The herald., 1898-07-20
PEACE and QUIfIUDf
WEARY sTRUGdLERs IN THE
WATER FIGHT TAKE A REST
LONG LEGAL CONTEST NOW ON
incidental News in the Water Matter
Serious Charges Against Two
Policemen

Water fights must be decidedly fatiguing.
Tho city hall yesterday looked as though
word had Just been received that the Span
ish were going to lombard 1t. Peopie
seemed to keep away from the place. His
honor the mayor, was around for shor.
while In the morning, looking as though
he had lust come in from an all-night's ses-
sion with a sick friend. He tried to stay
on deck, but soon gave 1t up as a bad con-
tract and went home. And the councilmen,
poor fellows, they made gallant struggle
to get at their board of equalization duties,
but up to noon had only managed to mus
ter four members, and as 1t required six to
constitute a quorum, President Silver al
journed the meeting until 10 o'clock today.
The fray of Monday. together with the ex-
element of the preceding week. has proved
almost too much for them all.
The few councNmen who did get around
during the day were the victims of a new
trouble The publication Of the ordinance
providing for a city waterworks depart
ment has proved a sufficient announcement
that the council will have large bunch of
new and Juicy patronage to distribute, and
the applicants are already beginning 10
gather in force. Positions paying aggregate
salaries OF nearly $50 900 per year are pro-
vided by the new ordinance. and office-seek-
ers will certainly not let such an opportun-
ity for getting in the public swim go by
without making some hard fights.
The only new feature to the water quse-
ton is the possibility Of the filing Of an
Injunction suit against the water company
in behalf Of the city. The restraining or
e. I'LL ~ 60 6a
Of preventing the company from collecting
any more water rates. The action is sug-
gested by some of those who are actively
interesting themselve in the city's case.
Others, however, believe that the better
way to proceed would for the city, in case
actual possession of the plant is not to be
obtained at once, to ask for the appoint
ment of a receiver for the plant until the
litigation is fully ended. II such action
should be taken, and Los Angeles has an
experience similar to that Of other cities in
litigation precpitated by questions of g
like character, the receiver will have quite
lengthy term of service. Such legal
squabbles usually extend over period Of
from six to ten years.
It is not probable that anything in con-
up before the councils adjourned session
tomorrow, that meeting being provided in
case Of emergency. The next step definite
ly decided on is the appointing of the arbi-
traitor, which up to this time has not been
very literally discussed. The only persons
mentioned at all up to this time for this i'm
portant position are ]. S. Slauson. Fred
Eaton and a San Francisco civil engineer,
who achieved considerable prominence in
the examination of San Pedro harbor dur
Ing the government investigation Of the
various plans for making Los Angeles a
seaport. 1t is doubtful II any of these gen.
tlemen have been talked to on the subject
The appointment will be made, however.
between now and Monday.
No candidates for manager or superin-
tendent Of the newly created city water
works department have yet developed, SO
far as Is known.