The San Francisco call., 1898-01-30
Trying to Have a New Basis for Fixing
 the Rates.
The City Injured by Malicious Pamphlets Sent Broad
 cast.
PEOPLE FULLY AROUSED.
No Juggling Will Be Permitted ii Righteous Indignation Can
 Prevent It.

The note of warning sounded by The >- Call yesterday morning regarding the danger of a raise in Oakland water rates met with a responsive chord in the city across the bay. The people re- alized the danger. and were earnest in their commendation of The Call for it's exposure of the combination to raise the rates.
 F. Gfrard, who has always stood by the people during his incumbency in the Council, was especially pleased with the fact that The Call had taken the matter up. There is something up," said he. ''It is plain that there is a move on foot to raise the rates. and the action of The Call in calling the atten- tion of the people to the conditions will do much to prevent the combination from hurting the people. I have been approached too much by people from the water companies telling me how to do and how to act, and 1 am tired of it. l know my own business, and don't belong to either company, and shall work for the people all the time. don't want any of their buffers com ing around telling me what to do. My record is plain, and they should know that I am always for the people. I shall be in favor of a reduction of rates rather than a raise, and when the time comes l will see to it that the people do not get the worst of it. The people pay me my salary, and I am working for them"
 This interview indicates the danger that was noted in the article in yester- days Call. There have been "bluffers'' al work on members of the Council, telling them what to do in the water rate matter. Just whom they have been to cannot be told, but it is certain that influence has been brought to bear on some Of the members in the hope of having something done that would assist the water companies in getting back some of the money that has been v& sted in the fight which has been gc- fig on for the past three years. While the officials of the company are stren- uous in their denials of any intention of having the rates raised, and while they say that all that is intended is to have a little readjustment" of rates, it Is evidently the intention to have the Council, or at least the committee to which is referred the matter, investi- gate the question of values and make a new rating on a new basis.
 According to Councilman Henneber- ", who is chairman of the Fire and Water Committee there is at present no legal rate. He says that the fact that the retiring Council did not pass the ordinance last year in February, but left it for the incoming Council to pass. vi tiated the ordinance. and the result is now the whole thing is wide open and the companies can charge what they please.
 Frank K. Mott. who was chairman of the Fire and Water Committee of the last Council, was much pleased with the action of The Call in showing to the people of Oakland the danger which menaced them. He said that 1t was plain that something was brew ing, and unless the people kept a close watch there would be a readjustment which would mean a raise all along the line. MT. Mott said that when the old City Council went into office they found very eXtortionate rates prevail