The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 16, 1900, Page 9

A POLITICAL STORY IN A VERY FEW WORDS. ST REMOVE THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TUESDAY, Market-Street Corporation Ordered to Do the Work at Once. SEEREA TUnion-Street Road Given Four Years to Reconstruct System—School Board Promises to Obey Charter. MOVEMENT 08 BETTER STREETS A Large Sum Is Needed Out of the Excess Revenue. —— City Attorney Says It May Be Used During Next Fiscal Year—Mer- chants ciation Makes an Appeal. retell b hort, th t the B Miscellaneous Business. ok iacerne i Spring r Works could the money be sury? The charter ex- B hat no money c: except in ace Ariing which ropriatic A ting that if the Cit ermine that the $200. s revenue thr assessment roll W to be igh an in- is avallable amount be devoted to public streets in ac ~ ommendations _her: T w n. The petition in accordance with the re- ble Board of Public Works, Association submitted certain for the repavement of the fon of that would reeult in the repaving ess district ear during the next our fiscal the | work. years in this communication, . we sub- mitted 2 schedule of the streets to be repaved vear and schedules e during the suc- ers interested in the con. | during the present fiscal avenue boulevard and | for the repavement to be | ceeding three years $95.000 was appropriated for repaving the business streets during the pres- ) thanks are extended 3 ssioners, Superintendent Me- | ent year, it has not been possible as yet to exe- srecikpls and others w have | cute our plan for general repavement. Since t rovements in and ne he budget for this year's tax levy has been - A pared an additional amount of $200.000 has ito the treasury through an increase ) mided in the accom- Whether this amount will vements. be avallable du this fiscal year is a ques- to print fixing the | tion that we understand has been submitted to official interpreters | the City Attorney. In case it shall be heid | that this funa is ‘avallable Suring this flscal ected to furnish the | ¥ear we would mow respectfully recommend t of the amount of | and urge that at least a sufficlent amount be » Hall of Justice fum.idewx‘d to the repavement of the publio | Il be given by levard Club to T mypletion of the build. | streets in accordance with the recommendations Iher&lo{vm presented by this assoclation. 7= suthorised to procure | 1y, Committee on Public . n:hrll)Dl.n ;.I:emb‘:"; | recommended that the Supervisors reduce to determine the | the estimate of $350 made by the Board a building which | of Public Works on the cost of the pho- on_street. tograph gallery in the Hall of Justice to Public Works | $31%0, and a resolution to that effect was r the refitting of | passed to print. Hall to which re- | * Supervisor McCarthy in a report on tne was referred 10 | question had characterized the estimatc = | as being too high. He stated that he had I A et ublic | procured a private estimate from a com 2= indefinitely post- | Detent authority who said that the work | could be done for $2525. The report states ss men requesting the | that the contract for the steel frame © on Sacramento street | work of the gallery was let after com- erred to the Street | petitive bidding, but not in the manne: —_—— )vm\'tdfid by the charter. The committee 7 Fi | finds that the inference of Superintenden. ury Fixes Attorney’s Fees. | Barnett that Supervisor McCarthy was, Judge Hu court found a Judg by reason of being secretary of the San Francisco Fire Proofing Company, Inter- g ester P of Bovd (vor of the law | ested In the proposal of M. Collins, an ) Hen and against the | unsuccessful bidder for the work men tifls swe Works. The | tioned, is not in any manner supported by s rendered at the ciroteasiona) Cetendant With the result gtated, . oT facts, as Collins wi ing the is secretary, in no way represent. of which M tematic plan | be appro- | Buildings | = 4 Pov. &.1899 LLECTED For- THE THIRD TIME o OCTOBER 16, 1900. (¢} | | | | Jan. 1900 CDOLxcE orMrIssionN | EXDO&SE. .. 11 RE The scathing sor Reed ¢ t by nd his cohorts flatory tactics in water-rate investiga- a acrimonicus at yester- ors. In the ton of the Honor in hav- ent of the v Fathers poli th the con sion er d the lie to Reed and eing in a conspira newspapers to impugn his motives and those of tne board by ascribing to them an unwillingness to reduce water rates to be charged the people of San Francisco. Reed did not mince word: Phelan, who seemed to have left his offi- cial dignity at home or some other place. The tilt was lively while it lasted, and when _hostilit! me time being it was found that the Super- visors were e ly divided on the point at issue. The vote was on a resolution intro- duced by Reed, who felt that he had been lighted, when the preliminary investiga n into the value