The San Francisco call., 1898-02-03

they will not ask for an increase of rates. as the present schedule so far as the regular rates are concerned, is sat- ,isfactorY.
 The officials of both companies say that all that will be done will be to request the Council to adjust certain irregularities which work a hardship both on the water companies and the people who use water.
 The officials of the Contra Costa Water Company accept the inevitable with smiling countenances, but not so those connected with the Oakland Water Company. The latter have seen their hopes dashed to earth by the ex- pose made by The Call and as result visit upon this paper their wrath and . condemnation. They know that the people have been warned and that there is no possibility now of their re- coupins themselves for their losses in cured during the recent fight, and are not able to conceal their chagrin. They resent what they term the interference of The Call and attribute to the eX- pose all their misfortunes.
 While The Call deprecates the anger of the Oakland Water Company off1- cials it feels that it will survive the shock of the Oakland Water Company's displeasure knowing that it has saved the people of Oakland from being bur- dened with an excessive water rate.
 The officials of the Contra Costa Com pany have been too long before the public to make the mistake of acting as their erstwhile enemy and now friend is doing The Contra Costa ofh- cials smile as pleasantly as ever and go on record cheerfully that they never contemplated raise in rates. In fact what they want the Council to do is to so adjust the rates that water will be cheaper than ever to the poor peo- pie.
 President Dingee of the Oakland Water Company has lost his pleasant smile and his polite manner. In fact he is right down mad and does not care who knows it.
 He is so angry that he says he will never speak to The Call again. It is all because of that little story about the waterbacks and the pumping cpl rode. When seen by Call reporter Yesterday MT. Dingee said that there was not. word of truth in the whole article and that it was false from be- ginning to end It is well that the pub lie should know what President Dingee says about it, but If the waterback story is false it is queer that President Dfngee should have 70. ked'' a Dill TOT a new waterback in a stove yesterday after the article appeared. That IS what he did, and the wateroaeK hao been In the stove for two years at that.
 And about that little pumping ln- cident down at Alvarado. Surely MT. Dfngee does not say that it never oc- cured, for that is matter or local history in those parts.
 But President Dingee refused to specffy wherein the article was false He preferred to deal in glittering gen. eralities. and would not even discuss the matter In the language of the sporting world, he dealt a solar plexus blow to the whole story and settled IL at once Then, in order to stop all controversy, he turned his face to the wall-or, rather, to his desk, and de- cllned to hold further converse with anybody connected with The Call.
 But if President Dingee will not talk to The Call, there are others connected with his company who will, and through them-their names are with held at their request-it was learned that the Oakland Water Company would not ask the City Council of Oak land for an increase of water rates All that will be asked will be little adjustment of irregularities.
 The officials of the Contra Costa Water Company are modest gentlemen and dislike very much to see their names in print, consequently when ap- preached for their opinion regarding the rate question they declined to talk lnless the promise were given that Sthey would not be quoted. As result of this modesty 1t IS necessary to print what may be termed a composite interview, which will embody the ideas of President Pierce and Superintendent Watkinson as well as all the other officials and few large stockholders in the company. This composite interview is as follows:
 we do not intend going before the City Council to ask for a raise in the existing rates We think that the present schedule is satisfactory with the exception of certain irregularities which any business man can see are wrong We shall ask the council to change these points, and in doing so they will not increase the rate but will; in fact, reduce the cost of water to the poor man, while the rich man, the man who has large lawn and his house furnished with all the modern sanitary conveniences, will pay for his luxurieS. As the matter now stands. the man who has two or three bath rooms and closets in his house pays no more than the man with but one. The large hotels with all modern con- yeniences pay the same rate as the cheap boarding-houses which have but one bathroom. This is unjust and works a hardship to the poor man. while it deprives the company of reve- nue that rightfully belongs to it.
 All that we shall ask is justice. and we believe that in getting it we shall lower, rather than raise, the rates to the general public. We desire a schedule that we can send back East to other companies for comparison without being ashamed of it. The pres ent schedule is of such a nature that this cannot be done without bringing ridicule upon the city of Oakland. A Tn water rates, as in taxes, every vb9dy believes that 1t is an imposition, no matter how low the price. We be- lieve that the present schedule is good one and fair one, but when the. City Council made the changes a few years ago and forbade us charging for extra bathrooms or closets it did an injusfioa which sh0uJd he rectffled.