Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-27
CITY COUNCIL GRANTS
RAILROAD FRANCHISE
FOR GOULD SYSTEM
DEAL is QUICKLY RUSHED THROUGH
Three Miles of River Bed Right Of Way Given to
E. w. Gilmore Who is Believed to be
Merely Acting AS Agent for
Big Magnates

who in the absence of City Attorney
| Mathews is chief legal adviser of the
council.
The fact that the council hesitated
was, however, taken as a strong proof
that Gilmore had q chance for his
franchise, even with Goudges opposl-
ton and Secretary Willard, who is the
guiding star of the council, added his
protest, in the name of the Municipal
league to the one that Attorney Goudge
had voiced so strongly.
There was further pause. The coun-
Gil looked at each other and then they
looked at the pretty little lights on the
ceiling. Some of them nervously got
up from their seats and STROBE over to
the water tank but forgot to drink
when they got there Some looked out
of the windows, but all were nervous,
for all were anxious to give Mr.. Gill
more what he asked. All except Coun-
Gilman Harmon of the Second ward
He had made up his mind he was go
ing to vote to refer the question to the
city attorney.
| Houehton Changes His Vote
Finally there was a weak call for the
question. The roll was called and Coun-
cilmen Blanchard, Ford, Healy, Hitler
and Kern voted for the passage of the
ordinance, in spite of the opposition Of
the city attorney. Harmon and Hough-
ton voted against 1T. Smith and sum-
merland were not present at the meet
ing, Summerland holding the office of
mayor during the absence of the chief
executive and Smith being at his mines
in Nevada.
1t was necessary to have six votes to
pass the ordinance and only five 'ayes"
We're recorded. In voice that betok-
ened disappointment G o u n C / m a n
Blanchard, who was acting as president
of the council, announced: Ordinance
lost
Now" said Houghton, jumping to
his feet. Il move that this be referred
to the city attorney to report at the
adjourned meeting of the council next
Wednesday afternoon"
Cant do it," said Mr.. Blanchard.
"The ordinance Is disposed of by the
vote.'
"If that is the case" said Houghton.
'I want to change my vote and l vote
aye for the passage of the ordinance" "
Goudse Says No Franchise
That gave the necessary six votes
for the ordinance, or at least the coun-
: Gil believed it did, and Blanchard de-
) clared it passed. But Goudge only
: smiled and said to Clerk Wilde:
"Be sure your minutes of this pro-
ceeding are very correct"
An adjournment was taken almost
Immediately and there was no further
time to discuss it in the council.
But Attorney Goudge holds that no
franchise has been granted.
"The ordinance was declared lost
said Mr.. Goudge last evening. "Hough-
toms change of vote does not make any
difference. A member has right to
change his vote only up to the time
that the chairman announces the re-
suit. After that no change of vote is
valid Houghton voted against the
ordinance. His negative must stand in
this particular instance There were
only five legal ballots cast for the ordi-
nance. 1t required six. Mr.. Gilmore
has no franchise whatever and If he
attempts to proceed on the vote taken
yesterday he will find himself in
trouble"
Says People Will Object
Mr.. Goudge is of the opinion that il
the franchise is for the Gould or Harri-
man interests the people of Los An
geles will gladly let the franchise be
granted without a murmur, but he be-
leves that if it is solely for the purpose
of giving Fairchild- -Gilmore-Wilton a
j monopoly of the gravel in the river bed
the people will object strenuously.
He is firmly convinced that the latter
is the purpose and bases his opinio
six months ago these contractors at
tempted to secure a franchise for a
similar railroad, which they frankly
avowed was for the purpose of haul
ing gravel
He believes that the provision in the
franchise that passengers, freight, mai!
and baggage are to be hauled over the
road is merely a blind.
But the preamble to the ordinance de-
clares that this railroad is to connect
with railroad hereafter to be built
between Los Angeles and other cities
and towns, which gives an air of cer =
tainty to the rumor that the Gould in
terests are back of it.
Huntngton-GouId VS.. Hartman
The records and maps of the city
show still more evidence that Gould,
through Henry e. Huntington, who is
one of his closest friends, is respon-
sible for the effort made yesterday.
The franchise for the new right of
4 way ends at Also street, at point
where the old roadbed of the San Ga
briel Rapid Transit company begins.
The San Gabriel rapid transit has not
been in operation for several years,
| but it is owned by Henry e. Hunting
ton and he now has gangs of men at
| work regarding the bed. About year
ago he secured a right of way through
city property, known as reservoir site
No. g. which is in direct line of the
San Gabriel right of way, and is pre-
pairing to build tracks through this
reservoir site.
This line extends to and past Mon
rovia and this will give the new Gould
road. if such it is, an outlet to the
northwest BY the terms of the fran
chise it has an outlet at the southern
city limits.
Altogether the entire deal is consid-
cred as a move of Huntington, plus
Gould, against Hartman, although if
this proves to be the case and the
council is again called upon to act on
it, as 1t must to make the franchise
legal, 1t is doubtful il the members
will be so eager to pass the ordinance
In spite of the Fairchild-G -Gilmore-Wil
ton face the proposition bears.
Text of the Ordinance
The ordinance In part is as follows:
That the privilege be granted to E
w. Gilmore to construct for period
of twenty-one years a steam railroad
as part and extension of railroad