of the Spring Valley ater Company was taken away from the Committee on Public Utilitles, of which he is chairman. The resolution provided for the recommittment of the investigation to his committee, which he claimed to have been deprived of the | work at the Mayor's behest. It was as follows: Whereas, On the 10th day of July, 1800, the rd of Supervisors formally directed the Public Utilities to begin an in- , the real value of the Spring mpany’s property, whicn ubsequently delayed upon the hould be taken up by and Thurs- tion wa that_the w Board S y of October, was set as the 1g the investigation by the sald tire ervisors, id time only t t is now appar- investigation of the 1 into the real value of property used for the ad by a full board ibility of getting a full ten as the exigencies of will require, now, That the matter of the investig: real value of the Spring Valley ‘s property in supplying ater be re-referred to the Com- mittee n Public Utilities, which shall have the use of the of the stenographic reporter of this b the clerk 15 directed to issue the ne. nas for persons and papers at the d n of the sald committee. The W er Committee had reported that it was decided at its meeting on October 11, 199, to meet on Friday, December 17, 190, to begin the investigation and to meet thereafter until the investigation is completed, Chairman Connor of the committee explained that the Spring Val- | ey Company had filed an inventory of all its property, cxcept real estate, and City ginecr Grunsky was now placing valu- ations thereon. Reed objected to the | delay and Connor said in rather an ex- ited manner “I desire to sct myself right before the | people, as certain strictures on my at- titude have appeared in public print. I | think that in December we will arrive at a conclusion as to the valuation of the plant which will be satisfactory to every one and be an equitable solution of the question.” Supervisor McCarthy stated that he still believed that the Utilities Committee was better able to carry on_the investi- gation than the full board. He said that the chairman of the Committee on Public Utllities is more competent to direct the investigation than any member of the board, Supérvisor Comte quoted a court deci- sion that a committee investigation with- out the concurrence of the board was void. Supervi- | in- | s with Mayor | to an end for the | ED SCATHINGLY ARRAIGNS PHELAN FOR DELAYING WATER RATE INQUIRY Supervisor Tells Unpleasant Truths, Mayor Passes the Lie and Charges Conspiracy to Diseredit His Administra ion. < | | SUPERVISOR CHARLES WES- LEY REED. WHO OPPOSED DELAY IN WATER INVESTI- GATION. ) - | | | + = “That committee,” said Comte, “has ar- rogated to itself a_ jurisdiction that does not belong to it. The w requires that the Board of Supe rs shall inquire into and fix the water rates. If the com- mittee should carry on the investigation and the board made no inqui on its own count the Spring Vall Water Com- pany could have the order vacated.” McCarthy could see no difference tween delegating the power to the com- mittee of the whole and to the Committee i 3 To a question by Dwyer the Mayor said the of purport was to fix water rates that it was only intend- the but Reed replie ed to ascertain the real value of Spring Valley plant. After the re: tion was read again Mayor Phelan that no matter what the language of the resolution was its ultimate purpose was | to fix the water rates | | | | | “The chairman of the committee will not disavow it,”” said his Honor. “1 will certainly disavow any evasion of the party platfcrm which met with the approval of the president of this board and its members,” retorted Reed. he matter of fixing water rates is subsidiary to ascertaining values. The water-rate investigation last February was a perfect farce. Our inexperience was only oo ap- parent. This resolution will permit your committee to go ahead and preserve the integrity of the administration and make an investigation in line with the acquisi- tion of public -tilities, the most important of wheh is water. The Mayor of the mu- niclpality has no right to obstruct or de- lay this investigation. This committee has the confidence of the board. which was shown by an appropriation of $30,600 for the investigation of water systems." Connor then directed attention to resolution_passed recently directing the Board of Public Works to carry on water estigations. I will stand with you,” said Connor, excitedly addressing Reed. “We have re- duced rates to the extent of $134,000 to the people of this city, and I am willing to go_further.” Reed said that by reason of increased consumption the revenue of the Spring Valley Company had increased 5 per cent | over what was estimated by the board. We can go on cutting its revenue down 5 per cent,” said Reed, “and it will get