The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-29
FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION.
Wants the Municipal Owner
ship Question Put to
the People.
Petition Accordingly Drafted to the
Mayor and Board Of
Supervisors.

The committee chosen by the Union for
Practical Progress night before last to de-
wise some plan for bringing into realiza-
ton the idea of municipal ownership of
public utilities went right to work yes
terday.
1t prepared petition to the Mayor and
Board of Supervisors asking that special
election be called to put the question of
the City owning its own light and water
service to a vote of the people. 1t took the
precaution of first seeking legal advice.
Following is the petition:
To the Honorable Mayor and Board Of Super
utsors Of San Francisco: We your petitioners,
residents and voters in the City and County of
San Francisco, respectfully ask that special
election be called and held for submitting to
the voters OF this City and County the question
OF municipal ownership of the waterworks,
gasworks and electric-lighting plants which
are now using our streets.
We request that at the election which you
are asked to call the voters be allowed to
signify their assent or disapproval Tin con-
formity with Article XII section Is of our con-
stitution) OF the mourning of such indebtedness
as may be found necessary to provide this City
with an adequate and proper water, gas and
electric-light supply.
We request further that they be allowed at
SAID election TO signify their preference as to
whether the present works shall be condemned
and taken at an appraised valuation or that
new works shall be constructed.
We request further that, preliminary to the
calling OF the election petitioned for, compe-
tent and reliable experts be directed to ex-
anime the water works, gas works and electric
light plants of this City and that they be di-
rected to ascertain as near as possible the
actual cost OF said works, and that they be re-
quired to report their findings, within six
months from date of their appointment, to
your honorable body; that the result of their
investigation be published in the daily papers
in concise form for three weeks, and that at
the expiration of such time the election be
held.
We request that all works undertaken be
under the direct control of the City, and that
as far as possible California products shall be
used, ii said undertaking receives the assent
OF the voters of this City and County.
Requesting your favorable and prompt &C
ton, we subscribe ourselves, your petitioners:
John NJ. Reynolds, +. W. Lynch. J. A. Anthony,
J. E. Scott, II. T. Clifford. committee of the
Union for Practical Progress.
The following letter is to accompany the
petition:
To the Honorable Mayor and Board Of Super
vfsorS, San Frdncisco- Herewith
we inclose petition, which we as committee
Of the Union for Practical Progress conforming
to the wishes of our society forward to you.
We very respectfully ask that the matter be
seriously considered by your honorable body.
Yours very respectfully, John NJ. Reynolds, f.
w. Lynch, ]. A Anthony, J. Z. Scott, II. T.
Clifford, committee.
Chairman Reynolds, speaking of the
committees plans, said a constitution for
the organization of municipal ownership
clubs had already been formulated and the
work of forming clubs all over the City
would at once begin.