Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-25
ANNEXATION TO
Be Decided SOON
ELECTION PLANNED WITHIN
SIXTY DAYS
San Pedro VIII Vote on Freeholders'
Charter January 7, but Defeat
Of the Project Is Ex-
pected

Within sixty days an election will bt
held to decide whether San Pedro shall
consolidate with Los Angeles under the
proposed borough system.
Should the harbor city, as is conf
IDENTIFY expected, vote in favor of con-
solidation, such action will bring about
the realization of the plan of a Greater
Los Angeles, extending from the noun
tains to the sea, as previous to the time
for holding the San Pedro election there
will be held the Cahuenga annexation
election, which will bring about the
mountain end Of the greater city.
San Pedro is to hold an election
January z on the question of the adop-
tion of a freehoders' charter, but con-
fidence is expressed by members of the
consolidation commission and also by
leaders in the consolidation movement
in San Pedro that the charter will be
defeated.
The people of San Pedro, It is said
realize that should the freeholders
charter be adopted it will postpone con-
solidation with Los Angeles at least
two years, or until the voters of the
state can adopt the proposed constitu-
tional amendment expected to be passed
ar the coming session of the legislature.
Want a Free Hand
This proposed amendment, which
provides for the consolidation of cities
having freeholders' charters, which
cannot be done under existing laws,
will not be voted upon until the presi-
Dental election two years from last
November.
While in all probability the amend
ment will be adopted by the voters of
the state there is a possibility that it
will be defeated, in which case San
Pedro, with freeholders' charter such
as will be voted upon January 7, could
not consolidate with Los Angeles even
If the desire on the part of the citizens
were unanimous
Even those who are not convinced
that consolidation is the proper thing
for San Pedro prefer that no action
should be taken which might have the
effect of forever preventing such con-
solidation, and as a result they will
vote against the adoption of the free
holders charter.
Members of the consolidation commits
sion say that with the charter question
out of the way they have no fear as to
the result of the consolidation election,
which will be held within the next sixty
days.
commission is at work
S. A. Butler president of the con-
solidation commission, yesterday con-
firmed the report that an election to de-
eide the question of consolidation with
San Pedro would be held in the near
future. He said:
1.-The commission has decided con-
ditions now are favorable for proper
action on the question of the consoli-
idation of San Pedro and Los Angeles
under the borough system to be
adopted. Immediately after New Years
we will begin the circulation of petit
tons in Los Angeles and San Pedro,
asking for the holding of a consolida-
tion election. These petitions require
the signers of 20 per cent of the voters
OF the last general election, and when
this number is secured it becomes
obligatory on the part of the city coun-
Gil of Los Angeles and the board Of
trustees of San Pedro to call such an
election within stated time.
I'VE are confident that the required
number of signatures will be obtained,
that the election will be held within the
next sixty days and that the result will
be favorable to consolidation.
I'VE also are confident that the
voters of San Pedro will defeat the
freeholders' charter, which will be
voted upon January T. as the people of
San Pedro realize that the adoption of
that charter will prevent consolidation
for at least two years and possibly in
definitely, regardless of what their de-
sire might become in the future"
Wilmington May Be Included
There is a possibility that Whining
ton will be included in the coming cleo
tion, but the advisability of such a
move will be considered later.
1t is said that large majority of the
people of Wilmington are IN favor of
consolidation, whether San Pedro votes
in favor or against the plan, and that
is Wilmington is not included in the
coming election another election soon
will follow, regardless Of the action of
San Pedro.
San Pedro's decision regarding con-
solidation is expected to have consider
able influence in Long Beach for or
against that city becoming a part of
Greater Los Angeles, and it is pre-
dicted that should the vote in San
Pedro be in favor of consolidation Long
Beach will lose no time in bringing
about an election, at which the vote
would be almost unanimous for con-
solidation.
Members Of the consolidation commits
sion express themselves as highly satis-
fed with the result of their work, and
they feel that their labors in behalf of
Greater Los Angeles are nearing an
end.