more than 5 per cent in return by reason of larger consumption and increase of subscribers. We can plead ignorance of the situation when we fixed the rates, but 1 say if it was done knowingly it was un- adlfileraled frgud,"s' i “Come to order. Sit down: you are out of order,” interrupted the May. . Toudly with his gavel. Sy Taris “I am not out of order any more than you have been when you made numerous addresses to this board without its per- mission_and against its rules,” retorted Reed. Thereupon his Honor felt himself called upon to say something in defense of himse!f and the members, claimed had been traduced by t heir col- be- | al who he' ue, which he did in the following lan- 1 he gentleman’s course in this matter | | | | inconvenience of again is the result of a conspiracy with the ss and others to discredit this adminis- ation and provoke a scene. He pro- ceeas on the assumption that I am op- | posed to reduce ater rates, whereas for - last three years I have been battling for them. The r ons on this board | and myself are caiculated to create a false public impr n, and I nail them nailed. The board e in the es Committee by erring the tigation back to the . The whole trouble can only be ascribed to j usy on the part of some members with a view to getting some newspaper notoriet. upervisor Brandenstein resented the aticn of jealousy supported the re: from the committee for reasons of jealcusy, the change of which 15 so absurd that It needs no an- swer, but because it is a violation of the charter to delegate the power to a com- mitte Tobin said something about being pleased that there were some gentlemen | on the board, and that the members were not all politiclans who desired to have their names explolted in the newspapers. R sked for the privilege of rep ing to the Mayor's aspersions, which he did in the following language: “‘1 have too great a regard for the dig- nity of the Mayor of San Francisco to use any derogatory or unpariiamentary lan- slution to transfer he declared, ‘‘not guage concerning him. I desire to with- draw any such unparliamentary language, lréd\ g that to the president of this oard. "™ At this juncture Comte jumped into th: ¥ saying: The gentleman is out of order. I will not stand here and listen to such unpar- liamentary language, which belongs to the Police Court. No Supervisor should llm‘ xv(‘rm]ur‘d to make such remarks on here continued ance s no jealousy on my part,” Reed calmly: *1 welcome the assist- of every member in tnis imporiant matter and I regret the withdrawal of ome Supervisors. It is notorious inat in ebruary we did not do our duty. 1 deny the Mayor’s assertion that a vote of lack of confidence in the committee was passcd by the simple act of taking away from 1t the investigation. The chalrman has been personally assured by members of that confidence on many occasions. As to the newspaper notoriety 1 welcome the as- sistance of the press in accomplishing an; reform in the interest of the people. It has no power to injure a good man who has the confidence of the people, but it can destroy any man who has forsaken his piedges and lost the support of tie public.” Then quoting from the Mayor's mem- orabie speech at a recent panquet Reed said: I do not regard, as others do, the press as ‘insignificant, impotent and important only in libel.” | *“What have we done during our term | | of office?” continued Reed. Have we paved any streets or built any bulldings? We have done nothing to justify our ex istence. The Public Utilities Committee proposes to make a detailed, thorough and searching investigation Into the water question. Let us stand by our party plat- form and pledges and regain dence of the people which we have losi. | This can be done only by acting together without jealousy or selfishness.” The resolution transferring the investi- gation back to the committee was lost by a tie vote as follows: Ayes—Booth, Boxton, D’Ancona, Ho- taling, Jennings, McCarthy and Reed. Noes—Brandenstein, Braunhart, Comte, Connor, Curtis, Dwyer and Tobin. Reed won a partial victory, however, when the resolution postponing the in- sidered. Brandenstein urged immedia‘e action and moved an amendment that the | board begin the investigation next Fri- day at § o'clock p. m., which prevailed by the following vote: Aves—Booth, Boxton, Brandenstein, D'Ancona, Dwyer, Jennings, Mc- Carthy, Reed and Tobin. | Noes—Braunhart, Comte, Connor. The officials of the water company will be subpenaed to attend the investigation. R water question. {1 Anticipating that the five-minute rule will be | invoked against my addressing the board I de- | the Investigation into the real value of the Spring Valley Water Company's property to the Public Utilities Committee. First—Tbe beard is pledged in the words of the Democratic platform “to institute a