The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-07
WATER RATES
To Be FIXED
|MMEDIATE
Supervisors Ready for
Action.
WILL MEET TOMORROW NIGHT
AT WAR WITH TAX COLLECTOR
SHEEHAN AGAIN.
The Latter Will Press His Mandamus
Suit to Compel Payment of
His Clerks Sal
aries.

The Supervisors are preparing for the
annual struggle over the fixing of the
water rates to which so much scandal has
attached in recent years. The matter
which is of so much Importance to the
residents of this city will be discussed by
the board, sitting as committee of the
whole, tomorrow night.
Supervisor Phelps, who is chairman of
the Water Committee, made determined
effort to have the question first considered
by that committee, but this motion was
lost, there being six for and the same
number against such action. 1t was the
last matter considered by the board a its
usual weekly meeting yesterday. The de-
bate was precipitated by Supervisor Lack
mann moving that when the board adj
journed it do so to meet again Wednesday
evening to consider water rates. In re-
Spouse to a question Mayor Phelan said
that the company was in contempt of the
board at the present time in not having
complied with its request for a complete
statement of its expenses.
Supervisor Perrault asked if in the past
the Supervisors did not have to take
what the water company was willing to
give in the way of information.
To this Mayor Phelan replied innocent
ly: ''Other boards have taken all they
could get The answer created general
laugh as memories of boodling boards
flashed across the minds of those pres
ent.
Chairman Phelps of the Water Commit
tee claimed the right to conduct the in
vestigation. The Mayor showed him that
in the past it had been the custom for the
board to consider the matter, and he
doubted If the rate would stand as legal
il fixed by the committee. Supervisor
Perrault reminded his fellow members on
the board that their political future de-
ponds upon the way they vote on the wa
ter and gas question and they should be
glad to have the burden of responsibility
borne equally by all the members. 1t was
finally determined TO have the 1nEestlga-
ton by the board in its entirety. The Of
ficers of the company will be clted 10 APP
pear with the books and papers which
will contain the information upon which
the board will fix the rates.
The meeting developed the fact that the
! fight between the board ana lax congo
pervisor Perrault asked that the FINANCE
Committee be empowered to employ spe-
cial counsel to defend the board IN the
mandamuS proceedings brought by the
Tax Collector. Supervisor Phelps thought
that the judiciary committee was the
proper one to employ such men II they
cussion the Mayor informed the warning
factions that the special counsel fund had
been overdrawn to the extent OF ss77 by
the discussion at once. During the dis
cussion Supervisor Perrault told of the in
VeStiSatlOnS ne naQ maze III the OIIlCe VI
the Tax Collector to determine the mum;
Der of clerks he really required. He said
he had come to the conclusion that eight
We're sufficient Thers was "a conflict d,et,a OF
each giving a different estimate. He I'M
derstocd the mandamus proceedings
would be pressed against the board,
There was sharp struggle over the re-
moval of the corporation yard of the
Street Department. 1t was on the recon
sideration of the resolution causing the
Ehot- iOnl M
Street Committee and Deputy Donovan,
representing Superintendent of Streets
FTagler, favored the change. They held
that the present site is too small and in
addition some money has already been
spent in retitting the new quarters.
George r. Marye Jr., owner of the former
been incurred. The board by q vote of
s to 4 decided to stand by their former
action, so the yard will be moved:
An effort was made to take the Mayor $
veto of the bid for the furnishing of the
Hall of Justice out of the hands of the
Building Committee. Chairman Holland
of the committee explained that meet
ing had been arranged for to-day, at
which the matter will be considered and
a report presented at the next meeting of
the board. Upon this showing the matter
went over
The request of drugstore proprietor on
Powell street to erect an electric sign was
refused. The erection of these signs is
against the law. but the board has the
power to grant them as Speclal privileges.
They gave permission for the placing of
a horseshoe on a Third-street building.
City and County Attorney Lane has
submitted an opioinn to the supervisors
upon the question of the Grand Jury en-
ploying experts. The question developed
over the employment of e. G. kirkpatrick
and A W. Atherton to probe the workings
Of the former Board of Education. At
| torney Lane holds that the jury can give
employment to but one expert at a time.
Under this ruling both these men cannot
be paid. as they were in addition to the
regular expert.
A resolution passed instructing the
clerk of the board to request the San
Francisco delegation to the Legislature
to give the matter of the proposed amend
ment permitting the payment of the asso-
ciated creditors of the city their attention
and support
Supervisor Aigeltinger presented reso-
luton calling for the rigid enforcement of
the license required of persons soliciting
property-owners to sign private contracts.
This is to protect property-ownerS from
the solicitation of irresponsible persons.
No permit will be granted unless the pro-
visions of the resolutions are complied
with. The duration of time In which
street work shall be done is fixed at not
to exceed six months from the date the
permit is granted by the board
Judge Cook called attention to the con-
dition of the ceiling in his room, which he
said required immediate attention.
The Kearny Street and North End I'M
provement Club requested that the board
take Immediate steps to have the Hall of
Justice fitted and made ready for occu-