Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-12
SAYS
RECORDS WRONG
CLAIMS HOLLYWOOD WATER
COMPANY EX0RBITANT
Point Is Brought Out When Petition
for Reduction in Rates Is Argued
in Court a Few Days
Ago

That the records, showing the price
paid by the Union Hollywood water
company, when it purchased the west
Los Angeles Water company plant IN
1906, have been changed in order that
a high valuation might be placed on
the property of the former and thus
tend to influence the board of super
visors against ordering reduction or
water rates to consumers living ad-
jacent to Hollywood, is the belief eX-
pressed by Andrew G.. Park, attorney
for the petitioners who have asked the
supervisors for relief from the alleged
excessive rates now being charged.
When the hearing of the petition for
a. reduction in rates was resumed a
few days ago, c. j. Heyler, general
manager of the Union Hollywood wa
ter company, told the board his COM
pany had paid 100000 for the west
Los Angeles company's plant in 1908.
The transaction, he said, was carried
on through the Title Insurance and
Trust company Later, when Mr.. Park
sought to make an investigation of the
books in which the sale was recorded.
he says he was prevented, but enough
was learned to show that it was con-
tanned in the records.
subpoenas Employe
The water question was again taken
IN by the supervisors yesterday ana
on Mr.. Parks request subpoena was
issued for an employee of the Title In
surance and Trust company, VINO was
ordered to bring with him to the board
room the book in which the transaction
was recorded. Instead, the index book
was exhibited.
Mr.. Park insisted that the record
book be produced, and after some de-
Law it was brought in. Upon eXamina-
ton. says Mr.. Park, he learned that
the page containing a record of the
sale was missing.
"Is there not a duplicate of this book
in your Officer" Mr.. Park asked the
representative of the title company.
An affirmative response was followed
by q demand that this book also be
produced.
IAN examination disclosed the fact
the record of the sale of the West Los
Angeles Water company's plant to the
Union Hollywood company had been
removed" said Mr.. Park, adding that
he would take further steps to prove
that the purchase price was not as
large as represented.
To Prove Value of Plant
officials of the Union Hollywood
Water company are endeavoring to
prove to the satisfaction of the super
Visors that the value of the company S
plant is Sb44,U0U ana THAT Will d TO
auction in water rates as demanded
by the petitioners it will be impos-.
sible to receive the per cent rate OF
interest which they are permitted by
law to receive on their investment.
Water consumers, on the other hand,
contend that the company pays only
SO cents for each 1000 cubic feet OF
water and charges them 81 for the
same quantity That water can be
furnished more cheaply was apparently
shown by the statements of Ransom
Reed, superintendent of the municipal
water plant at Santa Ana. Mr.. Reed
told the board his plant furnished
water to 23OO customers, charging 81
per 1000 cubic feet. In addition 1t sup
plies water free to public buildings
and for sprinkling purposes. The
profits. he said, amounted to an aver
age of $1,000 each month, and this
money is expended for city improve
ments in other directions.
The hearing was continued to next
Tuesday, after several experts gave
testimony in behalf of the Union COM
pany.