Los Angeles herald., 1905-03-29
GAS ORDINANCE
VETOED BY MAYOR
C0UNClLMEN CONTINUE TO
FAVOR MEASURE
MAILER GIVES HIS VIEWS
Asks That Rates Be Fixed Within
Ninety Days--This, Members
of Council Say, Is
Unfair
MAILER GIVES HIS VIEWS

gas ordinance.
In order to keep the measure from be-
coming a law through his neglecting to
vote or affix his signature within the
specified thirty days, he filed his veto
with the city clerk at midnight Monday
So many have been the delays on the
progress of this ordinance that 1T VIII
not reach the council until four weeks
after it's passage by that body, and 1t
is considered likely that the councilmen
will lay the question over for at least
another week for investigation.
The mayor bases his objection to the
ordinance chiefly on the date set by
the council for the fixing of rates for
gas, electric and telephone service, but
he does not mention the two latter utili-
ties, referring to gas alone. He recon-
mends that the council fix the rates
within ninety days, but the councilmen
are at a loss to know how they can
do this as they say it would take that
long to get statement from the com
panies. and they would have to take
them all at once the two gas compa-
MES, the electric companies and tele-
phone companies. Again it is ques-
ton which is as yet unsettled as 10
whether or not the city can force such
a complete statement of their business,
and thus make all the private features
public property.
The other points argued by the mayor
are that the candle power be raised
from 16 to 1S and the heat units from
$50 to 600. These last points of diff
ference have been commented on by
councilmen who appear to be willing to
investigate them. Members of the coun-
Gil say they see no reason why the COR
porations dealing in these public utili-
ties should not be allowed the sar,e
courtesy by the city government as the
United States government allows banks
and al corporations which come under
its inspection laws.
Sets Time for Making Statement
President Summerland took this view
of the question and said:
"All laws that know OF where cor
stipulate time each year when that
statement shall be made, and it is al
ways placed, I think, at the time when
the corporations or companies close
their books for the year and render
their statement to their stockholders. I
see no reason why this council should
demand that the corporations dealing
in these public utilities at this time
prepare a statement of all of their af-
fairs and turn it over to the council
that they might arbitrarily fix the rates
at which these utilities shall be sold.
''At the time which is recognized TO
be the proper time, that is. the first
cf the year, they can render a
statement which shows the business
of the preceding year, and then rates
can be fixed, to go into effect a specified
time later. This is the custom L believe
other places and is the only fair way,
for it gives the corporations an oppor-
tunity to plan for the years business
and know what is what.
Councilman Hitler said in his opinion
the changes the mayor desires, except
the date for fixing the rates, are trivial,
and continued: II intend to find out
what the people of my ward want and
what they think about this question and
base my vote on this. do not see any
reason for changing the date for fixing
the rates, and this is the most impor-
tant point in the mayors objection, for
. have heard of no case where COM
plant has been made of the price Of
gas, but only of the quality. The pub
lie feeling on the subject of regulation
is especially strong and the people to-
whom / have talked on the subject are
well pleased with the ordinance. 1
voted for it because l thought it was
good measure and / am still of that
opinion"
Following is the mayors message
vetoing the measure
Mayors Veto Message
II return herewith. without my ap-
proval. an ordinance adopted by the
council on March 10, and presented to-
me by the clerk on March IS, entitled
An ordinance regulating the sale of
tion of gas and electric meters and the
charges for telephones and telephone
service and connections
1T is perhaps unnecessary for me to
state that am heartily in favor of the
making and enforcement of municipal
regulations relating to gas, electric
light and telephone companies which
will protect the people against excess
sive charges and inefficient service.
1T is because l believe the council
should,> in the exercise of powers
granted to it by the charter. adopt an
ordinance upon this subject containing
strict regulations which will take ef-
feet without delay, that I find the
proposed ordinance Objectionable.