Los Angeles herald., 1905-03-15

= one year from tne coming July,
:. but the other portions of the ordi- {
= nance will go into effect 80 days !
!. from date of signature" City At /
Z. torney W. B. Mathews. ;:
i. s..s..s .i.s..s s
Action on the part of the council
in putting off the fixing of the rate
at which gas, electricity and telephones
shall be furnished to the citizens of
Los Angeles until February, 1906, and
specifying that the rates then shall not
take effect until the first of July of
that year has aroused much unfavor-
able comment from the mayor, other
officials and private citizens.
1t is by no means certain that the
mayor will sign the ordinance as it
stands as will be indicated by what he
says in regard TO the subject:
with the exception of the dates fixed
for considering and fixing the rates to
be charged to the citizens of Los An
geles by the companies handling these
public utilities. the ordinance is good.
AS it stands it is long step in the
quality of gas and inspection of meters
and of telephones is most important,
still do not understand why the coun-
Gil should put off the fixing of these
prices for so long. l do not like the
looks of this part of the ordinance"
May Change Rate Dates
Among the city officials it is con-
sidered more than likely that the
mayor will send the ordinance back to
the council with a request that the rate
dates be changed so that this part of
the ordinance may go into effect in
the near future. of course allowing
time for the companies to file state
ments with the council and for that
body to act intelligently on the subject.
One prominent official who has given
this subject great deal of thought but
who has not been in the fight said
yesterday that in his opinion the rates
should go into effect the first of this
July, as there is time between now and
then to regulate the rates.
City Attorney Mathews said yester-
day: "As the ordinance stands the
sections governing the quality of gas,
voltage of electricity, telephone SER
vice, inspection of meters and of tele-
phones will go into effect one month
from the date on which it is signed.
''As passed the companies supplying
these three things to the citizens of
Los Angeles must file with the city
clerk on the first day of January of
each year a complete statement show
same, cost of material, etc, expendi-
lures and receipts and all profits.
with these figures as a base the
council shall draw up and prescribe
by ordinance each year the price to
be charged for these commodities and
these rates shall be announced Feb
ruary first but shall not take effect
until July first. These dates were in
serted In the ordinance by the coun-
ell.
''In regard to the question of the
various companies being forced to
abide by the rates prescribed l will
say that each year the rates will be
maze, as lne water rates useu 10 ne
regulated, by ordinance, and this ordi-
nance will carry with it section pro-
viding for the punishment of those
violating it, This has been the custom
here, and l think it is the custom in
many other cities.
VIII Stand Test
II believe that the ordinance will
stand the test of the courts If the gas
or other companies wish to take it
there. but do not consider this likely
at the present time"
H. C. Wilmer. president of the NUM-
cipal league said yesterday:
"As passed the ordinance is a long
step i'm the right direction. At our last
meeting we discussed this subject and
were agreed that the time had come
for the people of Los Angeles to get
their rights. The regulation of these
public utilities is great problem.
but they must be regulated, not unfair
ly, but forced to give the people a
square deal If this measure win force
the gas company to furnish good gas,
a.