The San Francisco call., 1909-02-25
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call

WASHINGTON. Feb. 24.-The senate
committee oa public lands today laid
p the Hetch Hetchy resolution on the
table for this session. There was no
formal vote. but the lineup was given
above. Senator Flint after canvass
ing the members and finding just how
they stood, suggested that the matter
be laid over until the next session,
(which was agreed TO.
The Spring Valley end Of the fight
was conducted largely by Senators
= Newlands and Fulton. They did not
speak for the company directly. but
their attitude was such as to convince
the san Francisco people that they pre-
ferred to look after the company's in
terest first and the cIty's afterward
Newlands offered a draft OF proposed
3. report on the resolution providing for
a commission of three persons 10 be
appointed by the president TO investi-
Eate the "advisability and propriety
Of granting 10 the city of san Francisco
. rights within the Yosemite national
park TO use the Hetch Hetchy valley
or Lake Eleanor. or both as reser-
:, yoirs for a municipal water supply.
and whether the necessities of the city
properly require and justify such a
p grant" This proposed commission was
The idea Of the Spring Valley lobbyists
when they appeared in the senate COM
mittee, and it looked as If the report
might be favorable on the resolution.
The one object was TO prevent consid-
j.. Grafton Of the resolution this season.
NE-NE-T aNnS- TBFTTE-Trf PLEA
Newlands' approved committee re-
: port summed up the Spring Valley con-
tention as follows:
The Spring Valley company also ap-
pears as contestant claiming that
. the purpose Of the city of San Fran
cisco is TO acquire this grant from the
government with a view to hammering
:. down the price Of the Spring Valley
water works; that for many years the
. ciiy of san Francisco, through the 10
: cal board OF supervisors has been fix
':sng the rates 10 the consumers at I'm
remunerative prices. and that the com
panE has beer compelled to go re-
- pestedly TO the United States circuit
=. court for injunctions. which have been
- granted; that the cOnhscatory action
!. of the city government Of San Fran
: cisco in the past has been apparent,
and has reduced the value OF the COM
panEs stock in the market, and that
IF san Francisco could secure a good
- and Independent supply il would be ia
the position OF owning its own water
works and at the same time fixing the
! stes Of its competitor and also leyying
. taxes upon that competitor, and that
tho government Ct the United States
ought not thus TO enable the city au-
thorities Of san Francisco TO prac-
: ticaily complete confiscation claimed to
/ be already inaugurated, but should see
10 81 that before any grant is made or
considered by the national government
Justice should be done TO the local COM
20 many. The Spring Valley company
claims that its resources within so
p miles OF san Francisco viii be equal to
the requirements Of that city for so
years.
EACH DISTRUsTS OTHER
ION the other hand the representa-
tives OF the city claim that the city
needs the Spring Valley works as a
part OF its approved mountain system;
that IL is willing to pay a fair price
and the Spring Valley company has re-
fused TO name a price. It is apparent
that the city and the company distrust
each other and that the Intervention
Of some third party commanding the
confidence of both is necessary to ar
rive at an understanding
The indefinite postponement of the
resolution does not necessarily mean
long delay. there is nothing to pre-
vent consideration of the matter at the
extra session beginning next month
Engineer Manson declares that the city
has acquired rights under the Garfield
grant which it viii proceed to exercise.
whether congress confirms them or not.
Senator Fulton, a leading opponent of
Hetch Hetchy. Will quit office March T.
Members Of the senate committee did
not care to discuss the Hetch Hetchv
question at length Those who opposed
the resolution defended their action on
the ground that congress has no time
at this session TO debate the matter.
The skillful work Of the Spring Valley
lobbyists. however, ia creating the suS-
picion that the city was trying to
'cinch' the company. was the real in
iuence in swinging the majority of the
=. committee.
New Laws TO Help Project
- CALL HEADQUARTERS CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE BUILDING. SAC RA-
MENTO. Feb. 24--Three bills Of the
utmost Importance TO the Hetch Hetchv
project were favorably recommended
by senate committees today. City At
mn A