Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-24
NO AID IN SIGHT
FOR SOUTH PARK
CAR LINE MUDDLE FAR FROM
SETTLED
Attorney Harris Suggests Way Out Of
Difficulty, but Attorney Goudge
Says Railway Company
Must Sign Lease

For few minutes yesterday morning
it was believed that the South Park
avenue car muddle would be Straight
ened out and the cars operated over
the line.
Attorney Will A. Harris, who has
been fighting the battle of the residents
of the South Park avenue district, sug-
gested a compromise measure to the
city's legal department, to which As
sistant City Attorney Goudge stated
that there might be some legal objec-
tions, but that these objections might
be surmounted. With this statement
from Attorney Goudge, Mr.. Harris
called up the legal department of the
Los Angeles railway, and told the joy
full news and secured the railways con-
sent to the compromise. This was that
the city lease the line to a private in
dividual, who would probably be T. w.
Williams, chairman of the committee
of twenty for a nominal sum and that
the railway would operate the cars
over the line thus leased.
The word was scattered broadcast
that the problem had been settled and
the residents of South Park district re-
turned to their homes as happy as larks
and a relieved expression rested on the
countenances of the members of the
council.
But alas! these high hopes were
blasted when Attorney Goudge appeared
at the afternoon session and stated that
if a lease was effected the railway COM
pany would have to be party to 1t.
The one thing which the railway COM
pany has constantly maintained that it
would not do is to lease the line, or in
any way recognize that the franchise
over this portion of the road had been
forfeited.
wouId Mean Surrender
To do so, the company contends,
would be to give up every particle of
standing that it has with the courts.
"The railway company will never
agree to such proposition" said Attor-
ney Harris, addressing Mr.. Goudge.
your solution is impracticable. If
that is the only solution you offer say
so and we will quit right here"
"The only other solution would be
for the executive officers to ignore the
operation of the cars" answered Mr..
proposition up to Mayor McAleer.
IF we have to depend on the mayor
we are certainly up against it," an
sWered Mr.. Harris, "for we can eX-
pect no relief from that source. We
have suggested every remedy we can
think of and now we will have to throw
up our hands in helplessness."
The trouble with the SOutn RarK
avenue residents is that they ask the
city to make all the concessions" ,"
answered Attorney Goudge. "If the
railway company is half as anxious to
resume the operation of the line as the
city officials are we can soon come to
terms. But every method of relief that
has been suggested is entirely one sided.
The city is asked to give up all its
rights while the railway company is
asked for nothing but to run its cars
and collect fares"
When the attorneys had ceased argu-
Ing the president asked for the pleasure
of the council, but there was no re-
eponse. 1t is evident that the council
has concluded to give the entire prob
lem up as a bad job and after a reason
able waiting period the regular order of
business was continued without any
action by the council.