The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-21
SOME SUPERVISORS DISAGREE
HEATED DEBATE ON REPORT OF
GAS INVESTIGATION.
DR.. Perrault Presents a Minority Re-
port Which Is Finally Received
but Consideration De-
ferred One Week.

| San Francisco Gas and Electric Company
| for lighting the streets and public build
! ings.
| searching inquiry was made by the
board recently as to the cost of gas, and
a report was expected from the Finance
! Committee, which had charge of the in
vestigation, yesterday. Mayor Phelan pre-
cipitated the discussion by asking if the
report on the gas question was ready.
DR.. Perrault replied II am ready to
present minority report, which my as
sociates on the committee refuse to sign.
Supervisor Collins said: "As a member
of that committee 1 wish to say that L am
not ready to report, but will do so next
week. 1 object TO the reading of the mi
nority report"
II conferred with Mr.. Collins in this
matter rejoined Perrault, land as his
report is ready believe it should be sub
THE doctor is mistaken if he thinks he
Knows all have to report, replied Col
Inns II merely told him one thing-there
is much more to be embodied in the re-
port. I will bring in a report next week,
although | do not know whether any one
1.-The minority report is ready first and
should be received by this board said
Perrault. y want to resign the chair
manship of the Finance Committee and
want to clean up all the work on hand.
In this case the other members of the
committee do not agree with my IDEAS
ana LnOS6 OF MS Honor the Mayor
Here Attridge took a hand. II dom
think it is necessary TO read this minority
report" he said.
Collins Indignantly chimed in: 'I don't
like the way this come about This re-
port was presented to me at $3.50 o'clock
for my signature. This gave me no
chance for investigation and is not the
proper way to proceed. 1 won't have any
report crowded down my throat. When
ever l have any report to make / present
ii to my associates on the committee be-
fore this
Perrault-I did not intend TO slight the
committee. The course / took is the usual
one. 1t is customary for the chairman of
a committee to prepare the report and
take the leading part in its presentation.
The other members of this committee did
not take the active interest in this inVes-
tigation which they should have done.
Mayor Phelan ended the debate by say
ing 1t could be received as resolution If
not as minority report.
When 1t came up for the second time
1t was laid over for one week, Perrault
Laekmann and Deasy voting against such
action
The report, which follows, is interesting.
showing as it does that the city pays one
third more for lighting than it should be
charge chharged' and that the general PUBLIC is
charged an exorbitant price for gas. The
report submitted by DR.. Perrault reads
SAN FRANCISCO, March 20. 1899.
TO the Honorable the Board of Supervisors
Of the City and County of San Francisco-Gen-
tlemen: Your Committee Finance and Au-
dting beg leave to report in the matter OF the
bills of the San Francisco Gas and Electric
Company and the Pacific Gas Improvement
Company for the months of December and
January follows:
The Superior Court has decided that the con-
tracts under which gas and electricity
supplied to the city and county of San Fran
cisco are void but that the companies are en-
titled to reasonable compensation for com
modities furnished, and that it is the duty of
the board to fix such reasonable compensa-
ton. Your committee has held an investiga-
ton, giving full and fair opportunity to all
parties in interest to be heard. and herewith
nh of mob fT1TEa
cation for the information Of the board. We
have ELECTED the following facts. as an ex-
animation of said report will show:
That the San Francisco Gas and Electric
Company is a combination of the San Fran
cisco Gasight and the Edison Light and Power
Company; that before or after such combina-
tion most of the competing companies that had
city with lighting (gas and electricity have
been absorbed and that the present capital
stock upon which dividends are paid does not
represent their real value; that rates are kept
excessively high in order to pay dividends
fictitious capitalization; that in the matter of
electric light the city pays more, in many in
stances, than is charged to private consumers;
that the cost of gas delivered to the consumer
is less than 81 a thousand cubic feet: that
competing companies will, if given facilities,
supply the city with electric light of equal can
die power for at least 231e per cent less than
is charged the city. For these reasons we
FIrst-That the electric light bills in dispute
be settled on a basis of % per cent less than
the amount charged and that the gas bills be
settled at the rate of 81 35 per thousand cubic
second-That the rate to consumers be fixed
on a graduated scale as follows: Beginning
July l. 1899. one year. 81 50 per thousand, and
for the years succeeding that the rate be fixed
respectively at 81 As 81 80. 81 30 and 81 %, thus
gas to 81 25 per thousand cubic feet to con-
sumers; that these prices will yield fair and
company's plant used for the manufacture and
distribution of gas anil electric light
Third-We recommend that new specifications
be prepared for lighting the city streets,
squares. public buildings. with gas and cleo
trio light which will admit ,11,to competition and
ance with the judgment of the court new con-
tract let.
A. M Hunt, civil engineer, presented
electric plant for lighting the streets and
municipal buildings. The present cost of
this, lighting is 100000 per year With its
Hunt estimates the cost of a plant and
distribution system at S459,000 This does
not include real estate upon which it
was referred to the Street Light Commit
tee and also ordered printed for distribu-
ton. among the members of the board
This was not the only light shed upon
the question of Illuminating the city. The
following communication was received
from the Mutual Electric Light Company
1t was referred to the Building Commit
tee with instructions to report at the next
meeting. 1t reads:
Q To the Honorable the Mayor and the Board
of Supervisors of the City and County of San
trio Light Company, hereby offers to furnish
incandescent light for use in the City Hall in
fifteen, days from date of acceptance of this
offer (said fifteen days being necessary for
making underground connections with electric
wires in said City HaE) at rate or price of
cents per thousand watt hours. being 40 per
cent less than the price which the city and
county has been and is now paying for electric
current used in the City Hall. We will furnish
such bonds may be required as a guaranty
for the quality of the light and the efficiency
of the service.
MUTUAL ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY.
w. r. SUMMERHAYS. Vice President and
General Manager.
Upon motion of Chairman Aigeltinger of
the Street Committee, it was decided to
employ two extra men ON Fourth-street
bridge. This will permit of it's being
opened at any hour of the day without
expense to owners of ships passing
through the draw. An assistant engineer
at SIS a month and bridge tender at $50
will be appointed at the next meeting.
AT the instance of DIR. Perrault City
and County Attorney Lane was requested
to give Assessor Dodge his legal advice on
questions which the Assessor may submit
to him during the administration of his
duties
Sheriff Martin was empowered to, en-
ploy two men at $55 per month to guard
OF rnrix0 l.