The San Francisco call., 1898-02-23

ave power TO pass ordinances 10 nd determine annually the rates )mpe ns alton to be collected by al ersOn, company or corporation in Il ty for the use of water supplied to Il ty or the inhabitants thereof and rescribe penalti-s for the violation Il ordinances passed in reference
 atters contained in this subdivis on t0000000000000000
 Here are a few of the opinions of officials and citizens of Oak land:
 EX-MAYOR MACK WEB BER-It looks bad. The action had the appearance of being cut and dried. The water companies could afford to have paid $25,- 900 for that resolution. EX-COUNCILMAN WALTER G. MANUEL-Langu fails one in such cases to express ones disgust and discourage
 ment It must be clear to every
 
 out. It Is very discouraging to one who has sought to do his duty in such a matter as this to see all of the work of years knocked out at one blow. As far
 as l can judge in hasty exami- nation the resolution raises the present rates from 50 to 50 per cent, and possibly more. It con- tains all of the jokers of the '91
 ordinance, such as raises on hy- drants, extras for bathtubs and other incidentals.
 EX-COUNCILMAN w. O. BUCKLAND-I don't think the Couneilmen are traitors to the people; I know they are. The action last night is clearly il legal, as they took no trouble to , investigate the cost of the water companies plants. They have no right to make rate based on two plants more than on twenty. If they construct twenty water } plants here, according to their view, the rates would be so high as to be prohibitive. I don't want to say what think of such ) actions by our Council. It is ) very evident why one member ) resigned and some one else was ) appointed to the Council, after last nights work.
 ) POLK GRAY-It's a rank rob- ) bery. Look what that man ) Thomas has done. Fibush re- ) signs and instead of going to the ) people of the Fifth Ward and consulting with them, and ask ) ing them if they had some man ) in whom they had confidence ) and could recommend, he ap- points this man Woodward be- fore any one could get to the ) City Hall with a petition or pro- ) test.
 ) O. I. DENISON-It is just a general cleanup on the sale of the City Hall Park and the purchase of park site. EXrCOUNCILMAN c. w. WILKINS-I called the turn last night, and it came out just as I ) predicted Fibush was a little uncertain; the water comapnies wanted some one they could de- pend upon.
 w. H. WEILBYE-Wen, can't ind language to express myself ) on such an occasion as this. What is the matter with Thomas and Woodward? It looks very much like a put-up job. I can't find words to express my con- tempt for such actions, and I don't think tar and feathers are any too good for such men. It is outrageous. l wondered what idea Thomas had in putting such man as Woodward into the office, when there were so many substantial men in the city who have some interest in the city's welfare, who could have been se cured to take the place. I was more surprised at the action ta- ken, but can see now that 1t was clearly a part of the general { scheme being worked out. ) MILES DOODY-That's great trick Fibush played on us lie did not want to disgrace the Jews and let Woodward do it. JULIUS ZABEL-It looks as though Woodward thought he was the people.
 JACOB HARRIS-The Conn ell ought to be hung in effipv It's disgrace to a civilized corn: munity.
 DIR. R. E. BAUSKE-The re- suit of such an action will ha to injure property and to drive away capital. Already the taxes are too high and the water rates heretofore have been excessive The result is, that people will not invest in Oakland and many of } those who are here will want to get away. This Is the natural result of the system. The peonIa should own their own water works and other public utilities and then there would be an in- come to the city from such sources, and it would remove one of the chief causes of cor ruption. It is too bad that we cannot get men who will stand with the people.
 COLONEL JOHN P. IRISH- It would appear that the neo- pie who supposed that MT. Din