The San Francisco call., 1904-03-08
FAIL TO AGREE
ON GAS RATES
Supervisors Evenly Divided
on Question of Adoption of
the Proposed Ordinance
ROCK CHANGES VOTE
Contested Schedule of Water
Tariff Almost Unanimous
ly Re-enacted by Board

Alter al lnNeSISdIlOu extending over
several weeks, in the course of which
the affairs of the gas company were
thoroughly probed and an ordinance
fixing the maximum gas rate at 80
cents passed to print, the Supervisors
yesterday, by a tie vote, failed to pass
the ordinance. The result was a sur
prise to many, as majority of the
members of the board at last weeks
meeting seemed satisfied with the 80
cent rate.
When the matter of fixing a min
imum quality and a maximum price
for gas was brought up, Attorney Sam
uel Knight was given the privilege of
the floor and made a brief address.
He said the final passage of the pro-
posed ordinance would be a great in
justice to the company and asked the
members of the board in all fairness
to make a more thorough investigation
of the figures presented. He said it
would be only just to resubmit the
matter TO the committee, in order that
it might be given an opportunity to
submit a rate which would be fair to
the committee, fair to the Supervisors,
fair TO the company and fair to the
consumers.
VOTE is A TIE.
In accordance with his request, Su-
pervisor Boxton moved that the ordi-
nance be referred back either to the
committee on artificial lights or a com
mittee of the whole, or both. His mo-
tion was opposed by Brandenstein, who
said the ordinance had been framed
after careful deliberation and a full
examination of the figures and facts
presented on both sides. He consid
cred it just to everybody. The motion
was lost by the following vote:
Ayes-Alpers, Bent. Boxton, Finn,
Lunstedt, Rea, Sanderson. Noes
Booth, Brandenstein, Comte, Braun
hart, Connor, D'Ancona, Eggers,
Hooks, Mcclellan, Payot, Rock.
A supplemental report, giving some
additional details regarding the cost
of manufacture. and distribution CT gas,
was then read and vote taken on
the adoption of the ordinance. 1t was
lost by a vote of 9 to 9. Supervisor
Rock, who at the last meeting favored
the measure, having decided in the
meantime to change his vote. In ex-
PLANTATION he said: When l voted in
favor of the ordinance last week l
thought 1 was doing right, but since
that time 1 have changed my mind. L
have interviewed many people and as
certained facts which were unknown
to me at that time and 1 believe a fur
ther consideration of this matter ad-
visable.
ROCK MAKES A CHARGE.
L believe that when a man discov-
ers that he has done wrong he should
be given an opportunity to set him
self right. and for this reason l desire
to change my vote. I do not believe
the Gas company can make money at
a rate of 80 cents, as among other
things it is taxed on a franchise it
does not possess, any one having the
privilege TO tear up the streets and
lay gas mains. AS a result of this I
find that its meters do not register cor
rectly and the gas is not up to the
standard"
The vote on final passage was as fol-
lows:
Ayes-Alpers, Bent, Boxton. Finn,
Hooks. Lunstedt, Mcclellan, Rea, San
derscn.
Noes-Booth. Brandenstein. Braun
hart, Comte. Connor, D'Ancona, Egg
gers. Payot, Rock.
The electric lighting ordinance, as
passed to print at the last meeting, was
then taken UP and finally passed with
out discussion.
There was practically no discussion
on the proposed water ordinance and
it was finally passed, Comte alone vot-
ing in the negative. This ordinance is
identical with the one adopted in 1893,
which the Supervisors were enjoined
from enforcing. The question of it's
validity is still before the courts and
in all proba biiity the ordinance adopted
yesterday will also be the subject of
legal battle. Rates are now being
collected by mutual agreement on the
schedule adopted in 1902.