The San Francisco call., 1906-04-17
FARE
BILL DEFEATED
Board of Supervisors Holds
1t Has Not Legal Right
to Fix a Three-Cent Rate
DISCUSSION Is HEATED
Duffey Says Result of the
Proceeding Means Political
Death of His Associates

The Board of Supervisors, acting on
the recommendation of the judiciary COM
mlttee, last night indefinitely postponed
action on the proposed ordinance intro
duced by Supervisor Duffey fixing a fare
or three cents to be charged passengers
on street cars during the busy hours of
the morning and evening. The defeat of
the measure came after a long and heated
discussion. during which some acrimoni-
Gus words were indulged in by some of
the Supervisors.
The report of the judiciary committee
which was adopted by the board. was as
follows:
1--WE have reviewed thoroughly the
cases cited by the City Attorney and the
counsel for the United Railroads and are
OF the opinion that this board has no
power to reduce rates on franchises
granted before the adoption of the char
ter, when the rates are designated in the
franchises. We regret to find ourselves
at variance with the contentious of the
City Attorney, but in cases like the pres
ent, where the issues are first received
by him and he assumes the position of an
advocate rather than as judge, hearings
and considerations of argument before US
would be mockery were we to follow
his views without exercising our own in
dependent judgment, based on the law
and the facts as presented by both sides.
Your committee suggests that there
would be grave doubt of the successful
or profitable operation of the municipal
Geary street railroad on a three-cent
fare. The California and Union street
lines as we'll as the United Railroads
asserted to your committee that their
roads would be forced into practical
bankruptcy If the rate were reduced as
proposed, and offered TO allow your
committee expert and detailed ex-
animation of all their books for ver-
ification of their statement,
I'VE understand that the prime OBJ
ject of the proposed ordinance was to
secure a betterment of the street rail-
road service. This result Is one un-
doubtedly to be wished for and your
committee will be glad to cooperate in
securing it. but other means must be
found than by the ordinance proposed"
DUFFEY TAKES EXCEPTION.
Supervisor Duffey took exception to
some of the statements contained in the
report of the judiciary committee.
II wish to deny published statement
that the City Attorney persuaded me to
Introduce the ordinance to fix three
cent fare" said the Supervisor. II desire
to say that l took the initiative in this
matter myself. 1t would have been we'll
for the judiciary committee to adopt TREY
l.. Ford's brief against the validity of
the ordinance. Outside of one member
there Is not one of the committee who
knows as much about law as l do.
1.-The committee has quoted Ford's brief
in several particulars, but has paid no
attention to any of the points raised by
the City Attorney TO prove the validity
of the ordinance. The service given by
the street railroads is wretched and
should be improved.
I'VE as members of the Union Labor
party promised the people to reduce fares
and water and gas rates, but this COM
mittee's report does not bear US out
say to you that if you adopt this report
1t means the political death of all of you
This is a workingmans measure and the
workingmen are all interested in it be-
cause it makes their 60 cents equal to The
rich mans dollar
Supervisor Coleman said the committee
had carefully weighed the arguments of
both sides and came to the conclusion
that the city could not reduce the fare
without the consent of the street railroad
companies.
Even If we had the power to reduce
the fare" said Coleman, the poor man
would be the loser, because the transfer
privileges would be abolished. The great
supporters of union labor have advised us
not to reduce fares. and the statement
that the workingmen will suffer If we
fall to fix Scent fare is erroneous"
Supervisor Wilson said the passing of
the ordinance would plunge the city into
endless litigation, with no chance of win
ming the case.
SAYS CARMEN OBJECT.
srv>I..