The San Francisco call., 1897-02-11

The Board of Supervisors in committee
OF the whole devoted upward of two
hours Yesterday morning to discussion
of the affairs OF the Spring Valley Water
Works Company. The information de-
rived from the investigation is proposed
to enable the board to fix intelIigently
and with justice, both to the company
and the consumer, the water rates for the
ensuing year. Herman f. a. Schussler,
the companys engineer, was the only wit
ness examined yesterday, and his testi-
mony was by no means completed when
the committee rose shortly before l
O'Clock. Attorney w. B. Kellogg ap-
peared as legal representative of the COM
pany, and IN speaking in its behalf as
sured the com mittee of its absolute will
ingness to comply with all reasonable de-
mands for such information as it is able
to afford. A small public audience fol-
lowed the proceedings with keen interest
throughout.
The board having assem- bled soon after
10 O. clock, with Mayor Phelan presiding,
the clerk called the roll, which was re-
sporded to by every member except Su-
pervisor Britt, who put in an appearance
few minutes later.
Supervisor Clinton, the chairman of the
Water and Water Supply Committee,
moved the following:
ResotUed, That this board resolve itself into
committee OF the whole to investigate and ju-
diciously consider the business affairs OF the
Spring Valley Water Works a preliminary
to fixing the water rates, required by law,
and that the board confer upon the committee
power to send for persons and papers and all
other powers possessed by 1t tor these pur-
poses (Statutes OF California, pages 360-361.)
The resolution was adopted, and on mo-
tion of DR.. Dodge Supervisor Clinton took
the chair.
DR.. Dodge asked if any further commu-
nication had been received from the water
company, or whether any of its represen-
tatives were present.
The chairman said that a recent COM
munication from the president, addressed
to himself, stated that he would be pres
ent to afford the committee all the infor-
nation asked for in the committees letter
OF the Sd inst, and any additional infor-
nation required.
Attorney Kellogg here rose and informed
the committee that he was present as
counsel for the company and would be
pleased to furnish said information. The
complaint to be made first of all, when he
would be able to deal with it.
The chairman drSly remarked that ev-
cry signature to the petition now being
circulated constituted a complaint in it.
self. The committee at present desired the
company's representative to answer its
questions categorically. 81 wish to say
here" he continued, that the commit
tees desire is to deal fairly by your COM
pany, the customers and the City, and we
expect and believe that you will furnish
us every possible assistance"
Mr.. Kellogg said that the question of
fixing rates had been before the board
ever since the adoption of the new consti-
tuition, and on all occasions the company
had furnished the desired information,
and not single com mplaint had been made
before that any thing was bein & kept back.
They now proposed to act in this respect
as they had acted in the past. Personally
he thought that stenographic report of
the proceedings would be more satisfac-
tory than a written statement, for which
reason there were witnesses present to
answer all the questions asked in the COM
plittee's communication.
The chairman said he thought that it
would be more satisfactory to this COM
mittee TO have a written statement in
answer to these questions.
Mr.. Kellogg-It would be almost i'm
possible to prepare response to your let