The San Francisco call., 1897-06-09
Dr. DODGE MOVES
+ TO RECONSIDER
But the Majority Decline
and the Water Order
Is Adopted.
The Supervisors End the Long
Contest BIZ Staining With
the Haskins Figures.
Considerable Feeling Aroused Over
the DiscusSion-Tribute to the
Dead Fireman,

According to DR.. Dodge the Board OF
Supervisors yesterday held post mortem
over the water question. Although dead,
they diagnosed its case at great length.
DR.. Dodge renewed his motion for re-
consideration of the vote by which the
Haskins order was passed at the last
m, citing, but it was defeated by the same
vote by which the order was passed last
week, and then the formal vote passing
the order finally vas taken.
There was a goOd deal of talk, the
figures were gone over and over again, but
the final vote as disposition of the mat
fer was foregone conclusion and so
not much interest was manifested. The
feature of the discussion was Supervisor
Britt's speech in defense of his own posi-
tion. Mr.. Dodge, however. returned to
the charge and renewed the "post-mor-
tenn"
haskins said nothing during the after
noon. Delaney made a short declaration
on his own behalf saying he voted for the
HRskins' order because it was the best;
that 1t fulfilled the pledge made to the
Democratic convention Of reducing the
revenue OF the Spring Valley to per cent
on the capital stock and that was why he
was for it.
II you should find hereafter that it did
not so reducs the revenue OF the company
would you vote next year to cut down the
hCures IN proportion?" asked Mayor
Phelan.
We'll, that Is question I would not
care 10 answer just now" SAID Delaney,
and the lobby, which was well filed,
laughed outright.
Yesterday morning a meeting OF the
oOm mlttee appointed by the Democratic
Municipal Convention TO see that the
nominees Of that convention who should
be elected would fulfill their pledges W as
held at the Mayors office. The COM
mittee is composed OF DR.. D. F. Ragan
(chairman of the conYention), Alexander
l. Nolgelsang chairman of the commit
tee on platiorm) and w. Z. Sullivan
Chairman of the General Committee)
They prepared and adopted an address 10
the Democratic mem bers of the Board of
Supervisors, and while the board was in
session the address, signed by the three
persons named, was LAID before them. 1t
reads as follows;
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal, June s, 1897
Dear Sir: BY resolution adopted by the
Democratic party OF this City and County in
last N municipal convention assem- bled We the
sgners OF this letter, were appointed q com
mlttee ior the purpose of securing a strict IN
forcement OF the platform by that convention
adopted, and by you indorsed and subscribed,
before receiving your nomination for the
ofnce you now hold.
Plenary powers were conferred upon this
committee and we were directed to report
hack 10 the next municipal convention the
result OF our efforts in this behalf. The plat
form upon which our ticket went forth to the
people provided IN at such reduction should be
made in the cost of water to our citizens as
won leave the water company revenue suffi-
Gent 10 pay interest at the rate of per cent per
snnum upon its capital stock. Reductions in
the Price OF gas, electric light and telephone
were also called Tor
When your honorable board on May 81.
1897. adopted resolution 10 the effect that in
liking the rates of the Spring Valley Water
Company 1t be allowed but ) per cent interest
on lis investment, instead OF per cent ss
heretofore, we felt that you were thoroughly
in earnest, and that the pledges of the Democ-
Tacy ot TINS ~lty to Its citizens would be full
filed by you. The matter OF adoption of any
schedule OF water rates conforming to the
spirit OF the party pledge would have been
sUmclent, no matter by whom II should have
been proposed.
We commend the delfberation Of your board
upon TINS vital question up 10 the time of the
adoption OF the Haskins ordinance, but we de-
?. ore the fact that undue haste was exercised
IN is adoption. Had the board given this Or
d1nance proper consideration, we feel that the
members would have ascertained that il did
not provide such reduction as was claimed tor
Il by The gentleman who introduced it: and
We nave no hesitation in saying that It's frel
adoption would be a clear viol alton OF the
spirit OF your resolution of May n 1897 and
also an unequivocal reputation OF the pledge
exacted from you by The Democratic munich |
pal convention and contained in It's platform
Therefore, in the name Of the Democratic
party, We hereby request you 20 reconsider all !
Steps already taken ia behalf OF the Haskins
order, 10 reject said schedule and to adopt
such rates as viii redeem the pledges OF your
self and OF our party.
In conclusion we beg to say that in our re-
mort 10 the next municipal conyen ton we
hope that We may tru utnfully state that this
board redeemed is pledges and the proIni Sc
al the convention, and We hope that 1t shall
not be our painful dut- to hold Cd to the
sUorn of the Democracy and the people OF this
m fz,1a
breaking Supervisor. Yours respectfully,
The question of the water order did not
come up until late in the afternoon. DR..
DCdge moved the reconsideration, and
haskIns submitted the following state
ment:
Mr.. President and Members of the Board Of
Supervisors of the city and County Of San Fran
cisco GEHTLBMEN; AS some doubt has been
expressed about the amount OF revenue that
viii be derived from the new schedule for
water "a Ies, introduced by myself and adopted
by the board, II being claimed that il win
yield more than per cent dividends upon the
Spring Valley Company's capital stock, de-
sire 10 present statement which VIII bear the
closest inVes tigation, and will, in nv opinion
convince any feir-minded person that the
order we have passed is in keeping with our
/ desire first to call attention TO the orders
introduced by other members. which in my
opinion would not give the company 5 per
cent interest on its capital stock, and would
no doubt have caused it to appeal to the
courts for q further adjudication OF the rates.
This action no mem Der of the board desired.
The Clinton substitute for the Water Com
nnittee order provided for the following reduc-
tions:
3 per cent on household rates. $152, 5o4
5 per cent on me rates...........--..... 27,750
20 per on shipping rates. s.............. 5000
Tote ..-----s.-..- ss.-.- '.--.- %1oo,zoA
To meet this cut DR.. Clinton proposed the
following:
per cent of dividends on capital stock
OF $12, ,SG0OOO. $lIeOOO
Increased business $4,000
Total. ......Sls4OOO
Supervisor Dodge offered substitute pro-
vidIng for reductions as follows:
Is per cent of householder rates....... $l42 e72
61a per cent or meter rates........ 5000
25 per cent on shipping rAtss...........-- 1l.z5O
TOTAL ..-'-..-.'' $500 %-0''~0'
Supervisor Dodge said this would be met Dy
the following:
l per cent reduction in dividends on
stock -...-- q % UVV
Increase in business oS'OVO
r, SIa1 mn |
IOsa! g. ~1o1roOO I
It will be noted that Supervisors Clinton and |
Dodge both estimate the increase of business |
at the same amount and there was but little |
difference in the aggregate of their reduction |
In rates.
The order introduced by myself provides for |
in rates as follows:
~ rt,1lN rafn