Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-02

that he would veto the river roadbed
franchise Monday and asked that all
citizens attend the meeting of the coun- |
Gil in the afternoon.
This afternoon it is expected the
council chamber and lobby Will be
filled to overfowing by citizens
especially interested in the proposed
franchise steal.
The lobby is well supplied with opera
chairs and there are number in the
council room. but these will not be
enough to supply the demand If the
crowd is commensurate with the senu-
ment that has been aroused in this
case.
However the council cannot be eX-
pected to provide any more seats, for 1t
is not particularly anxious TO make
show of itself. 1t has been in the
limelght entirely too prominently, IN
it's estimation, and would willingly re-
tire to a dark, dark corner for PERIOD.
In spite of the fact that the council
hates to do it, probably no member VIII
remain away from the meeting, for
every member now in the city has eX-
pressed an eagerness to back up ana
get through with the job. When it has
nroperIy sustained the mayors veto
the proceedings will be filed and the
city clerk Will be requested TO Dury
them in the deepest pigeonhole in his
vaults.
May Come Out in the Open
1t is predicted as probable that
Henry e. Huntington will come out in
the open this afternoon and ask for
the franchise which he acknowledges
to have attempted to secure through
f w. Gilmore and offer the city fair
return for the privilege.
Railroad men say that Huntington
needs a connecting link between his
north and south lines for the purpose
of running his freight cars. The recent
verdict of the police court jury, finding
the Interurban Street Railway company
guilty of committing a public nuisance
in operating freight cars on pubic
street, has shown the magnate the at
titude that the city will take on all
such alleged violations of the law. The
river bottom franchise would enable
the railway company to run freight
cars through a portion of the city that
would render the law of public nuisance
imperative.
League on Hand
The Municipal league will be well
represented this afternoon by men of
sufficient importance to serve as |
moral backing to the weak-kneed coun-
cilnen who may wish to vote against
the mayors veto at the last moment. |
AS the case now stands, the death
blow to the franchise steal will be
given by councilmen who have publicly
stated that they would support the
mayors veto.
Councilmen e. L. Blanchard, S. W.
Hitler, A. d. Houghton, p V Ham |
mon and Theodore Summerland have
stated that they would vote to sus-
tain the veto of Mayor McAleer. and
none of them had receded from this po-
sition last evening when interviewed.
Councilman Blanchard, speaking for
himself. practically voiced the senti-
ment of the others when he said
CounciImen Talk
"I have not gone back on what /
said Saturday morning through The
Herald. If we grant any franchise let
us do it in such way that the city
can secure an adequate financial com
pensation for it, I went into this thing
believing that it was for a transconti- |
mental road. If it is not, then 1 will
not be party to it. | certainly Will
vote to sustain the mayors Veto
P. V. Harmon is on record as saying
that if the franchise is not for a trans
to sustain the mayors veto. He said
that he voted for the franchise under
the impression that it was for some
great railroad system that would bring
more wealth to the city, and that
his action was for the benefit of the
municipality. according to the informa-
tion he had at the time.
A. D. Houghon showed strong evil
dence of sudden change of heart, and
is now committed to sustain the may
or's veto, when shown that the fran
Chise is not for tranScontinental road.
If Huntington does the expected thing
and boldly asks for the franchise then
Councilman Houghton will stand by
the mayor, according to his own dec
laration.
Councilman Theodore Summerland
did not vote before and will now stand
by the majority of the councilmen.
This practically means that he will also
sustain the mayors vote.
Constituents Angry
The councilmen have been seen by
hundreds of their constituents since
their faux pas in the council chamber
and realize that it will be political sui
eide for them to oppose the will of the
people in the attempt to perpetrate
Il gigantic franchise steal.
Mayor McAleer says: THE conf
dence reposed in me by the people to
the extent of desiring my return to
block the granting of the franchise is
very gratifying.
The interests of the people and the
city of Los Angeles are paramount to
all others and will be properly pro-
tected in SO far as my veto power will |
60"
And apart from the contemplated |
action of the council today. it is |
claimed by prominent attorneys that
the river bed is the property of the
city and only by vote of the people |
can any privileges be granted to any
individual or corporation on this prop
erty.
1t is now believed that the publicity
given to the attempt to hand a fran
chise worth more than S1G000O0 to a |
railroad magnate without any financial
return to the city has effectually
blocked the project, but nevertheless
the city hall will be packed with men
ErN