The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-19
fACf RfIGNs AGAIN
QoUNCIL FILES ALL OUTSIDE
WATER PROPORTIONS
PREPARATIONS TO TAkEPLANI
!ordinance Creating Water Works De.
n partment Passed-Water Com
s pany Enjoins

Tbs city council turned very neat trio
yesterday, and as a result OF it, all tn
RESOLUTIONS, petitions. ETC.. which prescribe
and advised . course OF action to the cit
Fathers In the pending water questions fe
nat. It cannot be said that the resolution
presented were ineffective. Not at all
They are excellent documents. inasmucl
~ they are an expression OF the desires O
the people, but 10 far a. influencing the &C
ton Of the council in the question is con
eerned It 10 now generally believed tina
that body Of officials had no intention d
giving other the Kesslsr, Burbank or Mer
rill propositions any further consideration
at least until every possible means was ex
hausted to acquire municipal ownership a.
provided for under the present contract
With the Los Angeles City Water com
pany
Before any of the resolutions prepared
could be presented report from the water
supply committee was read recommending
that all propositions on the water question
be laid On the table. and such action was
taken by a unanimous vote. The report
vas as follows:
"Your committee on water supply, to
whom were referred the petitions and propo-
Ssitions from MessrS Kessler & Co., Bur
bank and Merrill, with reference to leas-
ing privileges for water in the Los Angeles
river would beg leave to report recon-
mending that the above petitions and COM
uunications be laid on the table,"
X Immediately after the adoption Of the re-
port there was scramble by the repre-
oentatives Of the various delegations pres
l ent to get In their respective document
Judge c. c. Wright was the first to get
the attention OF the chair, and as the rep
efesentative of Mr.. Burbank he asked the
privilege of Withdrawing that gentleman S
/. proposition. There was disposition shown
ito refer the request to the water supply
committee, but Mr.. Wright insisted that
immediate action be taken, and the request
was granted.
!. Next came A. W1llhartitz. who read the
following petition from large number of
Democrats:
( ''The undersigned, a committee represent
ing the Democratic party of the City Of Los
Angeles. as such appear before your hon.
orable body for the purpose Of presenting
the petition OF the members Of that party
3 touching the municipal ownership OF water
works and the distribution Of water to the
inhabitants Of the city. and pursuant to the
platforms Of that party adopted in 1896 and
prior thereto. and as expressing the wishes
OF the citizens Of the city who
are members OF that party. re-
( spectfully ask your honorable body
to reject the so-called Kessler propo-
sition to lease the water, water rights and
- Nd oil hor
tions now before your honorable body, and
proceed to carry out the present contract
between the city and the water company
and take such other proceedings as will
lead to the ultimate ownership and con-
troll by the city OF its own waterworks at
the earliest practicable moment"
Many prominent Democrats were pres
ent to support this petition personally.
But that further mention Of their de-
sires was unnecessary was proven by
President Silver's voluntary assurance
given in language about as follows:
I; ION the part of council, wish to say,
gentlemen, that every move possible has
been TAKEN is being taken and will in future
be taken to promote municipal ownership Of
the water plant. All these rumors to the
contrary are wholly without foundation: t.
anyone had a communication or PROPOSE
ton to make on the question, they had per-
feet right to come in and present 1t, and be-
cause they did so is no reason for presum-
Ing that council had any idea Of ac-
cepting them, or any Of them. Council has
not determined on any action whatever fur
ther than that looking to municipal owner
ship"
These declarations were received with vo-
ciferous and long-continued applause. Jo-
seph Mesmer arose. and on behalf Of the
citizens committee thanked the council
for the assurances given, and stated that
the councils action was perfectly satisfac-
tory to all who desired that municipal
ownership only be considered. The petit
fion from the Democrats was filed, and Mr.
Aesmer then presented that of the citizens
committee, as follows:
I'VE, the undersigned members Of a COM
mittee appointed by public mass meeting
held January 20, 1898, of the citizens of Los
Angeles, representing the different wards of
this city, respectfully petition your honor
able body not to entertain any proposition
by any private corporation or person to
lease, hire or rent the water in the Los An
geles river or water tributary thereto. We
wish to remind the members Of this honor
able body that public sentiment is as pro-
fnounced' today az It was at the last munich
pal election. when the platform upon which
each OF the members of this council and all
other city officials were elected, specifically
pledged them to municipal ownership, con-
troll and distribution of the water for the
city. Our committee and the people we
represent request you to cooperate with