The herald., 1896-05-12
browne CALLS ATTENTION
The City Council Is Accused Of
Neglect Of Duty
TELEPHONE RATES ARE HIGH
And Browne Wants to Have Them
Reduced
tse-An License Questions Turned
Over to the Tax Collector

tee-Au License VueottouS turned
Over to the Tax Collector
The city council held an unimportant
session yesterday, adJourning early in
the afternoon to meet again Thursday
morning at 8 o'clock, at which time the
necessary ordinances authorizing bond
issue to refund the debt of the city Will
be reported by the city attorney and will
be adopted. Among the petitions pre-
sented was one from G. Y. Browne for
reduction Of telephone rates. In full, the
Taper Is as follows:
Your petitioner respectfully calls the
attention of your honorable body to that
certain clause or section OF the charter
of the city Of Los Angeles wherein is
set forth the imperative command that
the council Of this city shall annually
fix and publish the rates to be charged
for, among other things, the telephone
service rendered by companies oper1t-
ing under franchises granted by this
city; that no action in this regard has. as
yet. ever been taken by your honorable
body; that the company now operating
here. to-wit, the Sunset Telephone and
Telegraph company, Is. and for a long
period of time has been, charging exor-
bitant and unfair rates, far in excess of
the real value of, and just compensation
for. the service rendered; that the rates
CHdTkeQ 10 It's SuDSCTlOcT6 are
rating, in that certain ones are charged
more or less than. others for the same
character Of service; that by reason of
the excessive rates charged the said Sun
set Telephone and Telegraph company
is now, and for q long period Of time has
heen. earning revenues and profits far
IN excess of what 1t Is in law and equity
entitled to, and which profits are bur-
den to the telephone subscribers of this
city; that said profits range from SO per
cent to 100 per cent per annum on the
capital by said company invested in it's
plant here installed.
And your petitioner respectfully re-
quests that your honorable body will de-
niand of said Sunset Telephone and Tele-
graph company sworn statement of its
earnings, income, receipts, profits, ex-
penditures and expenses, including
true list Of its subscribers and the month
ly rates and amounts paid by each; and
that, in the absence of proper showing
being made by said company, your hon
orable body will forthwith arbitrarily
fix and publish the rates for telephone
service to be by said company charged.
Your attention is also called to the sys-
tenn of. nickel-in-t -the-slot attachments
maintained by said Sunset company;
that the same, owing to. the methods
adopted by said company, act as a hard
ship on its subscribers and rate-payers,
in that said company frequently makes
charge for service not actually rendered.
In view Of the fact that the said Sunset
Telephone and Telegraph company holds
q valuable franchise in this city, where
by it is enjoying enormous profits. 1t
seems but right and proper that this city
should be by 1t in turn adequately COM
pensated for the privileges accorded
said company, and that said company
should aid our citizens and taxpayers
in carrying the burden Of municipal
taxation; and to that end your petitioner
suggests that an annual license tax of
say $1,000 be imposed upon all nickel-in-
the-slot telephone attachments.
In the city Of Oakland, in this state,
a license tax has been imposed on each
and every telephone and telegraph pole
erected and maintained in said city;
and the same should obtain in this city.
Your petitioner believes in the fair and
legitimate announcement of all public
enterprises. but deplOres the lax man.
ner in which valuable franchises have
heretofore been granted by former coun-
ellis, without just returns. compensation
or benefits to the municipality for the
privileges granted.
The above was referred to the finance
committee.
THE CITY ATTORNEYS REPORT.
The city attorney reported as follows:
In the matter of the suit brought by
William Il. Stewart against the city to
quiet the title of lot 6 Of block ''A,' of
the Johnston tract. 1 have examined
the title to said property and am of the
opinion that the city has no claim to
the same, and j therefore recommend
that q disclaimer be filed in said action.
In the matter of the suit brought by
Andrea b. de Dominguez against the
city and affecting that portion of Myr-
tie avenue, now Wall street, lying be-
tween Eighth and Ninth streets, the case
came on for trial last week and judg-
ment was ordered in favor of the city.
You have instructed me to report an
ordinance changing the name of South
street to Tenth street, the city engineer
has requested me to have all ordinances
for the change of names of streets and
all ordinances for the improvement of
streets under private contract referred
to his department for reason that his
department has all the data and maps
ON these subjects, and is better quail
fled to report upon the same Much con-
fusion frequently arises from the change
of names of steretS, and we are some
times ordered to present ordinances to
improve streets under private contract
when the grades of such streets have
not been established. Such errors
might be obviated If these matters are
referred to the engineers office, and 1
think his suggestion is good one and
should be adopted, and will ask, there
fore, that you refer this matter of chang
ing the name of South street to the en-
gineer.
AS directed by you, report draft of
street railway franchise asked for by
w. H. Workman.
All the above were approved and
adopted.
REPORT OF THE ENGINEER.
The engineer reported an official man
of the annexed district, also the assess
ment map Of the Third street sewer,
from st. Louis to Soto streets, also the
assessment map of the Main street sew
er. also new ordinance establishing the
grade of Avila street, from Mary to
Bauchet. also an ordinance establishing
the grade Of Avila street, from Date to
Bauchet, also an ordinance establishing
the grade of Winston avenue, from
Date to Avila streets, also an ordinance
establishing the grade of Custer ave-
nue., from Temple street to Bellevue
avenue, also an ordinance to establish
the grade Of Ninth street. from Pearl
to Alvarado, also an ordinance of in
tention to construct sewer on Jackson
street. from Wilmington to certain
lot on Alvarado street. also an ordinance
changing the name of Washington
street between Central avenue and Ala
media street, also an ordinance to con-
struct a sidewalk OH Lucas avenue,
from Seventh to Orange streets, also an
ordinance to construct a sidewalk on
Orange street from EiYa1 m r .11ca 6 ovo