The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

STAND PAT ON
WATER RATES
Committee Agrees TO Recon-
mend Re-enaCtment of Terms
Now in Force
Minority, Led by McAllister,
Suggests Increase Asked
by Spring Valley ..

( The supervisors will stand pat IN
the water rates controversy. A water
rate bill identical in terms with that
enacted last year viii be introduced by
Chairman Johnston and supervisors
Murphy of the coQmittee at tomor-
rows session OF the board and viii iu
all probability be approved by the ma
jority of their fellow members.
\ A minority bill. giving the Spring
/ Valley company the 25 per cent in
crease and the So hydrant rate asked
I by President Bourn. viii be introduced
by Supervisor McAIlister. These two
matters were decided upon at the final
session of the committee yesterday.
The majority bill had the taeit APP
proval of several other supervisors sit
+ ting by courtesy with the committee
men and viii undoubtedly receive tho
favorable consideration of the boards
majority Monday. Supervisors Payot.
Jennings. GfaDnini and McLeran were
the other members who listened to the
terms of the proposed ordinances.
MAJORITY FOR 100: RATES
The majority bill is virtually the
1902 rates over again. 1t enacts the
rates which have obtained under the
Spring Valleys old Injunction since
1908. the rates which are at present in
force, but which have been increased
10 per cent by the company under the
operation OF Judge FarringtOn's re-
straining order in the federal court.
A hydrant rate of $3.50 per stand IS
also allowed as last year The only
change in the law IS the insertion or
the word private" before a provision
fixing the charge for gardens and
grounds.
The Spring Valley company had
claimed under this provision the right
to charge special sum for the water
ing Of Golden Gate park and the city's
other grounds. in spite of the city's
general appropriation. This claim.
however. the company has never sought
TO enforce.
MURPHY BACKS JOHNSTON
The committee session leading I'D to
the two bills and the diverse reports
was friendly but tense.
"NO, by gOlly,- said Supervisor John
ston, who even on Hefeh Hetehy's dusty
trails was never known to swear. .E'iI
be dnrned IL L surrender the city's po-
sitfon to the Spring Valley company
! Murphy heartily backed up this senti-
ment and the 1902 bill went through
Johnston's protest followed DfcAllis-
4 ter's proposal:
'We ought to give the Spring Valley
/ company this year what it asks for. "A
Is per cent increase over the 1902 rates
and % for the hydrants. Then put a
man fn the ONCE of the company To
watch every dollar that comes In and
I goes out and make monthly reports TO
/ the board
IF we give them the increased rate.
/ the company will accede to this. Then
4 at the end OF the year. if the sum re-
/ ceived by the company is excessive. it
! can be a matter OF adjustment in next
/ years rates.
FOR PROFIT on STOCK AT PAR
President Bourn has announced two
moro dividends for this year. TO make
a total payment OF per cent on the
par valuation of $50 per share OF the
stock We ought to allow a 4 per
cent profit on the stock. Let us give
\ the company this time what it asks for
and have basis to start out on with
/ out this eternal wrangling.r
.ssNO, by gOlIy. III be darned If Il do
came JOhnstOn'S retOrf, and the com
mittee adjourned TO bring I'm diverse
reports.
! Murphy heartily approved one sug-
/ gestion OF McAllister's, saying: 1T will
/ be good thing to put man on watch
I all the time to check Spring Valleys
receipts and expenditures. 1t IS the
! channels of expenditure As for the
company permitting the city's expert
/ to have access. It can't prevent It, The
/ finance committee by the charter is
! given the power to inspect the official
acts OF the water supply utilities and
all it's operations"
SLOT MACHINES OPPOSED
7 Tonorrow's session of the board
I promises to be interesting. on the
! nickel in the slot machines matter
( McLeran will bring IN a minority bill
permitting the use of two machines in
I each stand. Connolly and RfxfOrd
( will report for the machines extinc-
tion after July l.
/ on the city hall architectural com
{ petition Rfxford will bring in minor
/ ity report from McLeran's and Ban
I $4,000 contest Rixford desiring 10
firms TO be invited TO participate.
DELAY FOR OTHER MATTERS
The Stockton street franchise will be
presented in pamphlet form for the In
( formation of the members. but SUPER
visors Giannini. McLeran and Murphy
of the committee Will not ask for pas
sage to print until the following week.
+ Neither the gas. electric light nor the
( telephone rate bill will be introduced.
Giaunini will present his own and
/ CITY Engineer Manson's report Of tho
I latest concessions granted the city in
the Hetch Hetchy matter. including
rights OF way for canals and all things
needfuI for commencing construction OF
( the dams at Lake Eleanor and Hetch
Hetchy.