The herald., 1897-10-23
That Is the Question Before
the Council
WHETHER IT'S BETTER TO
BEAR HACKS ALONG THE CURB,
OR CLEAR THE STREET
And by So Doing Solve the Sanitary
Problem-A Consummation
Not ConsummateG

Not ConsummateG
The regular committee room in the city
hall yesterday morning was not large
enough to contain the members of the
Merchants and Manufacturers associa-
ton and the delegations of hack and ex-
, pressmen. who were eager to hear what
/. the beard of public works had to say, and
what they would do in connection with
the famous anti-hitching ordinance. In
view of the number present the board
and listeners adjourned to the council
chamber, where the meeting was held
in regular form. Committeeman Ash
man was absent and Councilman
Blanchard remarked that as the anti
hitching ordinance was the first item on
. the list, the. board would be glad to hear
: from the Merchants and Manufacturers
association as to the views of that body
with an explanation of their object in
presenting the ordinance, and the senti-
ments of the public at large Among
those members of the M. & M. A. who
/. were present were H. P. Anderson, F. b.
Sherwood, H. f. Vollmer, F. NJ. Coulter
y r. j. Waters c. C. Gibbon, L. j. Christie
pher L. E. Hickok, r. W. Burnham, r
W. Dromgold, l. L. Lowman, L. w
Godin, r. H. Miner, ]. c. Drake, c. S
Walton, Gregory Perkins, jr and H. w
Frank
WHY THEY WANT 1T
The first speaker was Pres H. w
Frank, who stated in few words that
his association had framed the ordinance
now before the board with the doubl
object of benefitting both the general
public and the legitimate merchants. to
all of whom the present state of AFFAIRS
consisting of an indiscriminate hitchins
of all sorts of animals on the edges OF
the most crowded streets, and an anti
hitching ordinance which the chief OF
police himself acknowledged could not
be enforced was most Objectionable, dis
agreeable and disgusting. The laws OF
health and public decency demanded the
immediate action of the authorities in
the matter, whereby the root of the evil
would be destroyed and the streets
would present a more pass'able and
cleaner appearance. The present con
dition of affairs was the one blot on the
praise of all Fasteners who came here
and whose good opinion of the city was
always marred because of the countri-
fled" appearance of the principal buei-
ness streets even during the liveliest por-
tion of the day. Business was being
steadily strangled by the disgusting
conditions which prevail in the streets,
+, prevent ting lady customers from cross
ing the street unless they walk half g
block to find an open space where they
can step from the sidewalk without
lodging under a horses nose or benin i
the muddy wheels of buggy or express
wagon. He would call on Judge c. c.
Wright, attorney for the association
who had drawn up the ordinance. and
who would now read the same and ex-
plain the salient features.
THE PROVISIONS EXPLAINED
Mr.. Wright then rose and read the sug-
gested ordinance, taking each section
and giving the necessary points involved
therein. so that the board should be abb
solutely familiar with the question as
the Merchants and Manufacturers asso.
citation looked at it.
"Nowhere in the United States" sat
Mr.. Wright, "does there exist a similar
ls state of affairs in a. city of the size ol
Los Angeles. We have a grand climate
beautiful situation some of the fines
business blocks on the coast, and YET
-our streets resemble those of mlnirIg
camp of 40 Moreover, the impression
created in the minds of eastern visitors
lis far from gooc, or this point, and al
most every member of the Merchants
and Manufacturers association has
sheard an easterner criticising the city
Son this grour,d at some time or other
Again, raumber of small accidents
occur daily through horses get
ting fractions after being hitched under
a burning hot sun with vehicles of al
kinds driving past them, and a conse-
quent spirit of unrest frequegltly in
duces them to bite at the arms of pas
sersby oftentmes severely frightening
Ladies, and not infrequently causing
serious injury.
Now, the provisional clauses of this
ordinance are intended. as bes,eft to
both the general public and the express
and hackmen. The people will know
where to fir,d, a corveya ance when they
wish one. First, Second. Third and
sFourth streets, betweec, Broadway ano
Hill, are easily accessible from any por-
tion Of the business center, and there
those affected by the ordinance being
able to CSC their work just as efficiently
with a regular star'1, as scattered pro-
miscuousy over the streets at every
turn and corner. AS matter of fact
a number of the members of the Mer-
chae,ts and Manufacturers association
are Of the opinion that the limits should
be still more extensive, making Fifth
street the southerly line in place OF
Fourth street. However, as the ordi-
nance stood riow, the passage would be
of the greatest benefit to the genera
public, and should the innovation prove
sto be successful the limits could easily
be extended.
'AEzsa the hack and expressmen Should
mot think for a moment that they are
.fhe only people against whom this orGi.
rance will act Private owners of car
riages who are too penurious to place
their animals in livery stable Otter
come Down town to attend TO busir,s ss
Gn6. prefer to stable tEem on the pubic
streets, to the great annoyance o.
'passers-by and the street cleaning de.
partment, leaving the poor animals
without food or water for som metimes ter
aie,l twelve hours a a stretch,
''The passage and enforcement Of thi.
ardinance would be as great an aid Il