search- | ng investigation of the operating expenses and [ into the real value of the water company's property used for the water supply of this eity, and to allow not more than 5 per cent on the stock representing such real value thus deter- T ncond—The first investigation held by this board was not “searching.” It was all in favor of the water company. Supervisor Tobin said to me at the conclusion of the last inves- tigation that he recognized that we had pre- sented no evidence in our favar. It was ail in favor of the rate asked for by the Val- ley Water Company. Third—The last investigation was just such eire to read the following reasons for referring | an investigation as has been held heretofore as a matter of course and which had been de- nounced by the President of this board and the Democratic party as being perfunctory and use- less. Unless we take time we cannot hold a better one this year. Fourth—We see.at the present time the local water company in Oakland fighting the rates established by the City Council on the ground THE STATEMENT THAT CAUSED ALL THE ROW EED'S statement, explaining his reasons for placing the Investigation of the value of the Spring Valley Water Company’s system into the hands of the Public Utilities Committee, which he read yvesterday during the heated debate, in which Mayor Phelan was a star performer, contains some Interesting data regarding the status of the The Supervisor characterizes the last inquiry made by the present board as useless and perfunc- tory and he demonstrates why a satisfa ctory investigation is impossible by the full board. The statement follows: | that in nowise is used in supplying the city and | county with water, and that lands had been | accuired to exclude possible competition; and If these items be eliminated the public will | gain substantial reliet.” Is it possible that the members of this board | think ther can prove this portion of the plat- | form true in ten or a dozen meetings of the full Board of Supervisors, when it is a moral certainty that the time will be fully consumed by the eloquence of members on points of that there has been no sufficient Investigation | order? by the Councilmen. Do the Supervisors desire to allow the Spring Valley Water Company such an advantage in case they shall fight the ordinance we shall finally pass in February? Fifth—The Democratic platform declares “it is notorfous that the stock and bonds of the Spring Valley Company had been issued in ex- cess of the actual money invested: that prop- erty is beld upon which the public pays yates | watershed i3 pot used Dy the company. Sixth—A minute investigation is necessary. For instance, it will be essential to appraise every vlece of land held by the company in order to decide if it is actually used for the supplying of water to the city or merely held as & speculation for the future. Can the board investigate this work? Take the single case of Lake Merced. A large part of vestigation until December 7 was recon- | THORDUEHFARE SINKS AT DOC Overloaded With Coal the Big Freighter Gets An- other Wetting. AT Water Pours in by Rudder-Chain Ports, but Quick Work Prevents Serious Disaster to Steamer. .—There is a Southern Pa- cific transfer boat Thoroughfare. rly hour this morning her performance of several weeks a 1 sank at the Pe- ralta-street freight slip. The accident this time was luckily not so serious as the for- mer one and the company was saved the ying off the big on boat for several weeks. While'a run of coal-laden cars was be ing transferred to the steamer the heavy load caused the vessel to settle rapidly in the water. Her deadlight ports were all closed during the loading process, as the result of the recent disastrous experience. but the rudder chain ports at the stern were below thewater line by reason of the load and before the burden could be eased the steamer had settled sufficiently to start,a rush of water into her hold. The trouble was discovered in time to give the crew and freight train men time to haul the cars from the deck of the boat to the dock, but in the rush there tearing of tracks was a ripping and | which caused considerable damage. The speed with which the boat was re- | leved of the heavily freighted cars saved her ffom serious trouble. Six hours of pumping emptied her hold, and after being given temporary attention the ves- sel was put Into commission agai the confi- | | water supples, if the investigation of the near- | pany’s affatrs. This will necessarily block the | vimors to the people at the time of their nomi- — e— WOULD MAXE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE COMPULSORY The Board of FEducation distributed yesterday the new act which is to be in- troduced at the next session of the Legis- lature regarding the compulsory educa- tion of children. The proposed