Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-30
GET NEARER
ON ANNEXATION
POLICY OF CONSOLIDATION Is
DISGUISED
Delegations From Surrounding Cities
Attend Commissi oners' Meeting
and State That Definite An
nouncement s Wanted

nouneement Is Wanted
At the meeting of the consolidation
| commission in Los Angeles last night
| the sentiment of the members was ex
pressed to be in favor of a general
policy of annexation as the most eX-
pedient means of furthering the Greater
Los Angeles project.
| No formal action along this line was
taken, however, the question being re-
| ferred to the harbor and annexation
committees to define the boundaries of
| the territory which it would be adviS-
able to take in and formulate a plan
with instructions to report at the next
meeting of the commission. o.
| John W. Mitchell made an effort to
put the commission on record on this
| subject by presenting a resolution de-
claring that the commission favored the
annexation of such contiguous ter
ritory as the people thereof desired to
be annexed, and particularly the cities
| of San Pedro and Wilmington, so that
| the harbor may become part of Los
| Angeles" but a storm of opposition
| arose and on the chairman's request
Mr.. Mitchell finally withdrew the reso-
luton.
The understanding was that the sub
| ject might be brought UP again at a
| subsequent meeting.
| In presenting his resolution Mr..
| Mitchell declared it was time for the
commission to stop talking and get to
| work.
1t was time, he said that a definite
proposition be made so that the people
of the adjacent cities and towns might
know just what Los Angeles proposes
| to do.
Messrs. Jess, Haas, Pridham and
Mott spoke against the adoption of the
resolution at this time on the ground
that to name specifically the towns of
San Pedro and Wilmington might not
only give offense to other cities but
was calculated to arouse antagonism in
the harbor towns themselves.
1t was argued that this would look
too much like an attempt on the part of
Los Angeles to assume the position of u
dictator on this question.
Those who opposed the resolution de-
ton in San Pedro would make capital
out of at by interpreting it as a move
on the part of Los Angeles to force San
Pedro into union with it.
The question was discussed at con-
siderable length, the resolution being
supported by Messrs. Mitchell and
Young, but the opposition to it's adop-
that, as stated, it finally was decided
not to press it to a vote.
|
i Delegations Present
The meeting last night was one of the
most important that, has yet been held
| by the commission. Delegations from
San Pedro, Wilmington Long Beach,
Hollywood, Dolgeville and Huntington
Park were present, but the discussion
related chiefly to the subject of the
annexation of the two towns first
named.
Walter Haas, in defining the position
of the commission on the question of
annexation, pointed out that it was
desirable that Los Angeles take in all
the territory it intends to annex before
any more bonds for the Owens river
| project are voted. 1t was only fair, he
said, that all cities that wished to
share in the benefits of the project
should share in it's cost
He explained also. that the plan of
| annexation was merely means to an
end; that consolidation was the ulti-
mate purpose of the commission, and
he was confident this purpose would be
accomplished.
Mr.. Haas explained the provisions of
the law bearing on the subject of an
nexation and showed that despite state
| mentS to the contrary made by persons
| interested in defeating the project,
vote on this question must be taken in
each of the cities or towns it was pro-
! posed to merge, and that they must
be counted separately. If the vote in
either of the cities is against the propo-
sition no merger can take place.
The statue. said Mr.. Haas, is en-
phatic on that point, and there need be
no misunderstanding in regard to it,
Frank Burns of San Pedro said that
the people Of that city were chiefly in
terested in securing a free harbor. if
4 the consolidation plan prepared by the
commission1 promised to provide for
! this, the people doubtless would vote
favorably upon it, but otherwise they
could not be expected to do so.
San Pedro was awaiting an an
| nouncement of a definite plan, and until
that plan is formulated 1t will be inn
possible for anybody to promise the
support of San Pedro to the annexation
proposition.
Samuel Storer pointed out that San
Pedro is by no means unanimous on
this question. He said there were two
factions in that city, one in favor of
Joining Los Angeles and tn other OPP
posed to II.
This means, he said, that there is
hound to be fight when this subject
comes up, and i'm the opinion of Mr..
Storer the burden of the fight must be
borne by the consolidation commission.
Divergine Views
Stoddard Jess took exception to the
position assumed by Mr.. Storer. He
said he was unable to understand the
reason for this sparring over the ques-
tion on the part of San Pedro,
The interests of that city and Los
Angeles were in a sense Identical, he
said and the people should be quick to
come together on a proposition that
promised to be to their mutual advan-
tage.
Before the commission can take in
tellgent action II must know some
thing about the sentiment OF the people
OF San Pedro regarding 1t.
Los Angeles is anxious that surround
ing cities join with It I'm bringing the
Owens river water down here. but there
can be no coercive measures employed.
Time was" continued Mr. Jess,
when San Pedro came to Los Angeles