Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-27
THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR JOB
Justices Of the Peace VS.. the
Supervisors.
Judge Stanton Not Inclined to Get
Off His WOOlsack.
An Old Question Reopened Can the
Supervisors Abolish Township.
Some of the Points Now
at Issue.

Several months ago the HERALD gavt
quite an extended account OF the at
tempt OF the board of supervisors to re
form the boundaries of Los AngeleI
township SO as to include Garvanza arc
Glendale, thus endeavoring to shut the
doors against P. E. King, elected justice
of the peace at Glendale two years ago
Itwas the opinion in the district at
torney's Office at that time that the
board practically legislated Justice Kint
and Justice Bartholomew of Caravans
out Of office, although the members O
the board asserted that they had not in
tended to oust King at once from hit
office. but only that it should take ef
feet at the expiration OF mis- term, which
occurs next week.
In order TO test the matter Justice
King began suit against the supervisors
applying for writ of mandate on vari-
GUS grounds, which Judge Van Dyke de-
clined to grant. Since that time JUS
tice King has continued to assert his
claims to his Office, and has done come
business. Justice Bartholomew, how
further as far as he was concerned, and
took no criminal business at his Office
in Garvanza.
It has been learned that there is to be
another attempt to have the old ques-
ton brought up again, and that the
papers for quo warranto proceedings to
be brought by Attorney General Hart
have already been forwarded to him,
and it is expected that the preliminary
papers in the case will be filed some day
this week.
1t has been learned that Justice Stan
ton will be included in this new pro-
ceeding, and that he will endeavor by
this means to retain his Office as town
ship justice, the term of which also ex-
pires next week.
There is considerable talk in legal
circles about the matter, and it is feared
that unless the question is autho rita
lively settled before long 1t will result
in considerable uncertainty as to the
class of litigation which is considered by
the township justice courts in this town.
ship.
Since the former proceedings Justice
Bartholomew has changed his postofice
address to Los Angeles, and has been
elected township justice Tor Los Angeles
township.
He is not. therefore, taking very
much interest in this matter. II the
two other justicee should be successful
it would knock his jurisdiction out, and
he would 60 back to Garvanza until his
successor is elected and qualified; that
is, il he has not lost his residence
there.
It is learned that the leading point
upon which the justices rely for keep
ing their grips upon their respective
offices is relative to the power OF the
board of supervisors 10 form new town.
ship, in the manner which they fol.
lowed in consolidating the old Los An
geles city township and Los Angeles
township.
They did this by resolution last sum-
mer, and in accordance with certain
sections of the statutes which, they
claim, gave them the power to do go.
But the justices claim that these gem
eral powers of the board of supervisors
did not authorize them to "abolish" a
township. They contend that the lam
guage of the county government act,
authorizing boards OF supervisors to
"divide, change or create" townships
does not mean that they can wipe out a
township as they did in this instance.
They also contend that the word
ssabo,ish, !" used in subdivision three Of
the same section 25 of the new county
government act, is used with reference
to the abolition of voting precents-not
judicial townships.
Among other points upon which, it is
said, these tenacious officers rely are
that the sections relating to the divis-
ions of counties into townships have for
their purpose the election OF justices OF
the peace and constables, and that con-
venience must require that such divis-
ions should be made.
In this instance they say that the
present Los Angeles township, which
embraces the city, Burbank, Glendale,
that the point of convenience wac not
considered, asserting that the new town
ship is about 2S miles long by IA miles
wide, and is by far the largest township
in the county, or any other county.
They also hold that the board cannot
appoint Justice of the peace except to
fiji a vacancy caused by resignation,
death or removal. But after all, the
main feature of this extraordinary at
tempt is the contention that there is no
statute delegating to boards OF super
visors the power to abolish township
or consolidate the territory OF two town
ships.
Some Tins ago it was thought Justice
Stanton would not make any attempt,
as far as he was concerned, to bring up
the matter again, but it was learned
Yesterday that he had acquiesced in the
bringing OF new proceedings TO finally
determine the status of affairs.
While as rule the most prominent
attorneys in the city are of opinion that
the position taken by the justices will
not hold water, etill there are some who
are doubtful about it.
Should the points made be sustained
it would certainly bring about an anoms-
lous state Of affairs, and would cast a
doubt over the jurisdiction of these
courts which would work much damage.
The spectacle would be presented of
justices holding on to their offices after
their terms had expired, and after the
people of the township had expressed
their choice of another man for the
place. The filing of the papers in the
case will be awaited with considerable
interest.
In recent letter to the manufacture
ers, Mr.. A. w. Baldridge, Millersville,
ILL.,, says: "Chamberlain's Cough Rem
edy gives the best satisfaction of any
cough medicine handle, and as 9
seller, leads all other preparations In
~ r \ l.