The San Francisco call., 1910-07-19
SHIPPERS MAY BE
WITHOUT WATER
Spring Valley Threatens to Cut
Off Supply Unless Demands
Are Paid

A new aspect of the Spring Valley
water rate litigation developed yester-
day when it was announced in Judge
Conley's court that the corporation has
threatened to cut off the water supply
of the steamship companies on July 20
If they refuse to pay the rates as fixed
by the injunction of Judge Van Fleet.
The rates the steamship companies are
willing TO pay are those established by
the board of supervisors last month for
the fiscal year 1910-1911. These rates
are considerably lower than the in
junction rates.
Under the temporary restraining or
der signed by Judge Conley last week
on the complaint of Dr. A J. Minaker
sthe corporation is forbidden from dis
continuing the water supply of any
person ready and willing to pay the
supervisorial rates. That restraining e
order will be dissolved at 2 o'clock to-
day if Daniel O'Connell, attorney for
Minaker, has not by that time obtained
a bond of 500, 900 to indemnify Spring
Valley against loss. 1t will then be
necessary for the steamship companies
TO secure independent restraining or
ders
William Madden, attorney for the Pa
cific Mail steamship company and the
San Francisco and Portland eamship
company. and w. H. Gorrill, attorney
for the Pacific Coast steamship COM
pany informed Judge Conley they
would file complaints in Intervention in
the Minaker suit so as TO enable them
to seek restraining orders preventing
Spring Valley from cutting off their
water supply. Attorney Madden said
that as far as the Pacific Mail company
was concerned a total of about $4,000 a
year was involved, that being the differ
ence between the injunction and the
ordinance rate. Judge Conley promised
that upon the fling of the complaint
in intervention he would grant a tenn
porary restraining order against Spring
Valley for three months upon the
steamship company furnishing a bond
of $4,000.
Charles Page, attorney for the water
corporation urged the court to dis
solve yesterday the injunction OBJ
tained by Minaker in behalf of all
water consumers. He said that 1t was
impossible to begin the preparation of
the water bill for July while the in
junction was in force
Attorney O'Connell replied that it
was the practice of Spring Valley to
make out its bills on the basis of the
ordinance rates and afterwards add in
pencil IS per cent Therefore, he said,
the preparation of the bills could be
begun at any time.
Attorney Page.
II am sure l don't know" answered
Page. Il have never seen my water
bill for 90 years.
probably because you never get
one" interjected O'Connell.
Judge Conley announced that he
would try the Minaker case just as
soon as the attorneys were ready.
Objects to Assessment
The Spring Valley company appealed
in vain to the supervisors yesterday to
have s.. 900. 600 chopped off its franchise
assessment Assistant Manager Behan.
anneared before the board of equaliza-i
ton to call attention to the fact that
the amount allowed the company for
the expense of taxation in making up
the annual rates ordinance was $4,000
short of the sum actually charged by
the assessor for taxes.
Rehan suggested that as the law al
lowed the corporation to count It's taxes
along with operating expenses in de-
ductine from receipts to arrive at its
.income" and that as franchise value
was not counted in fixing the rates, the
board should reduce this item from $2,
500. 900 TO s1.500,000.
Al Kelly's reminder that this would
cut short the city's closely trimmed in
come the board members hardened their
hearts. Mclaughlin said the company
did not pay much heed to the boards
rates, anyhow. and he saw no reason
why the board should trouble itself
The board denied the request.
City Joins Water Suit
The city was yesterday made Joint
plaintiff in the suit brought originally
by A. ]. Minaker to restrain the Spring
valley company from cutting off water
of consumers who offered to pay the
rates established by the board of SUI
pervisors.