Los Angeles herald., 1905-05-05
FAVOR FREIGHT
CARRYING IN CITY
BUSINESS MEN OPPOSE THE
MAYORS PLAN
Detrimental TO THE CITY
Universal Transfers Not Necessary
and Freight and Express Hand
ling Should Be Allowed, Say
the Petitioners
Detrimental TO THE CITY

declared by many prominent business
men to be opposed to the best interests
of the city.
A communication was received yes
terday morning by the legislation COM
mittee Of the council signed by over 900
Of the most prominent business men in
Los Angeles averring 1t is not true that
the citizens of Los Angeles desire laws
passed which shall prohibit the running
Of suburban cars into the center of the
city.
Such laws, it is urged, would cause a
great loss to the business men of the
city.
1t Is also asserted that the five-block
law does not apply to the citizen, but
was drawn for the protection of the
should they wish to. allow other COM
panies to deliver passengers over their
tracks they have the right to do SO.
Freight Carrying Desirable
In dealing with the freight carrying
by suburban electric lines the COM
munication states that in the opinion
Of the signers it is most desirable and
great aid to the business interests of
the city and not violation of law. The
petition prays that the service of the
electric lines be not interfered with as
contemplated in Mayor McAleer's mes
sage.
The communication goes on to state
that in the opinion of the 900 signers
Los Angeles has the best suburban
electric system in the United States
and protests against any unfair or hos
tile attitude toward the railroad COM
pany and requests that present condi-
tions remain unchanged.
Attorney John G. Mott made the prin-
cipal argument on behalf of the COM
munication and declared that signers
paid at least 80 per cent of the taxes
of Los Angeles and should be con-
sidered. He was accompanied by Sec
retary Zeehandelaar Of the Merchants
and Manufacturers association and
Joseph Mesmer.
Petition to Council
The communication is as follows:
Having seen frequent statements
published that an effort to stop the
running of interurban and suburban
cars over the tracks Of the city lines
for more than five blocks is to be made,
unless a universal transfer system is
secured, we hereby express our views
for your consideration.
"First-we deny that it is the wish of
any considerable number of citizens
that there must be universal transfers.
or stop the suburban cars from using
the tracks of another company for
more than five blocks. We assert that
the so-called five block law was
passed for the protection Of vestel
rights of the railroad companies own
ing the original franchises, and not for
the protection of streets to the pub
lie, and if by any means an agreement
can be had with the company owning
the original franchise, whereby an
other company deliver it's passengers
to or through the center of the city
by the joint use Of tracks, such ar
rangement is to the advantage of
every citizen and not violation of law
or public interests.
"Second-In the matter of handling
of freight, merchandise and produce
as is now being done by the suburban
lines, we consider this is most desir-
able and of great advantage to the
business interests of the city, and not
a violation of law or a menace to the
public, and we deem it of very great
Importance to the community that the
service of the electric lines be not in
terfered with in any of the particu-
lars enumerated in the late message of
the mayor touching these matters.
I'VE believe we have the best city
and suburban and interurban railroad
systems in the United States and that
our present prosperous and growing
condition is due to this very fact.
"Third-We believe that any unfair
and hostile attitude toward the railroad
companies would injure the best in
terests of the city and we request that
present conditions remain undisturbed."
Now Handle Freight