The San Francisco call., 1898-02-22
ShameIessly Delivered Over by the Council
 to the Water Companies.
Bareaced and Arbitrary Schedule Forced Through by the Majorty--Termed an Outrage and
 Farce

''he had made mistake" and voted against the chair.
 President Pringle then denounced the outrage from the chair and used very strong language. Councilman Rowe also made a speech, which every per son who pays water rates will read with interest. He said:
 Gentlemen, I am dumfounded. I can not express myself. l know perfectly we'll that nothing that l can say will influence any vote in this Council because 1t is all cut and dried, and l can clearly see that this infamy has been carefully planned l cannot understand how gentlemen elect ed by the people can come here and act like this. Here is a schedule whose con- tents no one knows. It comes from the allied water companies, and yet at mo- ments notice it can secure a bare ma at loss to say what I think. cannot believe you are sane. There Is an ordi- nance in print which will come before you next Wednesday which has been for weeks and allowed rates that we proved by the company's own figures would allow them per cent on their plant and allow margin of $3S0OO. The resolution introduced here tonight is an insult to this Council. No one knows, or can know. what Is in 1t unless they have studied it before hand. and I am sure from what little l have heard of it., tildl It VIII give lIle companies not less than 12 per cent upon the only plant that can supply the whole city.
 Here is resolution prepared by men who do not know what their plant is worth, and yet we allowed them a good interest on their property and they are not satisfied
 MT. Dingee came before us, and when we asked for figures as to the value of though we gave him a week. and al- though he only started in the water busi- ness three years ago yet not voucher could be found or a book produced. all could get as to the value of his plant was that the old Piedmont Company was sold to the Oakland company for $, 900 900 of stock, s1 ,Ooo, 900 and he would not take an property. The same is true in principle of the other company Yet these companies can come here and find six votes to pass schedule of their own making I cannot understand it and denounce 1t as the viI- est outrage of which have ever heard.
 Councilman Brosnahan, who has al- ways opposed the company's demands hitherto, and who was so frightened three weeks ago that the companies would in some way juggle with the ordinance so as to defeat it and intro duced precautionary resolution, thought differently tonight.
 II have been jollied on the street." he said, and told that am being car ried along by the rest of the majority till 1 am tired of it. I know that for several years I have voted for water rates that were too low, and tonight 1 am going to make a change"
 And Councilman Brosnahan changed.
 The vote stood:
 For the water companies-Wood- ward, Brosnahan, Henneberry, Earl, Heitman and Watkinson.
 For the people-Cuvellier, Girard, Upton, Rowe and Pringle.
 As soon as the vote was announced MT. Girard was on his feet and said:
 Now our eyes are opened When he was appointed last week the new mem Der (E. W. Woodward) stated in the public print that he was for the peonle and had no strings on him. We now see what people he meant. We can now see why MT. Woodward was ap- pointed"
 The blunt speech of MT. Girard seemed to pain Woodward. for he pleaded with the clan to stop personal remarks" but there was no necessity for his doing so, for MT. Girard said:
 'Ive finished: I've told all.''
 When the meeting was over City At torney Dow said the proceeding was clearly illegal, that he had advised the Council before they voted of it's illegal ity. and if the case were taken to the courts he would not attempt to defend the outrage.
 After the vote Woodward was asked if he wished to defend his vote. T only reply.