno declared that the platform
committee ought not to be called upon to
do the work of the Supervisors. 1t was a
most extraordinary thing for delegates to
attempt to force such work on the commit
tee. For the purpose of getting the sense
of the meeting he moved that Clunie'S
amendment be tabled.
Clunie and half dozen other delegates
jumped to the floor and tried to speak. but
the chairman declined to rec ognize any of
them and put the amendment offered by
Clunie. The amendment was overwhelm-
ingly defeated.
George T. Marye Jr. made a talk, ex-
planning the views held at the meeting of
the committee on platform with reference
to the water question.
Sam BraunhaTt made a long speech.
Platforms, he declared, were like molasses
to catch flies. What we want" said he,
ARE men who will be platform in them
selves" He referred to the ordinance
which the Supreme Court had found ille-
gal. He knew the motives which inspired
the ordinance. The Spring Valley Com
pany. he declared, yearly paid out $4,000
to corrupt the Supervisors. 1t would be
better if the company could save this cor
ruption fund and reduce its rates.
p. +. Dunno inquired sarcastieally if
Mr.. Braunhart favored the platform or
Mr.. Wellin'S amendment.
81 favor Mr.. Welin's amendment" was
the reply, at which the convention cheered.
A. T. Vogelsang gave a statement of
what had been done in the committee
which drew up the platform.
r. P. Hammond Jr. made a talk in which
he said that MIR. We!in askek for 10 per
cent reduction, while the committee on
platform claim that the platform made a
reduction of 1914 per cent. He suggested
that Mr.. Weliu and Mr.. Marye talk the
matter over and see if Mr.. Weln coull
not be satisfied.
Delegate Wellin thought there was some
thing very singular between his views and
those of the members of the platform COM
mittee. 1t had been stated that the plank
in the platform called for reduction Of
16A per cent. If that was so, why did
they not so state it in plain figures, specific
and clear. How did this convention know
that the Board of Supervisors it might