The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23
WHARF RIGHTS
ARE DISCUSSED
Council Wants Piper Com
pany to Stand by It's Bid
for Warehouse Privileges
BLOWS HOT AND COLD
Captain Hibberd Would
Withdraw From Contest,
but He Finds Obstacles
BLOWS HOT AND COLD

OAKLAND. May %. = The con-
test over dock and warehouse priv1-
leges at Franklin-street wharf be-
tween the Piper, Alden & Goodall co.
and the Dimond Freight and Express
line was called Off tonight in the City
Council by Captain l. N. Hibberds OF
the Piper company, who withdrew ms
Did OF s400 a month rental for the
wharf. But the City Council took
hand In the subject and refused to
recognize the withdrawal.
councilman Meese's motion to accept
the Piper bid was carried in face Of
Captain Hibherd's declaration that his
people, after a week of waiting, had
decided they had no further interest
IN the controversy. The action of the
Council appeared to be preliminary to
litigation to compel the Piper Com
pany to stand by It's bid. In explana-
tion of his position, Captain Hibberd
said:
"A week ago we made the bid in
good faith and were ready to put up
our money, but the Council laid the
matter over for a week. In that time
conditions have arisen to warrant us in
saying we have no further interest in
this proposition. In short, II we had
understood the conditions in Oakland
as we do now we should not have pro-
ceeded as we did We have sound busi-
ness reasons for withdrawing our bid"
The Dimond Company will continne.
to use Rthe dock under its present
monthly rental of SIS until the Council
shall take further steps That COM
pany was represented tonight by At
torney Edward Espey, who made no
move in the Council after the vote on
the Piper bid had been taken.
In committee of the whole, the pc
tition of o. ]. Hanson that the Council
fix rates on cost of electricity and gas
service was laid on the table. John
A Britton, president of the Oakland
Gas, Light and Heat Company, made an
address opposing Council action and
declaring that his company had MAIN
policy of voluntarily reducing rates
as conditions of business warranted
Councilman Pendleton cited the agree
ment of the company to spend $4O0, 1000
In placing its wires underground In
the business district as a. reason why
the company should not be disturbed at
this time He recommended that
apparatus be provided for testing the
quality and power, of gas and cleo
tricity furnished by the company.
President Britton's offer to give the
apparatus to the city was accepted.
A report was read from the special
counsel in the water front litigation
William r. Davis, William Lair Hill
and III. A. Powell, showing that We'd
nesday had been selected for settling
the bill of exceptions in the second ap-
peal to the Supreme Court. This COW
ers the question of how many streets
are open through the water front
property.
The city's claim is to thirty, while
only Broadway, Washington and Grove
streets are declared open in Judge Og-
den's second decision. Reports were
filed by City Attorney McEIroy and
Special Counsel Carl II. Abbott, show
ing the condition of water rate suits
The Hart case will be ready, 1t was
said, for motion for new trial In the
Supreme Court by June /. The Coun-
cilmen were served tonight with
copies of the complaint filed to-day in
the United States Circuit Court on in
junction proceedings by the Contra
Costa Water Company against the en-
foreement of the water rates adopted
for the next fiscal year.