The San Francisco call., 1910-01-18
WATER RATE
LITIGATION TO
BE RESUMED
Spring Valley issues Statement
Declaring for Peace, but
Prepares for War
City Will Probably Lose Legal
Services of Judge Curtis
II. LindIey

Spring Valley took stock yesterday
making careful measurement of its
own position. The directors gathered
ia the Sutter street Office and figured
over the results of Fridays election
After a prolonged deliberation, Presi-
dent Bourn authorized the following
statement:
AS citizens of San Francisco the di-
rectors of the Spring Valley water com
pany regret the result OF the recent
water bond election. AS TO the future
policy of the Spring Valley water com
pany, we can but repeat what we have
many times stated: 1t will be our hope
that time viii remove prejudice, cor
rect Misrepresentation and establish
friendly relations with municipal ad-
ministrations TO the end that communi-
ties may receive an abundant supply OF
water and the company attain low rates
for consumers and security OF invest
ing share holders.
This is the same announcement OF
policy that has invariably preceded the
process Of rate making. The super
visors are about TO set the figure for
the new fiscal year. Mayor Mccarthy
has given no one cause to suspect that
he viii be too liberal with the company.
CONTEST SHIFTS TO COURTS
Within . few minutes after the is
suance of the company's statement its
attorneys pulled the law books from
the shelves and began anew on the un-
completed briefs. The scene of con-
test is 10 be transferred from the polls
10 the courts.
It is more than likely that the city
viii henceforth be denied the legal
services of Judge Curtis II. Lindley.
He has been associated with City At
torney Percy Y. Long in all matters
pertaining TO the Hetch Hetchy system.
With Fridays election he announced
that his engagement with the city was
a an end. He had acted for the city at
the solicitation Of the Taylor admins
tration With its retirement he also
retires. Mayor Mccarthy has sponsored
legal opinions in direct contradiction
OF those of Judge Lindley, and il is
unlikely that the city executive viii
request a continuance of his employ
ment.
Lindley has been a volunteer in the
city's service. He has given his time
and talents over a period of two years
without compensation. He has stead
fastly refused to submit a bill, holding
that the service was its own reward.
READY FOR LEGAL FIGHT
City Attorney Long is convinced that
every step taken has been properly
buttressed by law" His Office is ready
TO 20 into court TO uphold the city S
rights. He has assigned John T. Nourse,
one of his deputies, to this phase of
the water litigation.
A possible solution for the future
was suggested yesterday by interested
parties that entails the purchase by
the city of the Spring Valley distribut-
ing system and its best water sources,
eliminating all properties not in use.
The opposition to the Hetch Hetchy
project. which was pretty well nullifed
at the recent election, has been further
embarrassed by a circular written by
city Engineer Marsden Manson. Man
son says:
TT is manifest that the statements
made in this pamphlet are only appar-
entity substantiated by the garbled
quotations presented therein, and are
not in reality based upon true and cor
rect facts, but upon partisan pres
entation OF selected and misleading
quotations which the citys representa-
tive is forced to take this means of
refuting These garbled quotations are
grossly misleading. in that they are
separated out and arranged to mas
querade as the unqualified opinions Of
those from whom they are quoted,
when in many instances the opinions
are the exact opposite of the impression
which the pamphlet undertakes to scat
ter broadcast"
For the campers Manson has this
reply:
1T is true that for about two months
IN the year the floor of this valley is a
paradise for campers but it must be
remembered that the greater portion
Of this paradise is owned by San Fran
cisco for The exclusive purpose of max
ing the homes of tens of thousands of
families that will never have the op-
portunity of visiting this paradise for
campers q source of health and hap
piness by introducing into those homes
the greatest element Of health. namely.
the purest water from the most avail
able source"
Manson asserts that all other avail
able sources have been Investigated
and discarded for the Hetch Hetchy
Attempts TO reopen this question he re-
CARDS as purely in the interests of the
great power corporations. He says:
1t is suggested that the city take
water from one Of these companies
after il has been used in their power
stations. 1t is well known that at this
elevation il can not flow by gravity to
San Francisco and will require pump
ing, and TO pump this to the elevations
required for delivery in San Francisco
will ultimately require a yearly ex-
penditure of $1,000, 900 or a capital in
therefore, that II the existing mononolv
of these water and power companies
was appealed to TO furnish funds to on
pose San Francisco 1t would be inclined
10 contribute generously