The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-27
TO Cheaper WATER RATES
The Union for Practical Prog
reSS to Raise a Political
Issue.
FOR MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
A Plan Of Organizing Assembly Dis
triCt Clubs to Diminish OFF,
Cial Corruption.

A good deal is expected from this even
ing's meeting of the Union for Practical
Progress at Builders Exchange Hall, IS
Post street. The subject for discussion is
Municipal Ownership of Water, Gas and
Electric Light Works.
And something far more than a mere
discussion is looked for-action, in fact.
Plans have been brewing for several weeks
past. Local clubs have been organized
and methods pretty thoroughly discussed
for the formation of an organization
whose purpose it will be to make the
municipal ownership of public utilities a
living issue in the next local campaign.
AT least a permanent central organiza-
ton will probably be formed at the meet
ing this evening, and the further plan will
be to continue the organization of AS
sembly district clubs throughout the City.
Those who at present form the nucleus
OF the mo vement claim that there is al
ready very strong public sentiment in
favor of the City owning its own water, gas
and electric light plants and operating
them for the sole benefit of the consumer.
''All that is needed now" said John M.
Reynolds-who, as vice-president of the
society, will preside at this evenings meet
ing-"all that is needed now is to organize
and crystalline that sentiment and belief.
1t takes no lengthy argument to convince
the man of average intelligence that it is
for his personal interest as well as for the
best interests of all the citizens, to have
such naturally public functions as gas,
water and electricity plants owned and
operated by the City for the citizens.
Every man who has given the matter
any thought realizes that if the City of
San Francisco owned its own water plant
the water rates could and would be re-
duced to the consumer fully one-half
The same is true with gas and electricity.
Why should the people OF this City be pay
ing big prices for their water and light to
the end of enriching the stockholders of
the water and light companies? Great
fortunes have been already made out of
these enterprises. In other words, the tax
payers have made several new millionaires
simply for performing public duty that
the taxpayers could have performed for
themselves far better and far cheaper.
But the saving in actual money to the
taxpayers is the smallest end of the argu-
ment. An honest Board of Supervisors is
the great thing to be desired What is it
that causes all this official corruption?
Simply the existence of these big corpora
tons that depend for their existence and
profit upon the favor of the public.
Dub tucy w uOt COuIG Tile IdNOI
by cheap rates and honest treatment.
They find it cheaper and more profitable
to buy the peoples official servants. Now,
if these corporations were removed, official
municipal corruption would, in a very
large measure, cease. That is really the
great end to be obtained by the munich
palization of the public utilities.
Yes, there is a stock objection always
offered to the plan-that this would create
more offices and more DatrOnape for the
politicians. but two very simple little
words of two syllables each quickly bury
out of sight this objection-civil service re-
form. That would do it. The plan works
very we'll in the postoffice, does it not? 1t
would work equally as well in City affairs.
The experiences of the Eastern cities have
proven the great benefits to be derived
from this system"
M. ]. Ferguson will address the meeting
this evening, and the Rev. ]. E. Scott and
several other prominent speakers are ex-
pected.