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

OF the sixth class the very power which Ala
media, city OF the fifth class, is now seeking
to have definitely conferred upon IT, So the
having power expressly conferred upon it
which is not ex pressiy conferred upon city
OF the next higher class.
While II is TO the interest OF private corpo-
rate capital TO obtain monopoly OF the
whole electric service OF the city OF Alameda,
The agents thereof do not announce that as
their intention. They recognize the fact that
and their attack is directed 10 the weakest
point of that entrenchment. That weakest
point is in tine lack OF explicit authority con-
ferred by law upon the city TO sell electricity
10 its citizens. And in their hopes the city's
opponents have received encouragement oy
the obiter dietum OF Judge Frlek, heretofore
referred 10.
We are led to expect strong opposition to the
passage OF the proposed amendment. Muen
money has already been spent by those whose
interests are antagonistic 10 the city, ana they
have vet q large fund 20 draw upon. They
Will not make an open fight. They will fight
as heretofore, under cover. Their endeaVor
will be 10 prevent the bill from coming 10
vote. They will lose no opportunity 10 oelay
it in committees and on the flies OF the Senate
and Assem- bly,. For they know that II II once
comes to g final vote 1t VIII carry 0y large
aiority.
We are also informed that an effort will be
made by the same interests TO smuggle In an
amendment prohibiting all municipal eorpo-
rations from selling TO their citizens electricity
for lighting or other purposes.
A word as to the organization which makes
this appeal.
The Municipal Ownership League of Ala
media is body having 6 mbersh1p OF over
700 voters, citizens OF Alameda It IS made up
without regard to political lines, ana on lIs
executive committee each OF the three Iesdlng
political parties Is represented Ii is not
club OF typical rciormerS. Inc majority OF It's
members are conservative men, some OF them
ulLra-conseTvaiive. Many OF them are wealthy
and prominent citizens
The present law (seetion 764, subdivision 10,
Political Codel reads: ''The Board of Tt ustees
OF such city shall have power 10 con-
struct and maintain and TO permit the con-
struction and maintenance OF electric
A bill containing the amendment desired by
the league has been drawn BIZ the City Attor-
ney OF AlGmeds, E. L. Taylor Esq. IL has been
in troduced in the Senate By Senator John l.
Beard, and is known as Senate bill No. 9. Ithas
also been introduced in the Assem- bly, by Hon
ora bic James A. Waymire, and is there known
as Assembly bill No. I24. 1t proposes 70
amend sertion 764 of the Political Code by add
ing to subdivision thereof the following
TO purchase, lease or construct water Works
and electric plant and all machinery, eondue-
tors and appliances necessary therefor; and 10
supply said city with and TO sell 10 the tnhao-
itants thereof water, light, heat and power.
We appeal TO the friends of municipal in
dependence, we appeal TO all who wish To see
the cities OF this State freed from private cor
porate contros, 70 join with Us in this fight
Ours Is q contest for the principle or munich
pal ownership, which principal was lndorsed
by every political convention IN our county
and by many others OF the State during the
last cam paign.
We ask the press throughout the State TO
give Us their support. We ask all who are In
sympathy with Us 10 aid in pushing our pro-
posed legislation TO successful issue
F. H. MCCORMICK, Pres.
L. : CLARK VI. D.. Fice-Pres.
J. J. ToBIN.
EDWARD A. Won SCHMIDT,
GEORGE E PLUMMER,
GREEN MAJORS,
HERMAN kRUSI
Executive Committee
Municipal Ownership League of Alameda
Attest: BRAINARD c. BROWN. Secretary.
Alameda, January II. 1897.