The San Francisco call., 1898-06-26
DISCUSSED THE
 WATER TANCLE
Los Angeles Council Has Another Conference.
TWO HOURS OF FUTILE TALK
BUT THE SCHEMERS STILL HOLD
 THE WINNING HAND.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

LOS ANGELES, June 24.-The com mittee of the City Council met Thurs day to consult with the trustees of the stockholders of the City Water Com pany and their attorneys. The object of the conference was to ascertain whether or not terms could be ar ranged for basis upon which arbitra- tion could be obtained. Every member of the Council who participated in the meeting and every person representing the water company knew full well that an arrangement whereby arbitration could proceed was an impossibility. Yet the meeting was held and it con- tinued for two hours just the same as if good faith was intended by both parties. The meeting was an executive one Everybody was excluded, even some members of the Council. Mayor Snyder was admitted and so was Presl- dent Silver of the City Council.
 After two hours, which were devoted to talk, the meeting broke up and nothing was accomplished. City At sorney Dunn had a plan of arbitration drawn up, but the water company's representatives declined to agree to 1t until time had been given for their at torneys to examine it.
 Local dailies continue to hold out to their readers the idea that there is every probability that the water com pany and the city will arbitrate, and the City Council is practicing the same deceit The water company'S contract with the city expires in about thirty days and the city is no nearer the possession of it's plant than it was the day after the contract was made III 1868.
 Seven members of the Citv Council were placed in a rather embarrassing position yesterday by motion made by Councilman Hutchinson that the Coun- cil proceed to name it's arbitrator to fix the price of the water company plant. When the Council convened the water supply committee reported that a conference held with the water com pany trustees had demonstrated the fact that the city and the company could not agree upon either plan Of arbitration or the properties to be con sidered by the arbitrators before next Thursday and they therefore asked Tor further time.
 Councilman Hutchinson objected to the granting of an extension Of time. He asserted that the three arbitrators could decide upon the properties the city required of the company and that it was in fact their duty to select the properties and fix their value He, therefore. moved that the City Council proceed to at once name an arbitrator for the city.
 This motion created surprise, for it was unexpected. Councilman Toll, however, threw himself into the breach and moved to amend the motion by adding that Councilman Hutchinson name the arbitrator for the city. This responsibility Mr. Hutchinson was loath to take. The amendment of Toll was put to vote and carried. The original motion, with Tolls amend ment, was then defeated by Hutchin- sons vote.
 Hutchinson then endeavored to place his original motion that the Council proceed to name the city's arbitrator at once before the Council, but Presi- dent Silver ruled 1t out of order. It is now given out that, if the city does name an arbitrator, the man will be ex- City Engineer Fred Eaton. MT. Hutch inson and MT. Grider will present the name of Ernest Abs Hagen.