act has received the 1 dorsement of the State cational Com mission and of the County Superintend- ents. While stringent in its demands, it | is not as severe as an act of the same character which is in force in many East ern States. Among other reasonable pro- visions is one permitting the non-attend- ance of pupils whose parents can prove their inability to support them Section 1 calls for at least five months’ attendance ¢ e part of each child. Section 2 provides that any parent or grardian not compelling their children to attend school shall be guilty of a ‘ml&domeanm' and_subject to a fine not mere than 310, or five days’ imprisonment, | or both. And for each subsequent of ferse a fine of not less than $10 or more | than $0 shall be imposed. or imprison- | ment of from five to twenty-five days. —_————————— | WALMSLEY PREPARES TO SAIL FOR EUROPE)| Dr. Amy Bowen, dentist in the Murphy building. called upon. Captain Seymour | yesterday _She sajd she was an intimate friend of Robert Walmsley and she had seen the dispatch from New York in ye | terday’s papers stating that he had beer found wandering around Williamsburg and bad been taken to the hospital for the insane. She wanted to k if anything { could be done for him. Captain Seymour t a_ dispatch to Captain MeCluske: w York. asking him to do what he could for the old man. He lives at 1146 | Folsom street and owns some property. His wife died about six months ago and since then he has been mewhat de- mented. He was on his to Europe on a visit. Captain of Detectives Seymour last night received the following dispatch | from New York relative to the temporary | @etention of Walmsley Walmsley badly demented to-morrow morning. Has ticket and draft for 150 pounds and valuable GEORGE McCLUSKEY, | “astain Detective Bureaw. | Walmsley has a son-in-law residing in | Manchester, England, and it is supposed that the old man is on his way to see him. | Salls for Europe | | OcT 19067 AFTER DEMocRATIC LocAar o CoNVYENTION e« WALTER PLUMMER FTS A DVORCE Alameda Society Man Was Deserted by His Young Wife. When He Calls to Make Up He Is Informed 71hat Thursday Is Her Day at Home. | + i Oakland Office San Francisco Call, 1118 Broadway, Oct. 18. Judge Hall to-day settled the troubles of the Plummer family by granting a & vorce to Walter Plummer from Mary B Plummer on the ground of desertion. Usp- der an agreement that Mrs. Plummer should have the custody of the minor child, Phyllis, and receive §10 a month alimony, she withdrew her cross-com- plaint. The only witness was J. C. Bates Mrs. Plummer’s father. Plummer had charged his wife with de- sertion, claiming that about a year and a half ago she went East on a visit. On her return to Alameda she fatled to g0 to the home of her husband, but instead went to live with her father. Mrs, Plum- mer's actions caused a stir in Alameda soclety, and for a time the 4 the Encinal City were in deep clo According to Plummer, he paid a num- ber of visits to his wi h her parents in an effort to ind return to him, but was ignored he was curtly notified by mail that Thurs day was her day at bome. This was mor than he could bear and the divorce suit was the result Mrs. Plummer immediately filed a cross- complaint. charging her husb: cruelty. The specific acts of cru that he always found fault cooking and absolutely re her. leged h an stew prepared by before him she ed “nasty stuft,” nose, shoved them Plummer is_interes Salt W this m g a $0 a month. —_———————— the Crystal verty in court me was but | RESIDENTS OF SUNSET DISTRICT ARE PLEASED Property Owners Satisfied With Their Treatment at the Hands of Officials. The property owners of Sunset district are greatly pleased with the improve- ments that have been made in t trict of late. The p 2ding to the n tion to the residen Nineteenth greatly improved by t grass, which acts as a preven ifting of sand. Water have been far we teenth avenue boulevard ing the value of t trict. The propert avenue b vard is to be sol n tate firm that the district & divisions by It School Board will so. is property on the east sid between I and J street ere on a schoolhouse for the children | district. At the request of the property owners it was recently ordered by the Board of Supervisors that twelve hy: placed in the district under vision of Chief Sullivan against fire all t would be necessary, once the hydrants are placed, would be the addition of a number of new fire alarm boxes and the erection of a bufld- ing for a fire company, which is greatly needed in the district The residents of Sunset district are ably represented by an executive committee, composed of the follow Edward Ewald, Louts Lipman, C. G. Larsen, Richard Keller and Charles W. Pope. In the Divorce Court. Lena Barrera was granted a divores yesterday from Alvino Barrera on the ground of