Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-04

BY a unanimous vote the city coun-
Gil yesterday passed the public utility
ordinance over the mayors veto, and
the measure will become law within
thirty days from the date of it's pub
lication.
Months ago the attention of the coun-
Gil and citizens of Los Angeles was
called to the fact that, according TO
the city charter, the city council had
the right to pass such laws as would
regulate the sale of public utilities and
specify the price to be charged the peo-
pie by the corporations dealing in them.
At the instigation of The Herald
the old council instructed the city at
torney to prepare ordinances which
would regulate the gas, electric light
and telephone monopolies. On the pres
entation of these ordinances by the
city attorney they were buried in the
committee of the whole until that coun-
Gil passed sout of existence, and for
some time after the new or present
council was seated.
During this entire time The Herald
nances. From time to time various
civic and commercial organizations
joined the fight, and the councilmen,
complying with the popular demand.
went into session as a committee of
the whole on March 13, and after the
ordinances had been consolidated into
one public utility ordinance covering
all three utilities the council reassem-
bled and passed the ordinance unani-
mously.
Ordinance Vetoed
Mayor McAleer did not receive the
ordinance until five days later, and
then, when he had taken the entire
ten days allowed by law, he filed the
ordinance, with his veto message with
the city clerk at midnight, March 2S.
1t came before the council yesterday,
just four weeks from the day on which
it was originally passed.
When the clerk had finished reading
the veto message Councilman Smith
moved to reconsider the former vote,
and was seconded by Councilman
Healy After some discussion Council
man Smith again took the floor, and
after a speech, in which he declared
himself as being in favor of the ordi-
nance and the principles it represent
ed, he moved the ordinance be passed
over the mayors veto. His motion wss
instantly seconded by Councilman
Houghton, and on the roll call was
passed unanimously, eight councilmen
present voting AYE"
Kern Was Absent
During the discussion preceding the
vote on the ordinance several council
men took occasion to criticise the may
or for his action on the subject. Coun-
Gilman Houghton reviewed the case
when it was before the old council.
Of which both he and the mayor were
members.
He declared that when the ordinance
cussion the mayor. then councilman.
had objected to the quality of gas pre-
scribed, arguing that the measure was
too stringent in this respect, In speak
ing of the veto, DR.. Houghton said:
Step in Right Direction
The ordinance is vast step in the
right direction. 1t may be that there
are flaws in it, but they can be reme-
died by amendments. This ordinance
recognizes the rights Of the people, and
gives us something to build ON, while
without 1t we have nothing.
The mayor says the ordinance is not
to him, and does not ap-
pear to consider the fact that the nine
who voted for II had care
fully weighed the question, and that
they expected their opinions to have
some weight The mayor bases his OBJ
jections on the section of the ordinance