The San Francisco call., 1905-03-14
ASK GOVERNOR
TO VETO BILLS
Supervisors Oppose Laws
WhichWiIl Prevent Acqui-
sition of Water Supplies
TO RETURN SPECIAL TAX
Claimants Who Paid Hos
pital and School Levy Can
Now Get Their Money Back

The Board Of Supervisors yesterday
adopted e resolution requesting Gov
ernor Pardee to veto Senate bills Nos.
566 10 57l. amending the Civil Code,
which adds water stored in reservoirs
or flowing in pipes to the property
which NAV be taken under the power
OF eminent domain. and Senate bill No.
572 which provides that the Supervis-
ors Of any county in which water is
stored. CT through which IL flows, for
use in another county. must. upon the
oefns nd of twenty residents. commence
proceedings for the condemnation of
such water.
The resolution recites that the
amendments are in violation of the
cardinal principle Of eminent domain.
that property can only be taken for a
more necessary public use than that TO
which il is already devoted, and that
where z portion Of property is taken in
the exercise Of the right, and such TAX
ms renders other property useless. then
the measure Of damages shall be the
value OF the whole Of such property.
That If said measures should become
laws they would practically render i'm
possible the acquisition OF any public
water supply for the city and county
Of San FIancisco, by putting it into the
power Of any twenty residents of a
county in which such va1er might be
stored. or through which il might pass,
u compel the Supervisors of such
county 10 condemn said water and pay
therefor its value as water only, even
though such taking would destroy
works of immense value.
The board also adopted a resolution
asking the Governor not to approve
Senate bill No 233. which is designed
10 esta ablish a method by which muni-
cipslities may acquire existing electric
lighting and gas.
The resolution says that the method
is impracticable and would operate
only 10 prevent municipalities from
ever acquiring such works and the bill
is an unwarranted attempt of the Leg
islature 10 interfere with the municipal
affairs OF this city and county and of
other cities and towns of this State,
besides depTiving them of the exercise
Of their just powers.
A committee from the board will go
TO Sacramento to-day TO protest to the
Governor against the bills described.
The committee was erected to pro-
test against any bill affecting the right
Of the municipality to govern itself, in
cluding one to compel the payment of
the. legal rate Of interest on the cash
value Of water works instead of per
cent on the original cost Of the plant
The board adopted a resolution or
oering the return Of the special levy of
Is cents for schools and hospital as IL
legal under authority of a legislative
amendment. Claimants for the refund
ing Of the taxes are to file with the
board their original tax bills for the
fiscal year 1902-I9O3 or certificates is
sued by the Tax Collector showing that
the taxes have been paid. attached to
demand upon the city treasury. The
claims are &c be verified by oath and
If found correct shall be ordered paid
The resolution granting permission to
Jake Rauer TO explode blasts for grad
ing purposes on his lot on Ellis street
between Cough and Octavia, was final
" passed.