The herald., 1898-12-04
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1898.

o the city. The municipal ownership and
CITY LITIGA- operation distributing water system de-
TIoN AND pend largely upon the successful deternina-
city ATTORNEY ton this litigation in favor of the city
and the successful determination of this
litigation of the city depends largely upon the kind and
quality the city attorney who will be elected tomorrow
Between the city and the water company there are now
ing the following suits:
v the against the city, the circuit court
of the determine the right of the city to fix or
reduce charged by the company This
been tried circuit has held that the contract be-
city the company it related to water rates
valid and that consequently the city had no right to fix or
reduce below those charged in 1865 provided in
the This has been appealed to the u
preme United States where it remains undetermined
BY city against Pomeroy and Hooker in the superior court
of this county, condemn 300 of land adjoining the
river miles above the city, for headwork The superior
court after lasting six weeks Judgment for the city
The defendants have appealed the to the supreme court
of this state a been twice argued by counsel 1t
mains undetermined by this court
Bv the city against the Angeles City Water company
Crystal Springs Land and Water in the superior
this county, quiet title of the city to waters OF the
Los Angeles This has been tried before the court but
has not been decided.
By the water company against the city, the superior
this county, enon the city from taking possession of the
waterworks the termination of the lease contract
the city against the water in the superior court
this county, to enon the water company from collecting
and for the appointment Of receiver to collect water
court granted injunction against the city enjonng it from
taking water works. and ALSO upon motion OF
city, appointed receiver of the water rates and receipts OF
company Appeals have been taken from these ORDERS and
they pending before the court for decision
Neither of these have been tried the merits in the
perior court
BY company against the city in the superior
of this county, from the city 100000 which the
pany claims by of the reduction
by the council This has not been tried.
the against the water company to the value
of the of the waters of the river in Of ten inches
provided This has not been tried
By the water company against the city quiet the title
the water of the Los Angeles river This
dismissed by the circuit court for want of jurisdiction and
the company has appealed to the court of the United
States, where it remains undetermined
Arbitration between the city and the water company be-
fore board of abraors to determine the value of the improve
made by the company to the water system This mat
ter is upon trial.
These of the important suits which the next
city attorney will be called upon take charge of and conduct
to successful termination for the city. 1t will be
that of these involves questions
and will require The careful presentation of many facts.
Some of the in the superior court where it will be
necessary for the city, desires to win to have trial lawyer
ofexperience good Judgment and of ability present
the jury. Others the supreme
this state where will be have lawyer thoroughly
familiar with the law of water and water rights less than
tmatey acquainted with the constitutional questions which
arise. Others again. in the supreme OF the United
States where lawyers who have not earned state and national
reputation their profession listened by that august
tribunal
Mr. Haas may be all that is claimed for him. bright
cessu young lawyer But do the people of this wish
the conduct and management of these suits in his youthful
hands, the hands of other young and inexperienced
torney mistake bad advice during the procedure
lose the city thousands dollars destroy present
fair prospect of acquiring distributing water system?
The voters should take chances c. Wright has
fully conducted important suits through all courts of this
and of the United States He lawyer state and
national reputation In his hands the interests city will
be and by his election the present litigation brought
to early and successful close.