The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
Board of Supervisors Makes d
Startling Reduction.
Work Will Be Commenced To-Day on New
PesthOuse- Heavy License for
Boxing Shows.

The price Of gas to the consumers OF
this city was reduced by the Board OF Su-
pervisors yesterday from 81 Is per thou
sand feet to 81 10. This revolutionary &C
ten. in view of the recent attitude of the
members, came as a sensation near the
end Of a Ions wrangle over the fixing Of
rates. 1t was proposed in jest and passed
before the majority members OF the board
realized what had happened.
There was a long and acrimonious de-
bate on the subject Of fixing gas rates 70
be paid by the city. This the members
took up as a legacy from the board meet
ing OF last week.
After a discussion extending over an
hour during which every resolution hay
ing for its object the fixing of rates had
been voted down, the members found
themselves back at their original start
ing place. AS the majority report on gas
investigation, presented by supervisors
Collins and Attridge, had been lost the
Mayor ruled the minority report Of Su-
peryisor Perrault in order
This provided that a rate OF 81 s. per
thousand feet be charged private con-
sumers. Supervisor Holland was opposed
10 this as not being fair remuneration for
the company. He suggested, ironically,
that the board might uN the rate at u 10,
and moved 10 amend Dr. Perraults mo-
ton by fixing that amount as the leSal
charge 10 be made.
the discussion. MIR. Holland, apparently
10 help the joke along, voted in the al
nrmauve. Supervisor Black also voted in
the affirmative. Supervisors PerrauIt,
LaCkmann, ByingtOn, Heyer and Deasy
voted with the two men who had been on
the opposing side and the battle was won.
The men voting in the negative were Su-
pervisors KaIben, Phelps. Collins and At
cussd. ''' --'' . . rs "''- -
After the meeting Supervisor Holland
EXDLaln60
he did to compel the gas company 10 go
10 the courts Tor relief. He said no money
can be paid until the Supreme Court
passes upon the bills and the contract be-
tween the company and the city.
The new rate goes into effect to-day.
II is expected the company Will take steps
a once TO test the legality OF the board :
action, presumably on the ground that
the rate as fixed is not reasonable COM
pensation for the services rendered.
During the discussion that led up 10 the
foregoing action the majority report pre-
scented by Supervisor Collins was dis
sected by Supervisor ByingtOn. He asked
not entitled TO lower rate than private
consumers using only one light. He said
the city pays S. 80 a light, while private
individuals pay s. 80 and So.
Mr.. Collins would not accept Mr.. By
ingtons ngures, saying he knew nothing
as to their accuracy Mr. ByingtOn also
asked that statements in the majority
report 10 the effect that the present
charges are fair and reasonable" and
lIdL wages VIII De reduced DN every cor
porauon in California II the. bills OF the
company are reduced be stricken out.
Supervisor Holland insisted that no
matter what action the board might take
all the questions must be eventually de-
Cided by the Supreme Court.
Supervisor Perrault offered a resolution
5hat the Mutual EIectTlc Llght company
be allowed TO erect poles outside the ire
limits. This drew resolution from Su-
perVlSOr Aigelunger 10 the same effect.
Repeated efforts have been made TO pass
have passed yesterday had Supervisor
Heyer, who favored il. remained at the
meeting Seven votes were required 10
carry II. Those in favor were: Holland,
Perrault, Lackmann, By1ngtOn, Deasy
and AigelUnger. Opposed We're: kalben,
Black Phelps, Collins and Attridge.
The long discussion ended with a num-
Der Of votes on the question OF preparing
specifications preliminary TO inviting bids
Tor lighting the city. After an extended
debate il was decided TO allow the Street
Light Committee four weeks in which to
prepare specifications.
An effort was made TO fix the charge
for lighting the streets al the 81 10 rate,
but il failed by a vote of to 1.
Consideration of the offer Of the Mutual
Electric Light Company TO light the City
Hall for 20 per cent less than the present
charge was deferred one week.
The Supervisors wasted but little time
In dispostng favorably OF the report pre-
scented by the joint committee appointed
TO investigate the PesthOuse. The report
OF the committee was:
Your joint committee on building and
hospital appointed by his Honor, the Mayor,
at q meeting OF this board on March o.
1899, to visit and inspect the Pesthouse
and report on its condition, respectfully begs
leave 10 report follows:
Your committee met Saturday, April
l, 1893, and proceeded TO the Pesthouse,
which we thoroughly inspected. and found
the same 70 De IN Wretched condition and
utterly unfit for the use and purposes for
which II designed
Your committee respectfully recon-
mends that the building be destroyed by
fire and on its site a new and modern build
Ing be erected at a cost not TO exceed 5000.
Respectfully submitted.
EDWARD HOLLAND
\. ATTRIDGE.
A