The herald., 1897-05-25
PASADENA

PAsADENA, May 24.-(Regular corre-
spondence.) The city trustees have finally
put themselves on record, and the record
Is not exactly one to be proud OF, either.
In the face of the fact that the city's legal
adviser gave 1t as his opinion that the
''proposition" made by the p. and l.. A. Co.
to light the streets of the city in return for
. monopoly of the electric roads could not
be legally entered into-an opinion con-
CURED in by all the lawyers who have ex-
pressed themselves on the matter-the
trustees denied the application of the Ter
minal railway for franchise to do busi-
ness in Pasadena. OF course nobody is
foolish enough to think for moment that
this ends the matter, however. Just what
the next move will be 1t Is impossible to say
at present. but Mr.. Gibbon will in all prob
ability apply again for franchise, and
meantime II certain citizens put into effect
some of their ideas on the subject another
move may be made which will result in the
matter being taken into the courts. At
today's session all members of the board
were present and the lobby was filled with
interested citizens, while both the L. A.
and p. and the Terminal were represented.
the former by p. M. Green. president of
the reorganized company and Attorney
Metcalfe. and the latter by Attorney Glib
bon, while Attorney Willett looked after
the interests of the citizens. At the OPEN
ing Of the session City Attorney Arthur
presented his opinion on the electric road
proposition as follows:
''You have referred to me the PROPOSE
ton made by the Pasadena and Los An
geles Electric Railway company to extend
its lines within the city of Pasadena and
furnish the public lighting Of the city free
Of cost to the city, on condition that no
franchise for another electric street rail-
road be granted In said city to any other
person than the said railway company, its
successors and assigns, and you have
asked my opinion as to the legality OF the
proposition.
II beg to report that It Is my opinion
that no contract can be drawn by which
the Electric Railway company will be
bound to carry out the terms of the propo-
sition, nor can any security be given which
would accomplish the same result
When this was simply ordered filed with
out comment. and President Hartwell at
once asked II there was any other busi-
ness that any one had to present to the
board. 1t was plain that something more
was coming. But before the remainder Of
the program was carried out Mr.. Gibbon
asked IL he might be allowed to read q
statement which he had to present to the
council and, leave being granted, he pre-
sented some interesting facts and figures
for their consideration, stating that the
company which would furnish electric pow
er for the Terminal IL 1t should be granted
franchise, would be able to furnish power
at such a low rate that the city would have
winning proposition out of lighting
plant to be owned by the city.
A communication from the w. s. Abbot
company of Los Angeles, which contem-
plates putting in an electric power plant
In the Big Tejunga canyon. was read. This
company stated that it would soon be able
to offer electric power at a very low rate
and ur>v f1ft teA -
Trustee Hamilton remarked that ''he had
had some experience with electric light
plants, and he didn't believe q word of
these hifalutin statements
Other business was taken up, but It was
clear that the electric railway program had
not yet been finished, and everybody
waited to see the end of 1t. The clerk
read the resolution ordering the Terminal
franchise advertised for sale which called
forth considerable applause from the citi-
gems present. Attorney Willett asked that
the matter be laid over one week, as Mr..
Gibbon had been obliged to leave immedi-
ately after reading his statement to the
council. Trustee Reynolds said he thought
that Mr.. Willett's request should be grant
ed, IN order that the people might have a
chance to offer any suggestions they might
wish to. as some of them were no doubt
better versed in such matters than the
trustees themselves. Here Mr.. Metcalfe
interposed that he thought the time had
come when final action should be taken
on the whole matter, 80 that the people
wnom I represent may know where they
are at" Trustee Washburn said ''he was
IN iavor OF putting the matter right through
today. He didn't expect to be here next
Monday, and he didn't want anybody to
labor under the delusion that he was run
ming away from it, The board then pro-
ceeded to fix the amount of the bond which
the terminal was to give, just as though
tnere was some idea of granting the fran
chise, but II any one had such a thought
Tor a moment 1t was soon rudely dispeIled-
when the cut-and-dried p. and l.. A. nro.
gram was again abruptly resumed bv
Trustee Hamilton suddenly pulling from,
his pocket the resolution which the p and
L. A. people were waiting for, DENYING the
Terminals application for a franchise
Trustee Patten said: Owing to Conditions
that / positively know to exist. don't
think am justified In voting for the Ter
minal franchise" He accordingly voted
"aye" on the following resolution, intro
duced by Trustee Hamilton. as did wash
burn and Hamilton:
BE 1t resolved. by the board of trustees
Of the city Of Pasadena. that 1t is the tudr-
naent Of this board Of trustees that the
best interests of the city Of Pasadena