144 VALUATION, DEPRECIATION AND THE RATE-BASE 
‘““ The use of all water now appropriated, or that may here- 
after 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 inhabi- 
tants thereof, shall be fixed annually by the Board of Super- 
visors, 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 ex- 
cept 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 Superinten- 
dent 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: