The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-14
WATER RATES QUESTION,
The Committee LamentS &
Dilemma in Fixing
Them.
THE COMPANY HAS A CINCH.
Cannot Get Lower Rates Until the
City Owns the Works..
Other Business.

Next to the resolution turning OUT the
street lights for six weeks, adopted by the
supervisors yesterday, the report OF the
Water Committee, telling the story of its
long struggle over the fixing of rates, was
the feature of the meeting. The report
said in part:
Your committee, realizing their responsibility
to the public to make such provision as would
enable not alone an abundant supply OF water
being furnished, but also larger mains to be laid
for protection against fire and an extension OF
the present system of supply, felt it their duty
under The existing circumstances to be just to
all concerned, and the conduct, management
and operation of the water works would ma
terially depend upon the income to be allowed.
The discussion of the principles to govern this
matter has taken wide range, embracing the
phases that have engaged public attention ever
since the power was conferred upon the board
to fix water rates.
In considering the management of the affairs
OF this company by its board OF directors and
its expenditures as compensation to its
officers and employees, and the acquisition of
property either for the purpose of extending
OF protecting its watersheds or to prevent by
that means any competition in its business,
also its policy in extending its supply to out
side districts and to the higher levels OF our
City, your committee felt that to some ext ent
any interference with this corporation would
be 1mprudent as to its conduct and manage
ment, even if in the requirement of property
the corporation was controlled somewhat by
able to acquire sources OF water supply.
There can be no doubt that this corporation,
with all experience OF over thirty years, has so
acted to control in its interests all the avail
able sources on this peninsula and in other
contiguous counties, and this has been the
means that has placed it in the position it now
holds, and whatever may have been its policy as
a present viewed, that 1t has grown and &C.
qulred this property principally from the reve-
nue. derived from its water rates, there can be
no relief in the matter of securing low rates
ffu lNrrf I1a
County.
The result of the deliberations of your
committee while discussing the amount of
revenue to be allowed the company SO as not
to interfere with or give it any reason to re-
train from carrying out its proposed improve
ments, and while adopting from time to time
various suggestions which, as additional in
formation was obtained, were reconsldered,
is q final resolve to recommend the passage of a
resolution fixing water rates at a reduction of
10 per cent on present rates for the year COM
mencing July l, 1895.
The reduction to the income of the company
will, however, be only about per cent of ex-
listing rates, as an increase OF from P2 % to 80
has been allowed for each hydrant per
hydrants on the LIST day of July to be 234O,
will make an increase in the amount to be
paid by the City of $40 200.
Your committee feel it but just to state that
this their first experience has demonstrated
that the persons who profess to know all about
the property OF the company, what the rates
little, as their minds have apparently been
made up on statements which are not based
upon the present conditions, but simply an
opinion as TO the operations OF said company
and the requirement of property which, in so
far as your committee have been able to ascer-
tain, is wholly unwarranted.
Your committee submit resolution fixing
the water rates as reported for such action as
your honorable board may deem proper
A resolution in conformity fixing the
rate as has already been reported was
passed.
The Assessor was empowered by resolu-
ton to employ 100 additional deputies, at
a compensation of 500 each per month, to
enable him to comply with the provisions
of the revenue law.
was instructed by resolution to turn overto
the Board of Education the Columb ia
School building on Florida street, it being
ready for use.
Resolutions granting contracts for fur
ishing supplies to the City institutions
were passed to print, as follows:
For furnishing supplies for the City and
County prisoners for the next fiscal year,t
the Pacific Marine Supply Company at
24.47 cents per head per day.
For furnishing grain feed, etc., for the
horses of the Fire Department, to D. Keefe
& Co., the bidding being as follows: oats,
first quality, 1.19T cents; middlings, 70
cents; ground barley, 81 cents; carrots,
100 pounds, 40 cents.
For furnishing wheat and oat mixed
hay ($12 % per tom; hay, first quality,
oat, in rope-bound bales (per ton $1D;
for hay, wheat, first quality ($12 S4); for
bran, first quality Goo pounds, II cents) (;
for barley-straw, first quality (72 cents, to
Scott d McCord.
For furnishing alfalfa hay for the Fire
Department and other department horses
($11 % per TOM, to Peters d Cowie.
For furnishing tule hay ($1 25 per ton),
to j. L. Vermeil.
An order was introduced by Wagner fix
ing the licenses for circuses at $25 per day
and S. for each side show and every show
under tent So per day. 1t was passed to
print.
A resolution appointing Assem- lyman
Frank A. Powers to be collector of
delinquent taxes was read and upon
motion of Hirsch was laid over for two
weeks.
A petition was presented from William
T. Thornton, asking for the passage of an
ordinance placing restrictions on bicycle
riders so as to regulate the speed and COM
pei them to notify pedestrians of their ap-
proach. Another came from John a..
Dickinson, requesting that the question as
to whether Lynch street is an open public
street be referred to the City Attorney.
And another from undertakes for the
revocation of the privilege accorded E. s.
Bulls to superintend the burial of INDECENT
soldiers, because of his unfair discrimina-
ton.
Lowell White and other property owners
sent in protest against granting fran
chise for steam railroad (the Valley road
on Railroad avenue.