Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-15
SAYS COUNCIL HAS NO RIGHT
TO REOPEN RAILWAY LINE
City Attorney Asserts Committee of Twenty Will
Encounter Snag-Residents of District
Demand Renewal of Car Service

the railway line that was interrupted
by the action of the mayor.
A member Of the audience at Friday
nights meeting begged Chairman Davi-
son not to put a single real estate man
on the committee, as it would make 1t
appear just what some are now in
clined to call it-a real estate scheme.
Not Real Estate Scheme
But 1t is not a real estate scheme"
insisted Mr.. Dawson. I'VE live in that
vicinity and we find it difficult to get
to our homes without the service we
have been enjoying for the last two
years.
Other members of the committee
agreed with their chairman, but con-
tend that even If it was a real estate
scheme the city has no right to de-
preciate the value of their property by
depriving them of the car service that
made the property valuable. This, they
contend, is but another argument why
the council should restore the service.
But the residents and property own
ers who profit by the South Park ave-
nue. service are not the only ones who
will suffer on account of inconvenient
street car service. Ascot park will be
opened during the latter part of next
month, and the frequenters of the
tracks will have a hard time to make
connections unless the service Is speed
lily restored by compromise with the
council. While the street car company
did everything possible to delay action
when it was operating under an in
junction and thereby gained a two
years respite the company will make
every effort to facilitate the speedy de-
csion of the supreme court, now that
l., L., tI,o lit. kIo
council should grant a compromise
pending the decision. But by the
quickest legal process which could be
brought to bear it will be at least three
months, in the opinion of Assistant
City Attorney Goudge, before the court
can render decision, and by that time
the Ascot park season would be ended.
Route to Ascot
1t is possible to get to Ascot park
without going over the South Park ave-
nue. lines, but the ways are not as con-
venient. The Central avenue cars run
down Central avenue to Slauson ave-
nue. and then around by the entrance
to the park, without coming within a
block of that portion of South Park
avenue over which the city has juris-
diction and the Pacific Electric cars
connect with the south end of the park,
but the Maple avenue and San Pedro
street routes will have to be abandoned
as far as reaching Ascot park is con-
cerned.
Should the council take it upon itself
to compromise with the railway, pend
ing the decision of the supreme court,
it would not only be illegal, contend at
torneys who are interested in the Citys
side of the case, but it might be years
before the case would be passed on by
the supreme court. The company found
it profitable to operate the railway
under an injunction for two years, and
prevented Judge York from dissolving
his injunction by numerous continu-
ances of the case, and the attorneys
believe the company may use the same
tactics with the supreme court. 1t is
expected however that If any compro-
mise is reached it will contain a clause
| by which all profits received from the
operation of the line will revert to the
city in case the citys action is up
held by the supreme court.
No Breach of Faith
The charge of breach of faith, which
friends of the railway company have
preferred against the council and the
mayor, is denied by Attorney Goudge.
! The friends of the company declare
that when the electric line was laid on
South Park avenue the railways at
torneys went to the council and secured
promise from that body that the
tracks would not be molested until the
supreme court had had an opportunity
to pass on the validity of the franchise.
! 1--WE declared that unless restrained