The San Francisco call., 1897-06-03
THE WATER
RATES ARE
NOW FIXED.
The Supervisors Inadver-
tently Adopt a New
Order.
ALL DAYS SESSION OF
THE BOARD.
A Tangle of Technicalities IN
Which Members Get
Lost.
SHARP PASSAGES IN THE
DEBATE.
Clinton's and Rottanz'S Orders Both
Los,-Haskins' Order Makes a
Cut of $I4I,ooo
SHARP PASSAGES IN THE
DEBATE.
Cinton's and Rottanz.'s Orders Both
Los'-Haskins' Order Makes a
Cut of $I4I.ooo

The Board of Supervisors held an all
day session yesterday with the purpose OF
fixing the long-debated water-rate ques-
ton, and finally adjourned with the
members under the impression that they
had not done so. Clerk Of the board Rus
sell says they nave however. The mem
bers took to Juggling with technicalities
along toward o'clock, the majority to
speed matters, the minority to delay
them. The result was that both sides got
tangled Up in the meshes, and when they
left they left a record oi having finally
adopted new ordinance, although they
went home, most of the n at least, under
the Impression that the final step had yet
to be taken.
The new order, which is now the law,
was introduced by Supervisor Hasklns
after the Water Committee or Clinton Or
der and the Rottanzi order had both been
defeated. 1t makes a reduction all down
the line in households, meters and ship
ping, in the matter of horses and cows,
and takes off entirely the charges Tor
vehicles. 1t Is not general cut such
the Clinton ordinance in one department
nor as the RottanZi ordinance In the three
departments, but is specific and touches
service. Supervisor Haskins urged it a.
the ordinance most just TO the public and
to the company. He said II represented a
reduction of the company's revenue to the
per cent basis-that Is per cent OF the
capital stock. In round figures he said it
cut down the revenue $14l, 600.
At the opening OF the session in the
morning DR.. Clinton begged leave to pre-
sent again the order recommended by the
Water Committee. The order went to a
vote with little discussion and was de-
feated by tie vote, DR.. Rottenzi voting
against it. Tue vote was
Ayes-Devaney, Sheehen, Dodge, Lackman
Noes-Delaney, Haskins, Morton, Rottanzi,
smith and Rivers-6.
The Rottanzi order was taken up at once
and was killed by vote OF to as fol-
lows:
Ayes-Delaney, Rottanzi, Lackman and
Noes-Devaney. Haskins, sheeh an, Dodge,
Morton, Britt Smith and Rivers.
Haskins Immediately introduced his
order. The reading of it was followed by
motions to ad journ for a week, and for a
day, but they were voted down. Clinton
and Dodge complained that time was es-
sential to an understanding of the new
order. He said he had heard rumors that
an order was to be presented against
which the water company would not OBJ
jecJ. Haskins took exec ption to this re-
mark aud called him to order. 1t was
finally agreed to take a recess until 2
o'clock.
At o'clock, when they reconvened, Dr.
Dodge had prepared schedule OF the per-
centages of the reductions provided for
i'll the new order on household rates. He
had them all figured out on blackboard,
which was placed on the chairman's desk
the chairman taking his seat below with
the ERIK. Dodge had presided at the
morning session. as they sat in commit
tee of the whole; but Britt was called to
the chair In The afternoon, as Dr. Dodge
wished to explain his figures. He took
his place on the platform and argued at
length from the figures as presented
that the cut did not cut. He said
that the reductions provided were
heavy in that class of buildings
that were few, ranging as high as 16. Is
and even % per cent. On the class OF
buildings that were most numerous, how
ever, and which represented the greatest
revenue to the com pany, the cut ranged
down to per cent. He did not believe
the cut represented any cut at all of the
company S revenue, as 1T took no account
OF the increase of business, which
amounted to 800, 600.
The matter was discussed all the after
noon. Haskins explained that his orde
represented a general cut in all depart
ments and would reduce the company's
revenue fully $14l, 900.
The opposition asked for more time but
the friends OF the order insisted that the
time had come for action, as fully five
months had been taken up in The dis
cussion of this matter.
Before it came TO vote Clinton offered
as an amendment another order on the
lines proposed by Rottanzi, but this was
voted down, and the committee adopted
or agreed to report the Haskins ordinance
m
took the cL air and the body organized as
the Board of Supervisors for. the last act.
Upon motion the order was considered by
paragraphs and by paragraphs it was
adopted.
Dodge, in voting on several of the para
graphs, voted with the majority, giving
notice that he would move for a reconsid-
Grafton at the next meeting. This caused
a long discussion as 10 his right to do this.
The chair ruled that he had the right and
tnat the action on any paragraph carried
with it The whole order.
Lackman here asked a question that
precipitated long cross-fre. He wanted
to know if the Spring Valley would acce pt
this order, there had been so much tai L
about their appealing to the courts
Britt objected to the question being put
to its representatives, but withdrew the
opposition, and Mayor Phelan asked Mr..
Kellogg, who was present, for an answer
He said that he would not be fore
closed on such short notice. They would
have TO study the order. The comp pany,
he said, was now compelled to sell 5000
shares of stock. To force the company tc
pay only per cent on the stock would
be to depreciate it so that they could not
raise the money required. They would
pay per cent il any case if other re-
trenchments had TO be made.
Motions to suspend the rules in order
that the reconsideration might be had al
once were declared out of order, as a tmo-
tion TO reconsider carried the recons slider
alton over till the next meeting, according
to both rule and precedent.
motion to adjourn by the minority
was voted down.