Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-14

Sixth ward became infected with the
recall germ that has been polluting the
atmosphere of the Eighth ward for the
last few days and held an open air
mass meeting at the corner of Vernon
and South Park avenues last night for
the expressed purpose of inaugurating
a movement to recall Mayor McAleer
for his action in tearing up the Los An
geles railway tracks on South Park
avenue Thursday afternoon.
But the recall wasn't even mentioned
and the whole case was compromised
by a petition to the city council, con-
demning the mayors action and asking
that some arrangements be made to
renew the service on the line. Incl
dentally the voters of the precinct took
occasion to score doc" Houghton, the
councilman from the Sixth.
Houghton had been invited to par
ticipate in the festivities, and although
he knew he was pretty nearly taking
his life in his hands to go down in
that precinct he got out of a sick bed
and walked blocks to be on hand and
tell the people of that precinct how to
have their street car service renewed
and then knock his proposition in the
head by stating that he would not
vote for it.
says 'SeI committee
"Get a committee together and go be-
fore the councilmen and ask them that
if it can be done without jeopardizing
the city's rights to have the service
renewed by some compromise advised
the medico.
"Win you vote for it if we do?" was
the inquiry from one in the crowd.
mo" answered Houghton in stem
torlan tones II was elected to my office
on the platform, no universal transfers,
no franchises, and until we have uni
versal transfers 1 will never vote for
franchise.
"I am merely standing by my prin-
ciples," shouted Houghton, land l am
hooted for it. You people are miser-
able set If lived in this precinct I'd
move out quick"
"Well, move out tonight and hurry
up" came from several sections of the
crowd.
1T am your servant" Houghton tried
to continue.
you've never acted like it," shouted
several in the audience. What has
this part of the ward ever got from
you? You have always voted against
everything for the interests of the peo-
Pile in this part of the ward" some one
else informed him.
May Use Recall
when you want me out Of the coun-
Gil you can use the same instrument
with which you put me in," was Hough-
toms parting shot as he jumped from
the platform.
NJ. NJ Dawson acted as chairman of
the meeting and ex-City Attorney Wal
ter Haas made the first speech. Mr..
Haas was careful to explain that the
meeting was not for the purpose of eX-
pressing Indignation but to devise some
way of continuing the service on South
Park avenue.
What is the mayor doing when he
attacks the railway" asked Mr.. Haas
Making a fool of himself" answered
a voice in the crowd.
HE is not spiting Mr. Huntington
continued Mr.. Haas. "Admit that the
railway company is guilty of a techm-
cal wrong, 1t is only a technicality at
the worst and the supreme court should
have passed on the case before such
arbitrary measures were used. The
franchise on this street is the first one
that was bought and paid for by any
street railway company in this city,
and good, hard cash was poured into
the city's treasury for the purpose OF
operating a line on this street.
1.-The road was not built when the
franchise was bought, because at that
time the company did not feel justified
In laying expensive tracks. There were
but few houses outs here then but with
the promise of a street car line the prop
erty greatly increased in value and
homes were rapidly built, When the
company saw that it would pay them to
build the road they went before the
city council and secured the consent of
that body to build and operate the road
pending decision of the supreme court
as to whether or not they had forfeited
their franchise. Mayor McAleer was a
member of the council that made that
agreement.
power to come out here and tear up
these tracks, but believe that the tax
payers will have to pay every cent Of |