The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-16
MAYOR PHELHN BUNKOED.

|
] the gas rate to consumers at ST 10 per thou
- sand feet. For this action credit whatever
was due to the majority Of the board. 1t was the
usual notice issued by ring that had not been
recognized by the corporations with sufficient prompt
ness and everybody understood what 1t meant There
was however a respectable minority in the board,
and Mayor Phelan seemed inclined to avail himself OF
an opportunity to render public service The ring
was speedily anxious to repent Of its simulated
righteousness and to prove the sincerity OF It's re-
pentance by conceding to the gas monopoly all 1t
claimed But in respect this matter as in the case
of the attempted robbery by the Market Street Rail
way Company the Mayor and the minority presented
front that appeared to be bold and compact.
Mayor Phelan claimed that, having once been es-
tabished, the gas rate for year beyond recon-
sideraton and therefore, that the ST figure would
stand The San Francisco Gas and Electric Com
pany brought an action against Major w. B. Hooper
Of the Occidental Hotel in order test this question:
which is now under consideration before Judge Sea
we'll That corporation and the Pacific Gas Improve
ment Company did not in other respects sleep upon
their assumed rights, but, ignoring the new rate,
pressed their bills the old figures before the regret
full and complacent majority OF the board determined
to prove that when they did one thing honest upon
its face for their constituents they did not it
At last through fortuitous concurrence of events
when the Mayor was certainly prompt in Selling
favorable opportunity the board adjourned sine die
and it supposed that no legal meeting before the
first Monday in July possible without his aftrma-
tive sanction. That at least was his pronounced
opinion OF the law after consultation with his attor-
ney The Call doubted the soundness OF this concu-
sion but it was not the Mayors legal adviser. On Mon
day last the majority OF the board determined to
hold meeting The Call suggested and the minority
felt that their absence might prove injurious to the
public business Negotiations with the Mayor and
the minority rapidly pushed by the gas mon
opoy through its astute attorneys, and compromise
was effected, in which Mr. Phelan bore the con-
spicuous part by which, after July I, the price of gas
to consumers be placed at 81 so instead of ST Is
per thousand feet 40 cents per thousand more than
the rate prescribed on April g. and with the highest
margin for profit that would have a semblance
Of decency IS cents per thousand than the
modify is worth There other slight conces-
sions, and, at Mr. Phelans suggestion in order to
cnch the matter beyond the possibility OF retrac-
ton the settlement reduced to writing and for
mally adopted by the board. Thus protracted and
successful fight was yielded by the temporary VIC
tors, and a moderate sized brick-which is lead and
not god-accepted by Mayor Phelan and the minor
ity Of the Board of Supervisors. 1t is claimed by Mr.
Phelan and the Examiner that a saving to the COM
nunity OF $4,000 per annum has been secured, and
that the validity the invali " OF the 81 rate is
rot influenced by the compromise. This proposition
appears to be of very questionable accuracy. In the
before Judge Seawell the settlement has already
been offered in evidence and its admissbity strongly
argued There is at least some prospect that it will
nullify the order upon which Major Hooper depends
Put whether it accomplishes this purpose or not, it
is a complete backdown from the uncompromising at
titude Mr. Phean had assumed and which he was re-
lied upon to maintain and most likely it has already
cost in money larger amount than the whole
satisfactory reduction for year would aggregate.
On April 3, 1900 when the ST 10 rate was fixed,
gas stock opened in the Stock Exchange at $40 per
share The following morning it dropped to ST. so,
and it continued to fall until June $ when it reached
It's lowest point OF 500 IS. 1t has advanced to
SIS or within ST OF the price first stated. Let Mr..
Phean study the transactions in this. stock in which
many citizens in moderate circumstances have in
vested and he may find that both himself and the
Examiner have crowed too soon Relying on the
bold and apparently consistent stand he took for the
public good, and believing that there would be no
substantial change his position and that he held the
power in his hands investors in gas stock have
undoubtedly become alarmed and sold out at re-
duced prices and they find the full value has been
restored and that their loss, which speculative
gain is irreparable while Mr.. Phean and the Ex-
a1nner Drag day by DAY OF settement That was &C
tualy dictated by the gas monopoly and played di-
rectly into its hands.
1t is unfortunate for a municipality when its chief
officer has his judgment perpetually couded and his
determination constantly weakened by his aspirations
for reelection and for the qualification OF his per
sonal ambition This is the situation occupied by Mr.
Phelan 1t reminds us OF the scandinavian age, when
the Morse gods their annual festival, used to send
Thor after cadron in which to heat savory messes,
and he invariably returned with the pot his head
like huge hat, and its ears reaching down to his
heels Mr. Phean has got back from his raid upon
the gas monopoly with his head entirely covered by
the stopper it placed upon him
THE TARIFF HND THE TRUSTS.