Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-04

more than sufficient to enable you to
consider and decide upon the method
hereafter to be adopted.
Public Utilities
"rhere arc now on your files drafts
OF ordinances prepared by the city at
torney requiring all gas, electric and
telephone companies doing business In
this city to make sworn statements OF
their annual revenues and expendi-
lures, and Of the cost and present
value Of their property and plans, and
also imposing certain regulations upon
the sale and use Of gas and electric
light. These ordinances should re-
ceive your immediate consideration
Their passage Is necessary in order
that the power conferred upon the
council by the city charter to regulate
the gas, electric light and telephone
businesses, and to fix and determine
the price OF gas, electric light and tele-
phone service may be exercised.
'"rhe owners OF public utilities cam
not, and of course should not, be SUBJ
jected to confscatory legislation, but
it is eminently right and proper, and
absolutely necessary for the protection
of the peoples interest, that the owners
of public franchises should be required
to give to the public the best possible
service, and that the compensation FOR
such service should be limited to such
an amount as will yield no more than
/ faf bn
capital actually invested.
Los Angeles has now a splendid
system OF street railways contributing
greatly to the convenience of our peo-
pie, and materially aiding in pronlot-
ing the growth and prosperity oc our
city. There is, however, one import
ant Improvement in the operation of
these lines that should be effected,
that is, transfers should be given and
accepted between all intersecting lines.
In view of the fact that the various
lines are operated by allied corpora
tions and that universal transfers
would probably involve no pecuniary
loss to the street railway companies, 1t
would seem that, regardless of legal
obligations, this arrangement should be
effected. invite your careful consid-
GRAFTON of this suggestion.
Civil Service
| "In the election of December, 1902,
| the charter amendments in reference
to civil service were carried by ma
| jority Of $500 votes. AT the recent
| election, held December 9Th last, the
amendment extending the civil service
scheme to the police and fire depart
ments, and providing for the registra-
| tion of laborers, was carried by ma
| jority of more than S700 votes If the
| Legislature ratifies this amendment our
civil service scheme will be complete,
and means will have been provided for
elevating the standard of service in all
departments to "a degree unsurpassed
| by any other city in the country. BY
| the adoption of civil service methods
in the appointment and promotion OF
employees, all Of the people are put upon
an equality, and those best fitted for
official duties are enabled to enter and
remain in the service of the city. The
people of our city have declared them
selves on this subject in no uncertain
manner, and it is our duty to see that
the spirit and letter of all of the civil
service amendments that are now or
| may hereafter be in force shall be
| Loyalty complied with and observed.
Franchises
"One of the charter amendments re-
Gently adopted by the people of this
city limits the term for which fran
| chises may be granted to a period of
| twenty-one years. 1t is to be expected
that this, together with all the other
amendments adopted at the same time,
will be ratified by the legislature and
will become law. But, whether ratified
or not, there is no room for doubt that
| 1t is the sentiment and will Of our
people that franchises should not be
granted for a longer term than twenty
one years, and L earnestly recommend
that no franchise be hereafter granted
| by you for a longer term. I am of
opinion that the council should not
adopt, nor should the mayor approve,
any ordinance granting franchise for
term longer than twenty-one years.
| II tender you my active and cordial
corporation in the conduct of the
business and affairs of this city, and
invite a like cooperation from you,
during this administration, to the end
that our work may be well and har-
moniously done, and that the conf
dence reposed in us by our fellow citi-
zens may be justified.
"OWEN McALEER."
| oS-0-