The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-14
GOOD ROADS.
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
About Is Per Cent of the Voters Sign
the Petition to tho Supervisors.
Action Regarding the Board
of Education.


Graf, Cohn. Essen, Francisco, Jevne,
King, Mullen. Klokke, Patterson, Jones,
McGarvin, Parsons.
In the absence OF President Freeman,
Director Formsn occupied the chair.
Your committee on good roads bsgs to
report that signed petitions addressed to
the board of supervisors, in accorda nee
with the plans Of the road convention.
have been sent in, containing about
20 names and that 500 more names will
in all probability be secured within the
next few days. Many of these petitions
have been sent out into country dis
tricts and have not az yet been re-
turned. Some Of them, which we learn
have been extensively signed, have been
mielaid by those who have them in
hand and may not be secured until after
the date has passed on which they were
to be presented to the supervisors. We
will therefore, unless the board should
see fit to instruct otherwise, turn in to
the supervisors such petitions as we
have secured and explain that others
may be obtained later.
The number OF signatures obtained is
about what the committee had antici-
psted and constitutes from 10 to 10 per
cent OF the voters of the county, which
ia all that could have been hoped for in
80 brief canvass.
1t is gratifying to note that there is
very little pronounced opposition to the
plan, and that most of the opposition
which exists has sprung from a com.
plete Misunderstanding OF the conditions
OF the project. We have enjeavored by
the publication of bulletins to correct as
far as possible these Misunderstanding,
but to make such campaign Of educa-
ton effective requires considerable time.
We have gone far enough in the matter,
however, to be able to assure the board
that there is very little doubt in our
minds that If the matter be presented to
the people of the county at a general
election in accordance with the plan
ado oted by the recent convention, and
thorough campaign of education carried
out. the bonds would receive the requi-
site majority.
At the outset of the campaign the idea
gained currency in the rural sections of
the county that the city taxpayers would
not be called upon to pay their quota of
the bonds. We have been unable to find
anyone who quotes any authority for
this proposition, and az a matter of fact
there is no authority, for the reason that
bonds issued by the county must be met,
both interest and sinking fund, by a
general tax ON all the property within
the county limits. We have combaled
this mistake to the best OF our ability,
but we learn that q number of reman-
strances have been signed and forwarded
to the board OF supervisors, based on
this objection alone. OF course, in any
extended campaign such objections as
these could be finally silenced.
Another point W hich is offered by some
members Of the labor unions 10 that it is
nrae~--a ~ n~-~ 49, <1n -h -dnnA- ny or-
tract. Perhaps when it is understood
that the state law requires it to be so
done this objection will also be removed.
In few cases large land owners OBJ
ject to the project on the ground that it
would increase their taxes. We are
confident that this source OF opposition
could also be removed by showing that
the increase in taxes would be insignifi-
can't in the cities. and that in the coun-
try there would be NO increase what
ever.
On two points we have found the peo-
pie OF the cities and country alike prac-
tically unanimous, viz, that the county
needs better roads. and would be greatly
improved by their existence, and Sec
ondly, that we are never likely to have
much better roads under the present
system. With such Q unanimity on
these two material points it would seem
that the supervisors, together with such
. commission OF engineers ae it 10 pro-
posed to appoint, ought to be able to
work out some plan tnat will meet the
appreciation of the voters of the county.
and will ultimately provide US with sat-
isfactory roads.
We had hoped to receive considerable
assistance in the obtaining of signatures
through the work of the wheelmen and
their various associations, which in
other sections OF the union have exhib.
tied an active interest in projects of this
but we have not succeeded in
arousing much enthusiasm in that
quarter. We have hope that if the pro-
ject is presented to the people, these
men who are for the most part young
and active, will take hold and help in
the work of convincing the people OF
the value of better roads.
Yours respectfully,
CHAs. FoRMAN, F. w. KING, Gro. w.
PARSONS, E. F. @. KLoKKE, THEo. A.
Essen. w. B. CLINE, KAsPARE Conn.
A communication was read from the
board of trade asking the chamber to
take action in the matter OF the proposed
OF the ports Of San Diego
and Los Angeles at San Francisco.
The secretary read seueral commune
cations, including telegram from SEN
stor White, showing that there was no
possibility of such project being car
RED out, as the bill had been reported
upon adversely.
The secretary was instructed to inform |
,he board Of trade of the true state of the |
Ease.
Director Patterson offered the follow
ng resolutions, which were, on motion,
adopted:
Resolved, That it is the belief of the
directors of the chamber OF commerce
hat in the revision of the city charter
he board of education should be made
Elective by the entire city at large This
,lan would give to the position of men,
,ership in the board dignity and
prominence which it cannot have under
he present system of electing by wards,
md render available the services of mon
# the highest character.
Resolved. That the board OF education
hould consist of not more than ak
nembers, and that the terms OF service
hould be SO fixed that not more than
hree should 60 out of Office at the came
ime.
Resolved, That the secretary be in
tructed to transmit copy of these res
lutions to the COMMITTEES in charge of