The herald., 1898-09-14
The CHARTER MAKERS
THEY LISTEN TO A PLEA FOR THE
REFERENDUM
Rev. Bliss Presented the Details Of the
Subject-Report OF Committee
on Public Utilities

last night there were present Chairman
Lee. Messrs. Davisson. Variel, Crutcher,
Hazard, Millard, Stephens. Newmark.
Morgan. Cohn, Graff. Croft, and O'Mel-
veny.
The first thing to come up was a COM
munication from the Westlake Park as
ISOLATION signed by Mr.. Holabird, asking
that the 150O-foo. limit be increased 20
25O0 feet, in regard to boring oil wells within
that distance of public parks. and that
they should be prohibited near any school,
public or private hospital.
Mr.. Millard then went on with the edu-
cational department report. Major Lee
took the floor and spoke In favor OF giving
the board of directors more power than the
report contemplated, but the report was
not altered.
The report provides for an Increase
in the number Of deputy supernten dents
as fast as the number OF teachers in
creased.
clause prohibiting any sectarian or re-
llgious teaching in the text books used in
The schools was adopted. The remainder
Of the report was adopted, not largely DIFF
ferent from the present system.
Rev. w. D. P. Bliss Of The Union Reform
league was permitted to appear before the
board. He spoke strongly in favor of the
referendum. He held that the people
should have chance oftener than once in
four years to express their disapproval Of
the local legislation and bad legislators.
The plan called for a petition signed by
fifteen per cent Of the voters, and would
not be so frequently used as nigh; be
thought. 1t provided a method for hold
ing officials to an accounting at any time,
making 1t possible to prevent corruption.
He went INTO all the details, explaining It
lucidly. as we'll as Its kindred measures, the
initiative and the imperative mandate.
DR.. John Haynes spoke to the same SUBJ
Ject in thanking the board for Its considera-
tion of the matter.
Much interest was shown in the matter
Judge variel wished the document read
by Rev. Bliss mimeographed, SO that the
members could read It, This was unani-
mously carried.
The board then resumed lis session as
board, and Judge W. M. Stephens presented
the report of the committee on public
Utilities on the city water, water rights
and water commissioners.
This provides tha: the city shall continue
In the possession Of all water and water
rights Of Los Angeles.
The city Is prohibited from conveying,
leasing or otherwise disposing Of its rights
on said water for any purpose, otherwise
than by license, revocable by the city a;
pleasure upon notice not to exceed six
months.
The city Is given the right to construct
ard operate water works, and the council
is prohibited from alternating or leasing any
water works belonging to the city.
The council is given power to fix the
water rates charged by any water COM
pany.
A board Of water commissioners is pro-
vided for to consist OF three members ap-
pointed by the mayor, to serve without
works.
One article provides for the acquisition Of
public utilities the most important part
CT the whole charter 80 far. rs main
features are as follows:
It is declared to be the purpose Of the
people Of the city that it's public utilities
shall be gradually acquired and owned by
the city.
Whenever, not less than twelve months
prior to general city election, a petition
signed by fifteen per cent Of the votes cast
at the previous election Is presented to the
council, requesting the council to prepare
for a proposition for the acquisition of any
such utility, the council must instruct the
city engineer to prepare estimates Of the
cost of construction or acquisition OF guch
works or property.
The plans and estimates are to be filed
IN the city clerks office not less than
eight months prior to the said general elec-
t!on.
The council shall then negotiate for the
condemnation or purchase OF the public
utility in question. and submit 10 the elect
ors OF the city the proposals for such ac-
QUESTION. The mayor Is also given the
right 10 formulate separate proposition
for the acquisition of the utility named.
At the next general election the PROPOSE
tion shall be submitted to the electors. In
case bonded indebtedness is necessary to
carry out the plan. that question shall first
be submitted to the electors.
When the question of regulating the
rates OF gas and telephone came up Mr..
Crutcher made the remarkable statement
.hat this would force the corporations In to
local politics, and he made the more re-
!,
none of these corporations had ever mixed
In convention. primaries or caucusses.
Judge Notwithstanding to the papers
they are doing that today.
A warm discussion followed as to the
wisdom Of making 1t obligatory on the
council to fix the rates to be charged for
public utilities. or Of leaving 1t optional to
shat body 10 fix rates.
The opinion Of Judge Groff, Judge
Stephens and Mr.. Hazard was that the
charges Of the telephone company were
extortionate, and that other corporations
demanded too much for the public services.
They argued, therefore, tina: the duty of
the council in fixing their rates should be
mandatory. which was finally adopted.
Mr.. Hazard offered an amendment to the
report Of the water committee to the ef-
fec; that when the city owns It's water sys-
tenn that the water rates be collected
with the taxes by the tax collector.
The board then adjourned to meet this
evening.
Japan's New Tariff
WASHINGTON, Sept IA teleGra n, ha q