The San Francisco call., 1897-02-18
Dr.. Clinton Moved to This Effect
at Last Evenings
Session.
INQUIRY WILL BE RESUMED ON
TUESDAY.
Dr.. Rottanz. Strongly Opposed Ad.
.'Journment, but Was Defeated
on Division,

The Board of Supervisors assembled
last night for the prospective purpose of
~fesnming the water rates investigation IN
committee of the whole, but move on
the part of Supervisor Clinton, the chair
man OF the committee, led 10 a postpone
ment until next Tuesday evening at 1880
o'cfock
III the Supervisors were present, to-
4eeiber with Attorney kellogg and Chief
Engineer Schussler, when Supervisor
:Clinton rose 20 his feet, and everybody
awaited formal molten to go into COM
-mittee of the whole. But this was not
10 be-.
q; Il would like to ask" said DR.. Clinton,
"lfthe Spring Valley Water Company has
yet fled in the Office of this board its an
'swers.to the questions asked them on the
Sd inst. by letter from the chairman of the
Mater Committee. l refer to the detailed
statement"
''Mr. Clerk" said the Mayor, has such
n statement been furnished?
No reports have been filed by the CON-
. pany except the reports received at the
last meeting" replied Clerk Russell. Il
communicated with them after the last
meeting in accordance with the instruc-
tjors of the board"
;Dr. Clinton-Has the com pany repre-
sentative here to furnish US with that in
formation?
I'VE are furnishing that information
from tiTe to time as you require IT," said
Mr. Kellogg. Il did not suppose you
could take it at any one session"
"a request was made" said Mayor
.Phelan, for q written itemized detailed
Statement as to stock and bonds and the
roster OF the company's employees, their
duties and compensation"
. Il understood" rejoined Mr.. Kellogg
THAT the motion with regard TO that was
postponed until this evening. We filed
all that was possible under the circum-
stances
.~ The clerk was instructed to read the
Water Committees communication of
: tae Sd inst.
IN ow,' resumed Dr.. Clinton when that
ceremony was over, 81 want 20 know if
THAT informatio is available
IA. portion is" said Mr. Kellogg.
fIhere will be enough information to
=: tccupy the entire session"
=. DR.. 'UIinton-I contend that in order to
. h1:the rates intelligently this board re-
qQires a, detailed written answer TO these
questions. The company has had ample
time TO comply with our request. I say it
:. .with'all due respect to the company that
fts:po!icy is one of evasion and not one OF
strict honesty. There is no disposition on
tie part of mem bers of this board to i'm
pose hardship upon the Spring Valley
Water Works. We want to be Just to
them and to our own consciences l say
. that in the absence of this informa-
ton this board is not prepared to
proceed with this investig alton, and since
the company has failed to comply with
the-law, failed 10 comply with our demand
. our legal demand-for this information,
we. are compelled to adopt other means
OF E'getting at it. / therefore move that
this board be empowered to employ If
. necessary an expert accountant to expert
the books OF the Spring Valley Water
. Works, and also that the same power be
given to the board to employ if necessary
an expert engineer or corps of engineers
10 investigate and examine and report
upop the present condition of the works;
the sources of supply and the daily supply
from said sources by gravitation; the
amount of water that can be supplied by
jumping; the condition and valuation OF
the pumping works, and such other in
formation as we may require. / offer that
as notion
'E rise" cried DR.. Rottanzi, ''to point
ol-order. I believe it is impossible to pro-
ceed in such a manner. The law states
that all information must be given by
statements signed by the president and
secretary, and that we must deal summa-
TIy with them Otherwise" Here DR.. Rot
tapzi took up bulky volume from a pile
iniiront OF MIN, and, turning to the legis-
. IaHEe act of Marcn 2, 1881, he quoted
the provision, which sets forth that
. any Board OF Supervisors failing to OBJ
serve It's duties as described by this act
shall be guilty of malfeasance in office.
" The company" he continued, must give
. us these q etailed statements. If they do
no; they are guilty of a misdemeanor. ac-
cordiDg to another section in this very ar
ticle.' 1 think that we should proceed
with this. investigation and find out every
thing, and if they do not comply with our
wishes: we must deal with them summa-
rily, according to law"
q sit. does not fellow" said DR.. Clinton.
:that if this information is supplied we
:must acce pit it, and for that reason l have
asked for power to employ these experts" "
II second the motion" said Dr. Dodge
briefly:
tSupervisor Rottanzi has made point
Of 'order," observed the Mayor, who then
guo.eo the section empowering the board
10 FIX the water rates annually. "Your
contention, doctor, is" he continued
that in the event of the company failing
to furnish the statements required by law
your only remedy is to prosecute them for
misdemeanor?"
That" replied Rottanzi, 'is what /
consider to be our duty"
az know just as well as DR.. Rottanzi,"
said DR.. Clinton, that the company has
not Compiled with the strict letter of the
Iawf As understand 1t the last Board OF
Supervisors requested this information to
be given an detail. They have absolutely
failed to do that. L have been waiting as
chairman Of the committee to receive this
information. Should we have the rresi-
dent. of the company arrested for misde-
meanor, and should they then be COM
pelled to supply the information, it does
not follow that we will accept it. l merely