The San Francisco call., 1898-02-04
DISSENSION . AMONG THE
 STOCKHOLDERS aterl Manipulators of Los Angeles
 at Outs. No Longer Given Clear Sailing in Mulcting
 the City. Perry and Mott Offer to Sell at Sixty Cents on the
 Dollar. FAT DIVIDENDS IN DANGER Now There Will Be Developments That Will Result in 8 Big Benefit
 to Consumers.
Perry and Mott Offer to Sell at Sixty Cents on the
 Dollar.
FAT DIVIDENDS IN DANGER
Now There Will Be Developments That Will Result in Big Benefit
 to Consumers.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3.-There ex- ists discord and dissension among the stockholders of the City Water Com pany, and 1t is impossible to predict at this juncture just what the outcome will be. But whatever it is, it will be to the advantage of the people of this city.
 Until The Call entered the field and exposed the nefarious arrangement whereby, through the agency Of the syndicated poodle press, the water company stockholders were to have clear sailing in their scheme to mulct the city, there was no trouble among the directors. It appeared to them that they were certain to obtain either two million dollars more than their plant was worth or an extension of the fran chise for fifty years. But now some of the directors doubt whether they will be able to do anything of the kind, while other directors seem to think that If the matter is automatically handled they will be able to secure an extension of the franchise or a fat price for the rattle-trap improvements they have put on the plant
 It is claimed that Messrs. Miner and Drake are the two stockholders. who represent large holdings who seem to think that the water company has the good will to sell to the city at the eX- piration of the lease. They are intent and insistent upon a fat price, and it is claimed that they have stated that if the worst came to the worst the com pany could go in and obtain an ex- tension of the lease.
 It is also stated on good authority that some stockholders are dissatisfied with the manner in which Secretary Stephen H. Mott and President W. H. Perry have handled the affairs of the corporation in connection with the ex- piration of the lease. It Is also said that when MessrS. Mott and Perry heard of this they became very wroth and promptly offered to sell their stock to the kickers at 50 cents on the dollar. This would make total valuation of S1 800 900 for the entire plant.
 Some of the kicking stockholders seemed to think that it would be an easy matter to get an application for an extension of the franchise through this Council. When they were in- formed that if the application were granted it would be necessary to have a special train on hand to convey the Councilmen who voted for such exten- sion beyond the wrath of their constit- uents they seemed to be very much surprised.
 The truth of the matter is that some of the stockholders of the water com pany, who for a long period of years have been drawing down big dividends on their stock, have just had their eyes opened to the fact through The Calls presentation that the people of this city are in earnest in this water contest, and they do not propose to be defeated. Treachery on the part of any public servant in the pending negotia- tions they will neither condone, forgive nor forget. These wealthy stockhold CTS are just becoming aware of this fact. The reason their eyes have not been opened before is because the Times. Herald and Express never per- mitted the real situation as to the wa ter struggle to be disclosed through their columns. But when The Call opened the fight then for the first time did the people have an opportunity to hear their side of the case and be heard themselves. That opportunity they not only accepted, but they have not been at all slow in expressing their gratitude.
 Unless the present discord existing among the water company stockhold- CTS is healed up there will be some de- velopments within few days. A party named Herman de Laguna has filed an offer with the City Clerk to construct a water works plant for the city and to obtain a water supply for s1, S00 900. De Laguna is not in good odor in this city. He has been an applicant for sundry franchises before, and when he did get one he forfeited it. His offer to take S2,000,000 contract is looked up- on as simply ridiculous. It is thought that he is not making the offer in good faith. Whether he is or not the Coun- Gil will not for moment consider it, as the standing of De Laguna does not warrant it.