The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-03
Issue Has Not, as Yet,
Been Forced.
ST Is is STILL THE CHARGE
CONSUMERS DO NOT PROFIT BY
RECENT LEGISLATION.
Officials of the Gas Company Affirm
That They Will Never Agree
to the 81 10
Rate.

The bills of the San Francisco Gas and
Electric Company for April are due and
will be presented to consumers as rapid
" as the clerical force of the corporation
can handle them The rate for which they
will be rendered is 81 rs per thousand GU
bic feet, the same charge that has been
made for years.
According to Mayor Phelan the COM
pany is not entitled TO that rate for its
products, as on the Sd of last month the
Supervisors fixed 81 10 as the rate to be
charged the householders. The board re-
scinded, or endeavored to rescind, this
action afterward, but his Honor the May
or holds the law does not countenance
such action and that the 81 10 rate must
stand for one year. He takes this posi-
ton on a section of the consolidation act
which provides that rates can be fixed but
once a year. Having acted in the matter
once the board cannot review its work.
Up to the present time no one has APP
peared on the scene ready to force the
issue and determine the rights OF the peo-
pie and of the gas company in the prem
Uses. The officials of the company affirm
they have not decided upon the course
they will pursue. but are awaiting the
advice Of their attorneys as to the law
bearing on the case. 1t is thought some
thing may develop ut any time that will
take the case into the courts for them to
pass upon.
Attorney William nix, WHO - one VI the
legal advisers of the company, in discuss
ing the situation yesterday said: The
San Francisco Gas and Electric Company
will never agree to accept the rate of
81 10 per thousand cubic feet. This is
not fair compensation for the service sup
piled. We have two points upon which
to base our fight First. that the Supervis-
ors have no right to fix rates and sec
ond, that if they have the right they have
rescinded their action naming 81 10 as the
amount to be charged. We believe the
latter contention viii hold in law, hence
no rate has been fixed by the present
Board of Supervisors and the old rate
obtains. The company will not do any
thing wrong, illegal or unjust"
President Crockett said the bills for
April are being made out al the old rate
and that up to the present time no one
was Directing very hard. "They know
he said, 'and whatever rate Is finally de-
termined upon as the legal one the con-
sumers will lose nothing. We await our
attorneys advice in the matter before we
take any steps. They are going thorough
" into the law of the case and our direC-
tors will be governed by their advice.
Mr. Crockett would not discuss the re-
ductiOn in price of gas in New York on
Monday from 81 10 per thousand cubic
feet to 65 cents. Il do not know what the
conditions are in New York said Mr..
Crockett. 1T seems to be a fight between
the different companies and the price
asked for seems to have no relation to
the cost of production. 1t could not prop
erly be held to be a parallel case to that
in this city.
AS the matter stands the rate as fixed
by the Supervisors is 81 10 and this is the
only legal charge which the company can
make.