desertion. Margaret Welch has been granted a divorce from John T. Welch for desertion. Suits for divorce were filed yesterday by Susie D. Winc man against Robert Winckelman for cru- eity: Ruth D. Walker against John Walker for cruelty: May G. Walters agalnst William J. Walters for failure to provide: ra T. Jorgenson against Adolph Jorgenson for failure to prov Helen L. Flynn against H. H. Fiynn for cruelty, and Louise Fenkhausen against Caeser Fenkhausen for desertion. much of the valuation of the rancho should be excluded, and what shall be placed on what is left? This will take a day's time at least in actual inspection of the vpremises. Wiil the full board devote this time to the matter? ! Seventh—A thorough Investigation into the | real value of the Spring Valley Water Com- | pany’s property Is necessary in order ® make a proper recommendation as to the wisdom of buying the Spring Valley Water Company, of bringing a supply of water from the Slerras. It our engineers report that it will cost 325, | 200,09 t0 bring & given quantity of water from | Lake Tahoe or from the Tuolumne or Stanis- | | 1ave rivers, how can we decide to recommend | the adoption of such a plan unless we know the | actual value cf the Spring Valley Water Com- cperty? The Spring Valley Water | property is unquestionably the nat- | ural supoly of San Francisco, because of its | proximity to the city. What sense is there in | propriating $30.000 for the use of the Publl Utllities Committee in examining avaflable est and most available is to be taken aw: trom 1t? This is an investigation into the value of the Spring Valley Water Company’s prop- erty and will assist a water committee In ar- riving at a just water schedule. It is in no sense usurping the functions of that commit- tee. Efghth—It appears that there is a determined, and so far successful, effort being made under the leadership of the Mayor to prevent any adequate investigation into the water com- observance of the pledge made by the Super- pation. A pledge has been given to the people to make a searching investigation. That work ‘was assigned to a committee consisting of Mr. Jennings, Mr. Hotaling, Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Connor, Mr. Dwyer and myself. It was en- larged espectally to take up this investigation. Itz members have been carefully preparing themselves for months to qualify themseives to discharge the dutles cast upon them by the board. There is no question made of the ability of the committee and no other committee has taken or desires to take any step in the mat- ter. All of the acts and recommendations of the Public Utllities Committee have been unanimously approved by the Board of Super- visors. At this juncture the Mayor returns from forelgn laads and by bis infuence stops the investigation do the Superv Supervisors b rs £ d resolved to tee of the whole to investigat the Mayor directs the clerk to Inform bers that no meeting will be held What au- thority has the Mayor to thus adjourn a meet- ing of the board? The wos Utilities Committee might help the ¢ rarty’s pledges. Bu investigation that Boards of Supervisors is I wish to recall to t when the last water rate was decl pervisors admitted that no pract! tion had been made—that the platfor Democratic party had not been ke was sald that during the year a prop gation should be mad for the purpose. At that time ¢ alleged reduct: as & Schussler testified that the company had increased 5 per had been anticipated at the time had been fixed by the preceding Board of S pervisors, and that he anticipated more than & 5 per cent increase for the coming year, dus to new consumption of water. We made a 10 per cent cut on the house- Lelders’ rates established by the last board, which Is almest exactly 7% per cent of the net income of the compan Its gross income will be 10 per cent larger this year than was anticipated at the time the old board pussed the ordinance fixing the water rates, according to Mr. Schussler. Hence there has been an actual increase of 2% per cent of the revenues of the company. If we could make a Tl per cent cut In the revenues of the company every two years, while its gross income increased at the rate of 1) per cent every two years, the incot of the company would increase at the rate of 23 per cent until the end of time. This is why I say that the alleged reduction ma Dby this board was a “fake.” If the schedul was prepared intelligently it was a betrayal of the people. If it was not donme knowingly it only shows how necessary it is to have & thor- ovgh and “searching” investigation. Gentlemen, our pledges have not been kept. This question is the parting of the ways, as always is in the Board of Supervisors. Shall —but 1t esti- riated the nd w at rates “I".“u'filuflr“‘mml‘ to distrust board as they have 15 boards in the passi =