The San Francisco call., 1908-03-24
COMPANY BOOKS
TO Be ExNP|ERTED
Board Accepts Britton's Offer
and Postpones Fixing OF
Gas Rate
Until Question Is Decided Con-
sumers viii Continue to
Pay IS Cents

iifOfS complete luuuiiy ritt -
made into the affairs of the San Fran
cisco gas and electric company by the
supervisors before they fix the lighting
rates to be charged consumers during
the coming fiscal year. Should the
schedule not be settled upon prior to
June so. the end of the present hscai
year. the company will continue to coll
iect under the existing rate RMS
course was agreed upon yesterday after
long discussion of the two reports
presented by the artificial lights COM
mittee of the board.
When the gas rate matter was called
for consideration resolution adopted
by the San Francisco democratic club
of the thirty ninth district. protesting
against any increase in the price or gas,
was read.
BRrTTON OFFERS BOOKS
President Britton of the lighting corr
poration was granted the privilege or
the floor to explain that the figures
published in the Financial Chronicle,
which differed from those given by
him to the committee when questioned
concerning the receipts and expendl-
lures of the corporation were not au-
thentic. He read a telegram from the
saying that the figures printed by that
journal had not been received from any
officer or employe of the gas company.
Britton said that the books of the
company were open to the supervisors,
and that IL they desired they might
have them examined by an expert, so
as to learn just what the receipts and
expenses We're and what it cost to pro-
duce gas.
Tn ny1Svyar r., aobc p,.itfop said thz 4
if the % cent rate proposed by the
majority of the committee was adopted
the company would promise to extend
its gas and electric light service into
the outlying districts. The 10 cents in
crease would give the company about
S250,000 more revenue, and it would
willingly spend that sum in improve
ments, although it was S2.000,000 in
debt.
JACOBS OPPOSES INCREASE
Isidor Jacobs, representing the Good
Government league. made a vigorous
protest against any increase in the
rates. He said that the consumer
should not be compelled to pay higher
rate to recoup the company for any
losses 1t might sustain by selling gas
in some districts for so cents per 1000
cubic feet to shut out competition. Such
a course, he said, would amount to
paying the company for crushing op-
position.
Jacobs made reference to former
board of supervisors having been
bribed by the company to establish the
present IS cent rate, and was called
to order by Pollok and Giannini, who
objected to introducing the graft con-
troversy into the investigation.
Johnston, who introduced the minor
ity report of the committee, which
favored the re-enactment of the So
cent rate, spoke at considerable length
He said that Notwithstanding the de-
NAL of the publishers of the Financial
Chronicle he still believed that the fig
| ures printed by the paper had been
furnished by some person in close touch
with the finances of the gas company
He said that his only desire was to es-
| tablish rate that would be fair both
| to the corporation and the consumer.
WILL EXPERT RECORDS
Murdock moved that the investiga.
| tion be ,reopened and that the finance
committee employ an expert and ar
| appraiser, If necessary, to examine the
! books of the corporation, ascertain the
| cost of producing gas, the amount o1
| it's expenses and receipts and also learr
| the value of the properties in actua
use. Giannini seconded the motion and
! it was carried without a dissenting
vote. although Murphy at first protested
| that the board should at once fix the
rate at S5 cents for the coming veal
and then proceed to gather data to aie
it in arriving at schedule next year
| 1t is expected that the expert viii
require several months time to SECURE
all the information desired by ths
| board. In the meantime the compan,
will continue to collect the present 81
| cent rate.