The San Francisco call., 1896-02-15
The Grand Jury Asks the
Supervisors to Reduce
Rates.
SPECIAL CONTRACT BURDENS.
Jurors Called Into Court Concerning
the Indictment of Peter F.
Lane.

The Grand Jury yesterday responded to
a subpoena to appear before Judge Belcher,
Department IL, Superior Court, and an
swer questions concerning the indictment
of Peter f. Lane.
Carroll Cook, counsel for Lane, pro-
pounded to each juror the following ques-
tons:
did you take part in finding the indict-
ments against Peter F. Lane?"
Had you before that matter was brought
before the Grand Jury formed any opinion
on the subject?"
"Had you read about the case or heard
anything relative to the defendant 2''
Grand Juror John F. Cline acknowledged
that he had read about the case and formed
partial opinion that Lane was guilty.
Replying to questions addressed to him
by District Attorney Barnes, Mr.. Cline
said: "The opinion was formed generally,
and not on this particular case. did not
discuss the case outside of the jury ROOM f"
Carroll Cook asked the witness this uues-
ton:
'Can you declare under oath that your
opinion as grand juror was not influ-
enced by the newspaper reports which you
read?"
The witness replied affirmativeIy.
Other Jurors testified that they had
formed no opinion whatever before the
matter was brought to the Grand Jury.
c. f. Curry, County Clerk, was the only
witness called by the Grand Jury at the
regular session yesterday afternoon, al
though frequent conferences We're held
with District Attorney Barnes.
Mr.. Curry was in the jury-room fully a
half-hour. He was asked all sorts of que S
tions concerning his management of the
County Clerks Office, and particular ques-
tlons relating to Morris collection of fees
for notarial certificates.
Mr.. Curry could not state the amount of
money which Morris collected, or whether
all that was collected had been turned in
The opinion was expressed by members of
the Grand Jury that Morris collections in
the aggregate did not constitute a large
sum.
Among the witnesses in waiting yester-
day we're DR.. Pescia and John Fey. Some
weeks ago the latter was assaulted by
King McManus and two of the Kings
kinsfolk and received bruises and wounds
which required medical attention. Late
in the afternoon the witnesses were ex-
cused, but the information was received
that the case had not been ignored. Next
Friday the subject may be taken up again.
The Grand Jury is in possession of i'm
portant documentary evidence concerning
tilc SHdl Sc5 lOI NdIcI W SHIPS dC
the wharves of San Francisco. The dis
elimination is said to be startling. In
some cases the water is supplied at fixed
and reasonable price per 1000 gallons,
which Will enable a vessel to get a suffi-
cient supply for $25 or $50, while IN other
cases the cost runs up TO $40 for ship.
Learning that the Board of Supervisors
would proceed next week with the duty of
fixing water rates for the ensuing year the
Grand jury sent an important communi-
cation to the board, recommending re-
duction OF rates to consumers.
Particular attention was directed to the
onerous tax placed on the shipping in the
harbor of San Francisco, and reference was
made to the special privileges enjoyed by
the firm Of Goodall, Perkins & Co. in sup
plying vessels with water. Under this
contract or special privilege vessels are
taxed as high as 81 25 per 1000 gallons. In
some cases monthly rate of $40 is charged
to steamers that make two trips month
and do not use more than 1900 gallons OF
water on trip.
The purpose of the Grand Jury is to i'm.
press upon the Supervisors the necessity
OF relieving the commerce of San Fran
cisco from unjust and oppressive burdens
1t is contended that it costs but little more
to supply ships at the wharves than it
does to supply manufacturing establish
ments on the water front. On shore the
water is furnished at from 80 to 40 cents
per 1000 gallons. A simple hose attach
ment constitutes about the only extra
item OF expense in supplying vessels.