Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-15
WATER COMPANY
DODGES QUERIES
IN WATER PROBE
ATTEMPT TO GET VALUATION
IS FAILURE
SAY EXPENSIVE PLANT MAKES
HIGH CHARGE NECESSARY
improvement Association Attorney in
Wordy Tilt with Corporation At
torney on AdmlssibiIity Of
Testimony

d. DellllOneQ Dy patrons OIL the COIL
pany living outside the corporate linn
its of Hollywood will be bitterly con-
tested, was evidenced from the all-day
session before the beard of supervisors
yesterday in the court house. The ses-
sion adjourned at o'clock to resume
deliberations Thursday morning at $3.50
o'clock.
The session was devoted yesterday
TO an attempt to secure ii valuation
of the water company's property. At
the morning session Andrew G.. Parks,
representing the petitioners, made a
demand upon the officers of the COM
pany for a specific and detailed enum-
GRAFTON of the value of the plant and
equipment of the company. This in
formation was refused on advice of
Sheldon Borden, counsel for the water
company. The result was a tedious
session, when the attorneys for the
petitioners endeavored TO obtain piece
meal the facts from various witnesses.
G. o. Clark, representative of the
West Ivanhoe Improvement associa-
ton, proved a valuable witness for the
petitioners and gave detailed account
of his investigation of the affairs of
other water companies, with the plan
of establishing the fact that the Holly
wood company was charging higher
water rates and providing poorer serv-
ice.
Attempts of Attorney Borden to
shake the statements of Mr.. Clark
were unavailing and he gave an ac
count of his Investigations which
showed that companies in Whittier,
San Gabriel, Alhambra and Santa Ana
were providing their patrons with
water at less rates than charged by
the Hollywood company.
President on Stand
c. J. Heyler, president of the Holly
wood company, and Otis E. Wern, sec
rotary, were on the witness stand dur
ing the morning, but little information |
favorable to the petitioners was elicit |
ed from their examination. The stand |
taken by the water company is that |
the value of their plant and their ex-
penditures in providing water neces-
state higher water rate. The attempt |
to establish a valuation for the plant |
was not concluded and experts will be
called to testify at the adjourned hear
ing Thursday morning.
From the testimony of Secretary |
Wern it was shown that the assess
ment of the company's property as de-
tailed by Mr.. Wern and the county
assessors did not agree, the witness
claiming that the value set by the as
SCISSORS was less than his opinion in !
the matter warranted. Some of the |
petitions entered with the board of |
supervisors ask that the rates be low
cred from the present minimum of |
$3.50 and others petition the establish
ment of minimum rate of SLIPS. The
company desires TO maintain fiat
rate of 50.
The contention of the lawyers for
the petitioners was that the officers
of the water company were initiating
their valuation of their system outside
of the city limits of Hollywood
ha 70 of ]
that a rate established by the super
visors would not be satisfactorily re-
ceived at the Soldiers home at Saw
telle, which is supplied with water by !
the Hollywood company
According to the figures presented J
by the company its system consists :
Of 1856 miles, 119 miles of which is out :
side the corporate limits of Hollywood. I
Say Conditions Vary t
In reply to the statements of Mr.. |
Clark that other adjacent cities are l
supplied with water at cheaper rate, {
the Hollywood company defended its |
position by stating that existing con-
1ltions are not similar and that it costs 7
more for them to supply water than =
other companies more favorably sit \
lated. Mr.. Clark in reply declared e
that the Hollywood company could pay
large salaries to their officers, afford !,
unable l.,
compete with other companies. His
dea was that if the company could .
not manage to control it's business II
and meet competition y
the users of water should not be made :,
10 suffer. =
Mr.. Clark caused general laughter Il
when he remarked that it was doubt =
ess policy for the Hollywood company :,
o make their calculation as high as q
possible at the present time as its -
value would rapidly depreciate when u
he river project was completed. -
]. p. Flemming, one of the petition ,
,rs, testified to the poor service he was D
given and stated that the company de- 81
iired 40 cents foot for piping his II
and, which he could supply himself
or about 20 or % cents a foot n
e. NJ Batten, plumber was called y
o testify in regard to the present valu-
ition Of the Hollywood company. but
stated that he could not give an opinion
Is to the present value of the entire
liant.
At this point a spirited argument p
ook place between Mr. Park and Al ~
orney Borden. Mr.. Para stated that NJ
arrangements had been made for an te
xpert witness, but that he had been p
Unable to appear and asked the ST. ",
'ervisors to wait until such expert tes- IS
imony could be introduced He stated
hat otherwise the cause of the peti- o,
toner's would be weakened, and he de- 81
ired that the attempts of the company nj
o exaggerate its real value be dis a,
roved. Attorney Borden, for the COM IN
any, argued against such a move ca
Clash Over Witness
Mr.. Park declared that his expert IL
illnesses would not occupy much time re
-ttorney Borden retorted by saving tl'
hat judging from the present session 10
ley would require two or three DAVIS pI
] which to state their grounds. At OF
1rney Park caused a ripple of laughter m
Y stating that his experts would he "a
'uthful and could give their testimony de
uickly. He further stated that If II IN
ad not been for the water company in an
sfusing to acknowledge a specific cal -,
llatlon of its property the session ,C.f
ould have been finished long before TIC
hartman Nellis Of the supervisors said
lat II was DESTROYS that both sides IN
ave fair chance of presenting their ga
'stimony and believed 1t advisable -
adjourn until the petitioners could an
troduce experts who would be aual- s1i
I'd to state the present value OF the
ollywood company inasmuch as the tn
intention Of the company was that an
5 reason for high rates was its higher tel
lluation. Adjournment was taken In,
It'll $3.50 o'clock Thursday morning. IN
Attorneys Park and Frank w. Hovey al
e rQnrQeQnffuc IA ia.