The San Francisco call., 1897-02-24
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE DISCUSSES MAINS.
METERS AND HYDRANTS AND EXAMINES
THE WATER COMPANY'S MAPS.
Dr. Clinton Was Forced to Amend Earlier Resolution and
Make the Appointment of Exprts Subject to
the Boards Approval

Board of Supervisors met last night to
continue the water rates investigation,
and DR.. Rottanzi was thereupon appointed
10 preside. Chief Engineer Schussler and
. Attorney Kellogg were both in attend
ance, and the former was again called
9 upon, somewhat later in the evening, 10
give evidence, but before this stage was
reached the board INDUCED in some pre-
liminary discussion.
What is your pleasure, gentlemen"
queried Dr. RottanZi.
DR.. Clinton said he wished to offer
another resolution in place of that which
was adopted at the previous meeting,
relative to the employment of experts.
In the latter resolution the word board
had been used instead of committee"
y The present resolution was as follows:
Resolved That the committee on water and
water supply if deemed necessary in its Judg-
ment, is hereby authorized and empowered to
employ an expert accountant to examine and
report upon the books and accounts of the
Spring Valley Water Works Company, and II
deemed expedient said committee is further
empowered to employ an engineer or corps OF
engineers to examine into the works and
sources of supply of said Spring Valley Water
Works, the sources utilized in supplying the
CITY and County and the capacity of said
sources to furnish the daily supply; property
owned and not utilized and its valuation, the
condition of the works and a comprehensive
estimate of operating expenses, and the valua-
ton of all property of the company, including
reservoirs pipes and mains, with such other
infornaSSop as may be developed in the ex-
aminaEon, that may be pertinent to the in
QuiTy'as TO character, condition and value OF
the property belonging to the Spring Valley
WatersNorks.
Supsrvsor Haskns said the City al
ready lad two experts in its employ, and
he thought that that portion of the reso-
luton should be stricken out.
Supervisor Britt said he would like to
ask if at the last meeting of the board
action was not taken on this identical
proposition?
DR.. Clinton pointed out that the object
OF the present resolution was merely to
correct an error contained in the first.
The original resolution conferred power
. upon the board, instead of the committee,
which was absurd. If there were experts
in the employ of the City, the committee
certainly would not overlook them.
Britt, continuing, said he was opposed
to the resolution The board was re-
=, sponsible for the action of any expert ap-
pointed, and if il were deemed necessary
to make such an appointment the power
certainly ICiudIh WIN bho wal u,
since the responsibility rested with the
latter. The fixing of the rates would de-
pend upon the recommendations of the
experts, and he contended that this privi-
lege should not be given oyer to any COM
mIttee. Even as member of the Water
Committee he did not desire to force upon
the board any expert unacceptable to it.
Supervisor Delany thought the resolu-
ton premature. The witnesses hitherto
. examined had given the committee more
information than was really necessary,
and he held that the investigation should
be continued. Seeing that the board was
pledged to retrenchment he was opposed
to the creation of new Offices, and there
fore to the resolution,
DR.. Dodge said that if the report of the
experts were to be accepted as final he
would be opposed 10 any shifting of the
responsibility, but if the committee ap-
pointed them to obtain information which
the committee could not itself obtain, in
order to arrive at an intelligent con-
clusion, he could not see where the OBJ
lection arose to their appointment. The
small expense involved. in view of the i'm
portance of the inquiry, should not cut
. any figure. He also thought that the ap-
pointment should be left to the judgment
of the committee, nor did he believe that
the board would have any cause to COM
plain of its action if this were done. The
trouble about the information hitherto
supplied was that it was not Just what the
committee desired, and In view of the
difficulty experienced in obtaining the in
formation the committee did desire, he
did not think that this uncalled-for in
formation should be taken In favor of the
company. The committee had asked
specific questions at the beginning of the
Investigation, which had not yet been an
swered.
Supervisor Britt again voiced his objec-
tions to any surrender of the boards au-
thority to the committee in this connec-
ton.
DR.. Clinton said that the board seemed
determined 10 misunderstood him on this
point. The resolution was desi ned to cor
rect the earlier one nor did he want to go
outside the employees OF the City in en-
gaging an expert ''It." continued he
you are going to emasculate the commit
tee at this stage of the proceedings de-
sire to resign. do not ask you to employ
an engineer now. 1t may not be neces-
sary. But if it is we should be able to do
at once. do not think l am egotistical
when l say that believe the board should
have sufficient confidence in US to repose
this power in the committee
Supervisor Haskins argued that the
power of the board should not be segre-
gated IN committee of five.
Supervisor Sheehan arose to ask who
had employed the stenographer in this in
vestigation.
DR.. Clinton replied that it was custom .
ary for the chairman of the committee to
engage the stenographer, but that on this
occasion the board, with its usual desire
Tor patronage, made the appointment.
The resolution was then put to the vote
and defeated on a division o; TO 4, De-
vaney, haskins Delaney, Sheehan. Nor
ton, Britt and Rivers being in the neg
alive.
DR.. Clinton then moved that the Com
mittee on Water and Water Supply be
empowered, if necessary, to employ an
engineer, or corps of engineers, and an ex-
pert accountant 10 assist the committee in
this examination, and that their selection
be subject to the approval OF the board.
The motion carried by 10 to /, Delaney
alone voting in the negative.
The clerk read the recent opinion rem.