The San Francisco call., 1904-03-22
WOULD SPIKE
DINCEE'S GUNS
Councilman Cuvellier Offers
Provisional Ordinance Re-
ducing the Water Rates
TELLS OF IT'S PURPOSE
Saws If Measure Is Passed
Litigation in United States
Court Will Be Avoided
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
111S Broadway, March 21.

111S Broadway, March 81.
Councilman Cuvellier introduced in
the City Council tonight provisional
water rates ordinance for 1904-05 max
ing q horizontal cut of 10 per cent to
Individual rate payers in the water
rates now in force, municipal rates to
remain as at present.
The Councilman explained that ne
wanted the bill referred to the conf
mittee of the whole to rest there until
it was determined whether the proposed
board of arbitration on the value Of
the Contra Costa Water Companys
plant should be able to report in time
for the Council to use the figures fer
rate-fixing purposes. Cuvellier said he
had of his own volition gone to William
J. Dingee, president of the water COM
pany, to discuss the matter and Dingee
had given verbal pledge that if the
City Council would accept 10 per cent
cut the company would not contest,
but that II a heavier cut should be
made the company would go into the
United States courts and litigate all
this, provided the arbitration plan was
not completed.
Councilmen Meese, Howard, Pendle-
ton and Elliott spoke against the In
PRODUCTION of the Cuvellier ordinance
at this time, arguing that 1t was pre-
mature. BY consent the ordinance
went without reading to the committee.
Councilman Howard, in explanation Of
the status of the board of arbitration
said that a representative for the city
had been selected and was ready to 80
to work as soon as he was summoned.
Howard believed that within ten days
the water company would be ready TO
name its engineer and that the report
of the board could be rendered in thirty
days after the third man had been
selected.
AS chairman of the Special Bond
Committee, Councilman Howard said
the Council would be in a position to
take up that report on Monday night
and settle as to the items. Howard
withdrew a resolution he introduced
directing the City Attorney to draw a
stipulation to dismiss the water rates
suit It was explained that during Mr..
Howards absence the Council had
voted to continue the appeal in the
case.
City Engineer Turner submitted re-
port and an estimate of 81. 100000 as the
cost of pipe line distributing system,
pumping station and reservoirs for a
municipal water plant. This included
cost of metering the city.
Oakland Lodge No. 3, Knights of the
Royal Arch, filed communication re-
questing the City Council to amend the
LIQUOR license ordinance so that permits
to procure saloon licenses shall run
continuously without annual renewal,
as now required. The lodge also urged
that the issuance of liquor licenses be
limited to the number now in force, or
less Offer Of cooperation of the or
ganization in the investigation of ap-
plications for licenses was made. The
matter was referred to the committee
of the whole.
An informal conference of represen-
tatives of the Peralta Heights and
Boulevard Improvement Club, the Oak
land Transit Consolidated and j. H.
Macdonald, the nominal holder of the
Fourth avenue cutoff railroad fran
chises, was held in the Council commit
tee rooms, with the result that the pro-
test against the Macdonald franchises
was temporarily withdrawn. An
nouncement was made that for the
time being action would be deferred.
1t was said a new arrangement will be
negotiated.