The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-28
SEVEN MEN VOTE
FOR THE COMPANY
Competition Barred at
Every Point.
TOABATE PESTHOUSE HORROR
JOINT COMMITTEE TO VISIT THE
PLACE AT ONCE.
Thorough Examination to Be Made
and Necessary Improvements
Started Immedi-
ately.
ABATE PEsTH0USE HORROR
JOINT COMMITTEE TO VISIT THE
PLACE AT ONCE.

The Supervisors have decided 10 pay
the bills presented by the San francisco
Gas and Electric Light Company without
reducing the amounts claimed. They also
decided to continue TO pay at the former
rate until such time as new contract
may be made either with the company
now supplying gas or with an opposition
company.
out of a mass of proposed legislation
having for its purpose the supplying OF
gas to the city and TO the general con-
sur1er at a lower rate than is charged at
present the only portion Of resolution
that passed unscathed was the following
That new specifications be prepared for
lighting the city streets, squares and pubic
bindings With gas and electric light, when
will admit competition and that new pro-
posals be invited in accordance with the
Judgment of the court and ne" contract
let.
This is a victory for the consumers, but
II is claimed it slipped through uninten-
tionally and win be the subject OF an
other struggle when the minutes are read
on Monday next. Throughout the long
discussion of the gas question the vote
on all questions stood seven to five. In
the first division were Supervisors Hol-
land, Kalben, Black Phelps, Collins, At
fridge and Aigeltinger. The hVe VINO
stood for lower rates and an open COM
petition were Supervisors Perrault, Lack
mann, Byington, Heyer and Deasy-
The discussion of the gas question was
precipitated by DR.. Perrault, who moved
the adoption of his minority resolution to
the effect that the price of gas TO general
consumers be fixed at 81 50 per 1000 feet for
a term of five years. Supervisor Collins
then presented the majority report of the
Finance Committee on the gas question.
In this the minority report was attacked
and the claim was made that its findings
were based on false premises. 1t holds
that the price charged for lighting is no
higher, when the difference in conditions
is considered, than the price charged IN
other cities. In keeping with the report
the following resolutions were presented
and adopted:
Whereas the so-called contracts entered
into by and between the city and county
Of San Francisco and the San Francisco
Gas and Electric Company and the PACING
Gas Improvement Company are said TO be
invalid and not binding upon the city and
county by the Hon j. N. Seaweil, Judge
Of the Superior Court, Department No I.
in a decision filed December g. 1885, and
whereas. the question as TO the validity OF
said so-called contracts should De passed
upon by the Supreme Court Of this State
prior 10 any action being taken by this
have supplied gas and electric light for
the purposes heretofore set forth and their
demands for said services so rendered have
remained and are unpaid. Notwithstanding
the fact that the appropriation made there
for is sufficient to meet the expenditures
due and to become due for the service rem
dered; and whereas, the recognition Of the
principle OF establishing a lower rate than
agreed upon as a reasonable and Just com
pensation for said services is inimical to the
INTERESTS and welfare of the laborers and
mechanics employed by said corporations in
the conduct and operation Of their plants;
and whereas, an unwarranted reduction or
compensation for these services VIII Ger
tainly lead 20 a reduction of wages and
compensation 10 employees; and whereas, by
this insidious means is effected a gradual
and sure reduction of the amounts paid TO
wageworkers whereby they viii be deprived
Of that compensation now paid, so essential
70 affordng them the necessary convent
ences and comforts of life, as well as
enabling them TO accumulate a little OF
their savings Tor their future comfort ana
sustenahce; and whereas the revolutionary
proceedings Of taking advantage Of the
power claimed to be vested in this board
would ultimately lead TO a reduction OF
wages paid the compensation would
thereby be established as a standard of
wages 70 be paid by other corporations and
employers who have no object except to
produce and manufacture at the lowest
wages for which labor can be obtained,
which would eventually be TO the detrt-
ment Of the community; therefore
Resolved, That after d full and fair con-
sideration of the demands presented by the
san Francisco Gas and Electric Company
and the Pacific Gas Improvement Company
II is the duty Of and the board hereby
declares it will approve. allow and order
paid the amounts due at the rates not ex-
ceedlng the amounts specified in, without
reference to, the contracts as a just and
reasonable compensation due said COM
panes, respectively for the service per-
formed in lighting the streets and public
Resolved. That the action indicated Will
be taken in the case OF all demands present
ed by said companies, or either Of them,
until the question is determined by the
Supreme Court as to whether or not said
contracts are valid and binding upon the
city.
The debate upon this resolution was g
long and an animated one. Supervisor
Byington read extracts from the platform
upon which he said the majority OF the
Supervisors were elected. Chief among
these was the pledge to reduce the price
Of gas to reasonable rate. lie directed
his questions at Supervisor Collins, who
lodged them, saying he did not know II
they were in the platform he had signed
he could not remember Mr.. Collins said
he took the stand that il was not proper
10 act on decisions of the Superior Court
in the gas cases, but that the board
should wait until the highest tribunal had
handed down decision.
Supervisor Deasy thought the gas COM
FA&Y was allowed too large a margin of
PFoht. President Crockett of the COM
Hany, he said, had acknowledged that the
gas cost only so cents per thousand feet
10 manufacture and 90 cents to deliver to
consumers At 81 rs per thousand feet