144 VALUATION, DEPRECIATION AND THE RATE-BASE
‘““ The use of all water now appropriated, or that may hereafter
 be appropriated, for sale, rental, or distribution, is hereby
declared to be a public use and subject to the regulation and
control of the State, in the manner to be prescribed by law;
provided, that the rates or compensation to be collected by any
person, company or corporation in this State for the use of water
supplied to any city and county, or city or town, or the inhabitants
 thereof, shall be fixed annually by the Board of Supervisors,
 or City and County, or City or Town Council, or other
governing body of such city and county, or city or town, by
ordinance or otherwise, in the manner that other ordinances or
legislative acts or resolutions are passed by such body, and shall
continue in force for one year and no longer. Such ordinances
or resolutions shall be passed in the month of February of each
year, and take effect on the first day of July thereafter.
(Art. XIV, Sec. 1) (1880)
“The right to collect rates or compensation for the use of
water supplied to any county, city and county, or town, or the
inhabitants thereof, is a franchise, and cannot be exercised except
 by authority of and in the manner prescribed by law.”
(Art. XIV, Sec. 2) (1880)
“In any city where there are no public works owned and
controlled by the municipality, for supplying the same with
water or artificial light, any individual, or any company duly
incorporated for such purpose, under and by authority of the
laws of this State, shall under the direction of the Superintendent
 of Streets, or other officer in control thereof, and under
such general regulations as the municipality may prescribe for
damages and indemnity for damages, have the privilege of using
the public streets and thoroughfares thereof, and of laying down
pipes and conduits therein, and connection therewith as far as
may be necessary for introducing into and supplying such city
and its inhabitants either with gas light or other illuminating
light, or with fresh water for domestic and all other purposes,
upon the condition that the municipal government shall have
the right to regulate the charge thereof.” (Art. XI, Sec. 19)
(1884)
San Francisco Charter Provisions relating to Rates. — The
Charter of the City and County of San Francisco (in effect
January 8, 19oo) mentions, among the powers of the Supervi-SOIS: