The San Francisco call., 1898-01-28
Passes a Resolution to Investi- gate the Mountain Water
 Source.
MONOPOLY TO BE BROKEN
If the Company Refuses to Arbitrate Then New System wnI
 Be Constructed.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


 LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27-Seldom has a sharp and vigorous newspaper fight, such as The Call has waged in behalf of the people of Los Angeles against the water company and its hydra headed syndicated press, been product i've of such great results. Less than two weeks ago the people of this city lay helpless in the grasp of the mo- nopoly. There were gloom and discour- agement in the ranks of the fighters for the peoples rights, while the syn dicated press carried out the orders of its masters and pursued a policy of si- lence.
 To-day there Is hope in every heart, and as a result of the fight waged by The Call there is bright prospect ahead of deliverance from the clutch of the corporation. So great has been the pressure that there are visible signs of weakening in the City Council, and in at least one of the combined news papers. The first victory was the pass age of the resolution providing for a committee to investigate and report on a mountain source of water supply
 It now looks as if a greater victory will be achieved at next Monday s meeting of the City Council. On that day a resolution will be introduced giv- ing due and legal notice to the water company of the citys desire to arbi- trate the price of the plant in accord ance with the contract. The city will appoint the arbitrator and call upon the water company to do likewise. There are indications to-day that Ash man and Mathus will certainly sup port such resolution, while the friends of Blanchard of the Ninth Ward say he can be depended on to fall in on the side of the people.
 These three votes with Grider and Hutchison, the original fighters against the water company, will pass the reso- lution. If the company follows its usual course and pays no attention to the offer of the city to arbitrate then an election will be at once called to vote bonds for the construction of an entirely new system, independent of the old plant, and the contract with the company will be declared void This will bring the water question to a head right speedily, and will place the hnal settlement of 1t in the hands of the people.
 The mass meeting called for Satur- day night at Music Hall bids fair to be a rouSing one. The people are eager to gain full information about the water question, and are seeking all sources of Knowledge. It is intended at the meeting of Saturday night to perfect an organization to battle on the side of the people. It will be in the form of a committee composed of representa- tive men who will organize the people by wards into committees of public { safety. Heretofore all the organiza- tion, all the money, and all the di- plomacy have been on the side of the water company. The people now in- tend to do a little organizing on their own account. The best of speakers will be in attendance at the meeting Sat urday night, and many of the repre- sentative men of the town will act as vice-presidents and occupy seats on the stage.
 The most notable effect of this fight is the total lack of confidence expressed by the people in the three syndicated dailies. They are wild with rage and frothing at the mouth at having been 1 detected in their dastardly attempt to betray the people.
 A vote of the town shows that 9C per cent of the people sustain tn. May or's position and favor municipeI own ership of the water plant. while only 1C per cent uphold the policy of delay which has ruled a majority of the City l Council.