The herald., 1898-07-16

C0UNClLTo BEPuT ON RECORD


Los Angeles Is very likely to ada several
pages to her municipal history next week.
The water question has been SO produc-
tive of complications and implications, and
such Z large percentage OF the voting pop
ulation has become associated with 1t in
one way or another. that the period in
which It was pending IL destined In future
years to be used as q convenient method of
reference to past events. 1t will be said
that such and such an occurrence was ''just
before or 'just AFTER" or Just about the
time that the city was in such mess over
the water question" The events Of the
past few weeks have been altogether too
lively to be forgotten soon. but those Of
next week promise to break all records
aach are the Indications even In what is
Known to be transpiring, and 1t must be
Understood that much is going on which
does not reach the public.
The cpening event on the program. as
n0w hid out for the week. IL scheduled TO
take place before the city coun-
Gil Monday morning, when a reso-
luton will represented, by which the Kess-
Ter, Burbank and Merrill propositions will
be taken out Of the hands of the committee
t. which they were referred and formally
dled. This resolution originated at a
meeting held Thursday afternoon at the
once of ex-Mayor Henry T. Hazard in the
Qowney block. 1t is given an official char
acter through the fact that it was drafted
at the instance of the committee which was
created by citizens meeting held In jan
uary last, for the purpose of furthering the
interest of municipal ownership of the wa
ter plant. This committee afterward be-
came generally known as Hazards COM
uittee,' because he was authorized by the
meeting to appoint It.. but did not do so
until many weeks afterward. 1t has up 70
this time taken very little part In the pro-
ceedings, but may occupy quite a promi-
nent position in the program of next week.
The members are Henry T. Hazard chair
man; Judge A. M. Stephens, Joseph Mes
mer, E. X. Green, DIR. Weeks, c. C. Wright,
John Burns and Mr.. West.
At their meeting on Thursday afternoon
the situation was discussed with view to
adopting some effective course of action
for dispelling the suspicion under which
the public mind seems to be laboring. 1t
was the sense of the meeting that portion
of the public believes 1t not only possible
but probable that the council may abandon
all attempts to secure municipal ownership
and accept ono of the several new PROPOSE
lions now before II. In order that the coun-
CT, might have an opportunity to define its
exact position In the matter and that the
public may be set at ease. 1t was decided
that the resolution above mentioned should
be introduced. Its effect, II adopted, will
b. to dispose Of all water propositions now
before the council for an indefinite time.
Councils refusal to adopt the resolution
would be taken as an indication that the
public suspicious are not unfounded and
the citizens' committee will then take i'm
mediate steps to call q mass meeting for
the further consideration Of the situation,
II Is thought, however. that no such steps
will be necessary.
The next event In the program Is slated
for Wednesday. and will be a second meet
ing of the Democratic city central COM
mittee for the reconsideration Of the reso-
buttons indorsing the Kessler proposition.
This meeting will be called in accordance
with a petition yesterday circulated by
prominent Democrats and addressed to the
chairman of the committee. Telfair
Creighton. The session will be an open,
public discussion of the question and will
undoubtedly be largely attended and very
interesting. 1t will probably be held at
Turner hall.
The injunction proceedings to be instis
tuted against the city by tha.water COM
pany will be due about Thursday and the
other events, OF the program. including the
city's appoint ment of its arbitrator and the
tender of what 1t considers a reasonable
amount for the water property followed
by the formal taking possession of the
plant are occurrences largely dependent on
what the water company accomplishes
with its suit.
The program certainly promises lively
entertainment to the disinterested onlook-
ers, but there is necessarily very serious
strain In It all and the outcome Is anxiously
awaited.