The San Francisco call., 1906-07-07
SAYS COMP PANIES
ARE ROBBING
PUBLIC.
CityAttorney Burke Prepares
to Act Against Telephone
and Lighting Corporations
DEEMS IT"LOOTIlNG"
Asserts Conflagratiion Losses
Are Being Recouped in a
Manner That Is Unlawful

Charging that the Pacific States
Telephone Company and the San Fran
cisco Gas and Electric Company are
taking advantage of the people in the
existing emergency, City Attorney
Burke will begin campaign against
these corporations next week The
Spring Valley Water Company, which.
1t is asserted, is permitting dirty water
to run into some Of it's pipes, will
also fall within the lines of investi ga
ton, though IL is admitted that the
problem that confronts it is greater
than that faced by either of the other
corporations.
"Looting." said Judge Burke yester-
day. would be mild phrase to apply
to the methods of the telephone and
the gas and electric companies in their
effort to recoup the losses suffered by
them in the confiagration No person
will deny that the telephone service
at this time is execrable and the fact
that the gas that IS being supplied
is of the poorest quality cannot be
questioned
But it is the financial end of the
game these companies are playing that
is of interest to my Office. The tele-
| phone company asserts that the
tangled condition of its lines prevents
the installation in private homAs of
the slot phones for which $3.50 a
month was charged prior to the dis
aster. AS a result all of those that
must have telephones in their homes
are compelled to submit to the COM
pany's charge of $3.50 month
Il have also been credibly informed
that in those instances where the COM
pany has placed slot telephones in
public places that are supposed to re-
| turn the nickel in event desired
switch cannot be had 1t has instructed
its operators not to return the nickel
| in any circumstances, and as a result
there is much complaint.
ONE CENT A SWITCH.
Il am now engaged in drafting an
ordinance which I purpose presenting
to the Board of Supervisors in the near
future, providing for penny switches
One cent is enough to pay for switch
| in view of the poor service the COM
pany is now giving. It's patrons and I
purpose to see If the company cannot
be compelled to accept what its service
is worth and no more. Ever since
the Incorporation Of the Pacific States
Telephone Company the service in San
Francisco has been poorer than in any
other city on the coast I am con-
| fdent that the adoption of such an or
dinance as I propose would improve
| matters. If 1t did not 1t would at
L
to the extent that now prevails
| "As to the gas and electric company
I have been informed that it is now
charging patrons SIS for connections
and $3.50 for meters. This is in direct
violation of the law. Under the law
as it exists the company is compelled
to make connections and place meters
without charge. but 1t has taken ad-
vantage of the peoples eagerness to
secure light and is gouging them ac-
| cordingly / am going to call the at
tention of the Board of Supervisors to
the situation and ask that such addi-
tional ordinances as may be necessary
to put an end to the practice be passed
GAS BILLS TOO HIGH.
81 am also informed, and my in
vestigations have verified the report.
that notwithstanding the reduction of
the gas rate from 81 to IS cents the
gas bills of the people are as large
! If not larger than they were before
There is no question that the gas
company is installing fast meters and
! is deliberately footing the public and
the municipality. 1t is my intention
! to ask for the appointment of a com
mission that thoroughly understands
meters and the quality of gas to in
Vestigate conditions ! also shall call
upon the Police Department to have
the members of the force secure bills
from as many householders as possi-
BILE TO show the cost of gas before and
after the reduction Then If we can
prove that the company has deliber-
ately put in fast meters there may be
some indictments of prominent mem
| bers of the community.
"All will admit the fact that the
| Spring Valley Water Company has
been hard hit, but at the same time it
should not turn dirty water into it's
pipes and thus endanger the public
health In some portions of the city
the water is not fit for use and it is
the intention of my Office to see IL
this condition cannot be remedied. The
fight will open in earnest next week
and will be continued until the people
secure their rights from these offend
| ing corporations"