The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-13

ment which would place their right Ito
Continue that municipal ownership, which
they nave found so satisfactory in the
past, beyond the reach of dispute.
In this fight for municipal ownership
Alameda has already achieved q decided
victory. When the board of trustees de-
clded 10 improve the old JenneY plant,
they were opposed by an injunction This
injunction was set aside The State law
also specifically grants to cities of the
sixth class the right that Alameda, which
oelongs to the next class higher, wishes TO
feel secure in exercising.
G. E. Lloyd, from whom the old Jenney
plant was purchased, is believed to be the
nan most active in instigating the oppo-
sition.
1t is calculated by the league that the
clty's continued control of the electric
lighting will result in the reduction Of tax
alton 10 to Is per cent, and that it will be
able TO furnish an arc-light system OF
street-lghting free of cost to the taxray-
ers- The petition runs:
CARD To THE PUBLIC
The Municipal Ownership League OF Ala
media solicsts at the hands OF the legislature
an amendment which will in specific terms
give 70 the city of Alameda the right TO sell to
its citizens electricity for purposes of light,
he at ana power.
In the endeayOr TO secure the passage of this
amendment the league hopes and expects 10
nave the support OF the whole Stste excepting
only those whose private, personal interes Is
are at variance with public ownership.
We therefore desire TO place our cause before
the people at large as wei as before the Legis-
lsture itself.
For more than eight years the city of Ais
meds has owned its electric light plant.
Within the past two years the Board OF
trustees OF the city determined 20 enlarge the
pIsnt by adding engines and dynamo of the
most approved pattern ard enlsrging the
building 10 contain them
Upon this determination being announced,
suit was brought by J. 7. Fleming, citizen OF
Alameda, 70 enioin the Trustees from making
the proposed improvements and paying money
therefor. The case of Fleming vs. Forderer ct
a. (the defendants being the Trustees of the
city OF AlGmedal was adjudicAted before Hon.
4. l. Prick, who dissolved the temporary in
junction which he had granted and decided
IN favor OF the city, holding that the City
Trustees had the power to make the proposed
Improvements, inaSmuch IRON the testi-
mOny II appeare that the said improvement Is
were Necessary for the better lighting OF the
streets and for pumping water for street
sprinkling, but staung-(snd 10 this we desire
TO draw particular attentionl-tnst the law
gave them no authority TO sell electricity for
private use.
Inasmueh as this point was not st issue in the
case, this statement OF the learned Judge may
be regarded SIS obfter dic1um In fact il is so
regarded by our City Attorney, E l.. Taylor
Esq, aEd By our Board OF City Trustees. For
the city Is continuing to sell light as hereto
fore, and since the enlargement of the plant
has been completed is supplying to all cIti-
zens who desire l. ineandescelts as rapidly SIS
the necessary connections car be made
It's eontended BY our City Attorney that the
learned Judge WAS in error IN stsJlng that the
sale OF electricity Tor lighting by the city to
citizens IS an Illegal exercise OF power, and ne
is supported by many able lawyers in the be-
LEI that subdivision Is OF sec 764 OF the
Political Code by Implication confers ali
necessary authority Tor such action.
Nevertheless the threat of interested parties
hangs Trustees
prevented from making such sale.
Hence the desire on the part OF the citizens
OF Alameda TO have the statute amended so as
20 give, in specific tones, the desired power.
It Is worthy OF note that in 1891 the Legisla-
ture amended the law so as 10 grant TO cities