The San Francisco call., 1898-02-09
THE LOS ANGELES WATER FIGHT.

| ID action taken on Monday the Los Angeles lF Common Council has given the water com pany notice to file complete inventory of Its property within two weeks in order that basis may be had for the settlement of the issue between the city and the company.
 his IS the most important step which has been taken by the city in the interest ot the people since it first became clear that the water com pany intended to hold to the water supply of the municipality after the lease had expired If the ac- ton Is followed up with due vigor it cannot fail to the rights of the city, and may therefore be counted an important victory of the people The issue is that never should have arisen. The of the people Is so strong both in law and in justice that the action of the water company Tn opposing 1t could have emanated only from desire to plunder the public By the terms of the lease un der which the company has held the sources of water supply in Los Angeles for thirty years the company is bound to surrender possession of the property of the city at the end of the term and furthermore to convey to the city all the improvements of the plant at price to be fixed by arbitrators
 It is matter for amazement that under these cir cumstances the company should have up to this time declined to take any steps toward the tulhment of its obligations, while on the other hand showing thousand evidences of intention to hold on to the plant at the expiration of the lease by postponng ar
 
 At one time it appeared as if the scheme of the company would be carried through with ease. The three leading papers of the city senced and the Common Council induced to do nothing. Weeks and months passed the time for the expiration of the lease drawing near, and nothing had been done to determine the price the city should pay for the m- provements, to arrange for arbitration. The game seemed to be in the hands of the water com pany. It had only to keep quiet, Hull the people to repose and postpone arbitration in order to be Tn strong position hold the water property of the city for long time to come.
 Fortunately Los Angeles had some citizens who could not be induced to be silent in the presence of this scheme either by fear favor, by bribes or bullying. They began fight for the interests of the people which attracted attention throughout the State notwithstanding the fact that the leading papers of Los Angeles either ignored it or denounced those who led 1t.
 At that juncture The Call dscerned the importance Of the controversy and at once gave the advocates of the rights of the city chance to be heard he whole scheme for retaining possession of the prop erty of the city exposed Public sentiment was aroused. Mass meetings held Popular indig- nation made itself felt and the schemers of the water company were compelled to abandon their plan of winning by still hunt.
 The action taken by the Common Council in call ing for an inventory of the property of the water company within two weeks may under the circum- stances be regarded as the beginning of the end of the contest Mayor Snyder is known to be strongly on the side of the people, and that he has the Council with him there can hardly be but one suit A victory has been won for justice and law, and The Call congratulates the people of Los An gees upon the outlook for the recovery of their property