Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-23
MAYOR VETOES
COUNCIL CRABS
SAYS NO TO SOUTHERN PA
ClFlC GRAB
East Fifth Street Vacation and Voting
Machine Ordinances Are Neg
atived by the city's
Executive

Mayor owen McAleer has prepared
forceful veto messages applying to GER
tain measures rushed through the re-
cent sittings of the dying city coun-
ell.
They will be sent i'm on Monday
afternoon and If the usual legislative
program is carried out they will be
passed over the mayors veto.
The first veto is attached to the
measure ordering the vacation of East
Fifth street between Central avenue
and the Arcade depot
In the East Fifth street message the
mayor gives several reasons why the
piece of street should not be abandoned
to the Southern Pacific, the principal
one being that the city would receive
no compensation for a valuable piece
of property.
Quick Legislation
A week ago Monday the council
voted to pass an ordinance giving the
street to the corporation.
The job was well understood and
property owners We're ON hand to OBJ
ject. but were overlooked by the law
makers.
Several days after the ordinance
passed under suspension Of the rules,
Parker in person visited the city hall
to see what progress had been made.
Inc QdV lie NlSlIGu iie IluulClDdl DullO-
ing the ordinance went to the mayor
for his signature, which he refused
yesterday.
The vacation of Fifth street is one of
the most valuable gifts that has been
presented to the Southern Pacific by
the present council.
The land. which is turned over to the
railroad without compensation, is so
feet wide and approximately 100 feet
deep. 1t is estimated to be worth $780,
600.
Residents Protest
When the railroad officials first pro-
posed to have it vacated there was a
protest from the residents and property
owners in the vicinity especially those
living east of the Arcade depot. They
wanted the street opened through the
depot so they would not have to go
around by way of Seventh or Third
street.
Because of this protest the ordinance
was referred to the committee of the
whole where it slumbered for months
until it was brought up two weeks ago
1t was said that action was finally
taken because the days of the present
council We're growing short and the
railroad officials feared that the next
council will not be so willingly disposed
toward certain corporations.
Parker's Fine Work
Walter Parker political agent of the
Southern Pacific gave his personal at
tention to the job Of getting the East
Fifth street grab through the council.
Certain members are said to have been
called to his office few days before
the ordinance came up and given in
structions as to what was required
If the veto is set aside it is freely
stated around the city hall subservient
councilmen may be called before the
grand jury.
Voting Machine Job
The second veto message applies to
a demand for $325 for alterations in
thirteen voting machines
The demand evades charter provis-
ion which provides that goods exceed
ing $500 in cost should not be bought
unless first advertised.
The voting machines first contracted
for We're of the 40-key variety. When
it was decided to get 50-key machines
at an additional expense of $50 per ma
chine, it was decided to send the bills
in for few machines at a time.
The city and county divided equally
the expense.
The bill presented was for the differ
ence between 13 40key machines and
the same number of 50-key machines,
the city's share being 1926.
The mayors reasons for vetoing this
bill are the same as those advanced for
vetoing the demand for $36,400 for the
fifty-four machines, which demand is
still being held up by the city treas
urer, w. H. Workman.
In the latter case suit is threatened
by the voting machine people against
Treasurer Workman.