The San Francisco call., 1897-02-09
WILL CONSIDER
WATER RATES
Supervisors Vote to Begin
the Hearing To-
Morrow.
Spring Valley Officials Were
Invited TO Be Present
to Testify.
ReSoi ution 10 Create a Vacancy in
an Assistant Cle rkship of b,
Board Postponed.

The Board of Supervisors will meet as
com mjttee of the whole next Wednesday
morning at 10 O'Clock to consider the fix
ing OF water rates for the fiscal year. This
was decided upon at meeting of the Su-
pervisors yesterday afternoon. At the
same time it was decided to invite the
president and secretary of the Spring
Valley Water Company to be present to
answer questions and, generally, to fur
nish the Supervisors with informs alton.
This came about on motion of Supervisor
Clinton, chairman OF the Committee on
Water ana Water Supply.
The committee submitted long report,
and incidentally recommended that Gle
ment Bennett be elected the official
stenographer. Supervisor Rivers, who
constituted the minority OF the commit
tee, moved that J. A. Holland be elected
as the stenographer, and this motion pre-
vailed.
The Water Committee in its report re-
counted what was done at its meeting last
week. The proceedings have previously
been published. The com mmittee averred
that the annual report OF the Spring Val
ley Water Company is vague and indef-
The City and County is called upon to allow
fair and reasonable water rates TO be paid by
the City and County and its inhabitants, and
ceI tainiy it should be informed, clearly and
convincingly. OF the details OF the expendi-
lures of the company in order 10 act as fair
and just arbitrators between the company and
its customers The company owes it 10 itself
and 10 its Gus toners TO make such a statement
in de tail of all its oper ATOMS and especially
is expenditures, in order to demonstrate its
business policy and jus ,ify the board in the
establishment of water rates as the board may
deem just, that are warranted by the condi-
tious and requirements of their water supply.
Your committee feel that unjust criticism of
the action of the board should be avoided in
the matter OF fixing rates, and until fnforma-
tion is obtained more definite than presen ted
nothing can be done to accomplish the OBJ
jects OF the inquiry
A recommendation was also made by
the committee that meters be attached TO
the Denman School, Horace Mann Gram
mar School, Whittier Primary School and
placed at Alta plaza. that the actual
amount of water used at these places
might be determined. The report was
adopted, and the accompanying reso. u
ton concerning the water meters was
acted upon favorably.
Supervisor Clinton read q letter, in
which Charles Webb Howard, president
OF the Spring Valley Water Company, ex-
pressed Willingness TO furnish the board
with all information desired.
A little furry occurred over resolution
reported by the Judiciary Committee to
expunge Gibson street, between Hyde and
Iarkln, Green and MON, from the official
map. Mayor Phelan asked whether the
Judiciary Committee had advised with the
City and County Attorney about this mat
ter, and expressed the opinion that the
City ought to be represented when such
action was proposed.
Supervisor Smith, chairman OF the Ju
n iIola ary( fOrf1 faa haf thaG
and County Attorney had not been con-
suited. Only property-owners had testi-
fed. The board adopted the resolution
to expunge Gibson street from the official
map.
A resolution was adopted permitting
supervisors Lachman and Clinton to ex-
change places on the Judiciary and Street
Light committees.
A resolution to rem owe Charles E. Par
ent from his 20 .ition as assistant clerk to
the board caused som discussion. Su-
pervisor Clinton objected to meddling
with the clerks in the office of the board
Supervisor Dodge also spoke against the
removal of Parent. The resolution pro-
vided also for the appointment of ]. J.
Lynch to take his place. Chief Clerk Rus
sell was invited TO say something about
changes in the office, and he said the last
board made no changes, and he thought
that the preceding board left the clerks
undisturbed. Supervisor Dodge said that
the majority onght to have its appetite
satisfied. 1t already gives signs OF indi-
geslion. A motion to POSTPONE for two
weeks was lost Supervisor Delanv moved
for postponement for one week, and it was
so voted. -
Supervisor St,ehan moved that the
Office of ianitor In the Office of the Super
intendent OF Streets be declared vacant
M. Flaherty fills the position. Il was
nrOnOsed that H NJ TOrasap sh0r,ld aro
ceed him. The resolution passed, but
Supervisor Sheehan subsequently said
that be had been mistaken and he was
permitted to withdraw the resolution.
The Judiciary Committee reported in
favor of refunding money paid on dupli-
cate assessments to III. Ickelheimer, John
Nicholson, Mary T. Prince, D. Bafgagli-
otti and G. Camicia. The conn i tee also
reported adversely on the petition of Her
man de Laguna for the repeal of ORDER
3035, granting franchise to the Peoples
Mutual Telephone Company; also upon
the petition of Adolph Sutro to eliminate
from the map portions of Fifth and Sixth
avenues south from K street.
The Committee on Finance recon-
mended that the salary OF Daniel E. Con-
don as superintendent of construction of
the Hall Of Jus ice be not paid until the
work of construction is actually COM
menced. The report was adopted.
Supervisor Britt filed his report OF the
progress of legislation upon bills in which
San Francisco is concerned.
Proposals to supply q laundry plant for
the Almshouse were received and referred
to the Hospital Committee, the bids being
as follows: Troy Laundry and Machine
Company, $3l25; P. f. Dundon, $3667;
Joshua Hendy Machine Works, $41OO; P.
J. Mouahan, $l650