The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-11-26
sunday NEWS At PASADENA,
The Southern Pacific Franchise
Fight About Ended.
Why the New Charter Should Be
Voted For.
new YsAr's Day Racss-Lats Social
penings-Psrsonal Notes
and Other News
Matters.


dicted 90 many times that the Southern
Pacific franchise fight on south Broad
way WAS about to end with some decisive
action on the part of the council, only
to end in postponement, that any delay
would cause no surprise at the present
time. From the best advice that can
be obtained, however, it appears certain
that positive action relative to the grant
Ing or refusing OF the application will be
taken by the council tomorrow.
Just what shape the action will take
cannot be foretold, but there is no doubt
but that the application will be granted.
Whether it will be given with certain
important restrictions remains to be
seen. The most important point is the
board OF arbitration. Will the council
demand that all claims OF affected
property holders be granted before o
rail is allowed to 60 down under the
franchise?
AT previous meeting oil members
agreed to the arbitration proposition
and it ia reasonable to presume that
they will maintain that proposition at
tomorrow's meetings unless some new
movs is made by the railroad people. 1t
is, however, highly probable that the
company will present petition signed
by a majority OF the frontage asking the
council to allow the railway to come up
the avenue.
This would. OF course. put new face
on the matter, but it would still leave a
large number of property owners to
fight the company in the courts for an
adjustment Of damages, it being pre-
sumed that the owners signing the petit
ton had been settled with.
The position taken by moet of the cit
liens in this matter ia that the railway
should be allowed to enter the city, out
that before taking possession OF any
street for that purpose that all property
owners should be settled with for dunn
ages sustained. The al bitration scheme
was the outgrowth of this idea and the
stand which the council took on the
matter was generally commended.
Its fairness appeared to all. with
the notable exception OF the
southern Pacific company which has
been since casting about for some way
of getting around the matter and avoid
ing the expense which it feared would
DO entailed by such process. The ma
jority petition scheme was hit upon as
probably successful maneuver. By this
means only q majority and not all of the
owners would have to be dealt with, and
the lessening of expenses is obvious.
Whether the council will fail in with
the scheme, however, remains to be
eeen, and there comes the rub. 1t is
apparent that if that body secs fit to
stand by the arbitration proposition, ae
first proposed. that they will receive the
support of the people generally who OBJ
ject to seeing anyone run over by q
railroad corporation when it lies within
the power Of the city to prevent it, The
outcome of tomorrow's meeting will be
awaited with interest by all.
THAT NEW CITY CHARTER.
The new city charter is not having a
very easy time OF it; in fact, for so young
an infant it is being extremely roughly
handled. Whether it will survive the
effects remains to be seen. A three
tifths vote is necessary to its passage,
and with the determined effort which ia
being made in certain quarters to effect
its defeat its fate ia by no means certain
Up to the present time, however, no
really valid reasons have been advanced
for it's defeat, and until it ia clearly
adequate to the demands OF city OF this
size it is entitled to support. The char
ter as drawn up and presented to the
people by q board of 10 freehodsrs
elected by the people ia most certainly
ark affair under which the city is s.rug-
Cling. Ii is broader, places the city on
par with other cities OF like size, and
extends many privileges which are not
now enjoyed. In the case of the salary
of treasurer alone the new charter would
effect saving OF 5000 annually.
1t has long been matter OF comment
that while thie Office is mere figure
head, and practically no work required
that the money attached was equal to
that of the city clerk and other officials
who are obliged TO devote their entire
attention to the duties of their offices.
Another thing: 1t ie a matter of no
small expense to the taxpayers OF this
city to have charter drawn up and pre-.
sented for their approval at the polls.
The present one, whether accepted or
elected. will cost the city at least $1,000,
and probably more. The email item OF
$500 to each OF the local papers for ad-
vertising is included in this. The etate
Law requires that where q city has more
than 10000 inhabitants that the charter
may be published in two daily papers.
The council. according to Judge Weed,
believed that Pasadena had 10000 and
over inhabitants.
These are but few OF the many
points why the charter should &C
through, and more evidence of its faulty
construction than has yet been pre-
scented must be shown to make its de.
feat desirable to our citizens generally.
NEW YEARS DAY.
II becomes more apparent every day
that the tournament of roses is q thing
Of the past. Since the Valley Hunt clut
announced it's intention OF dropping the
affair, some time ago, spasmodit
attempts have been made to revive the
tournament by having the board o.
trade take hold OF it. but so fer no action
will be taken, and in all probability
none will. The last tournament hss
been held.
The Grown City Cycle club, however
has decided to give field day on tbs
opening of the new year, and if the boys
are given little assistance in the way
OF prizes. ETC., there is no reason why il
should not be euccese.
The Painter track in North Pasadena
as announced before. has been securec
and will at once be put in condition fol-
racing.
While located good way out the
track 10 easily accessible via the Ter.
minal railway. The local cycle club has