The San Francisco call., 1899-12-12
IN THE
SAN FRANCISCO
GAS MONOPOLY
Wages Cut and En-
ployes Discharged.
RETRENCHMENT NECESSARY

The San Francisco Gas Light Company
is having troubles of it's own. First the
Mayor succeeded in having the rate re-
duced from 81 rs to 81 80 per thousand.
which was something OF calamity in IT
self, viewed from the standpoint of the
stockholders in the concern, and then
new and powerful opposition sprang up
which will soon enter the field, heretofore
the almost exclusive property of the Gas
Light Company with unlimited financial
backing to push 1t forward and the best
business brains in the community TO di-
rect its course.
The Gas Light Company might have
been able 10 stand the reduction on its
charges. but the competition of the Inde-
pendent Electric Light and Power Com
pany promises 10 give the older concern
a run for its patronage which will tax
its financial strength TO the utmost and
the directors OF the Gas Light Company
have already decided 10 prepare for the
struggle With characteristic selfishness
they have decided to put the first burden
of retrenchment on the shoulders least
able to bear II and have started cut in
the salaries of the employees, which has
reduced the remuneration OF those poor
unfortunates about one-half
At the last meeting Of the board of di-
rectors the subject of retrenchment came
up and IL was decided that, owing to the
recent reduction in the charges and the
soon be called upon TO meet, something
should be done to reduce the running ex-
penses of the corporation. Many plans
were discussed. but the one or reducing
the salaries of the various employees found
the most favor and was finally adopted
Consequent upon this action OF the
b. Crockett, was sliced from $4,000 a year
TO, report says, the sum of $500. and fol-
lowing him each employe of the company
was Informed that hereafter he would
he IN work q
half the figure he had previously received.
The men to whom this. reduction applied
Importance of their positions or for other
reasons were considered valuable enough
to retain.
The smaller fry. those who had no dig
nifty of position or power OF pull TO plead
for them, lost their heads entirely. They
were informed that their services were no
longer required, and the consequence is
that a number of men who ina gined that
they had secure places are now walking
around looking for something to do.
When seen yesterday Mr.. Crockett and
great reduction of salaries had taken
place. but the exact sizes of the pieces that
had been sliced off they would not saw
The report Of the street, however, gives
one-half as the correct amount
Mr.. Crockett said the step had been
taken with the idea OF putting the con-
Germ on paying commercial basis con-
sistent with the new order of things that
had followed on the reduction by the city
of the 81 rs rate. e'''
The fact of the matter is that while the
new 81 80 rate has much to do with IL. vet
the advent OF the Independent Electric
Light and Power Company has cansad
the gas people to look to themselves and
as director admitted yesterday, the SAL
first move in the tree-climbing process
Such has been the effect of the on
position company's entrance into the field
OF business and the. confidence of the peo-
pie in the man who is hacking ~ ~.
though II will not be ready to deliver Ire
goods until next June the price of ga
stock has dropped from ss4 to s57 so. and
/ tnis on the mere prospect OF able and