Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-29
TRY THE REFERENDUM

In defiance of public sentiment, loud
ly expressed, the city council yester-
day afternoon again took up and
passed the ordinance granting right OF
way to unnamed promoters of steam
railroad to be constructed along the
bed of the Los Angeles river, without
requiring the payment of cent for
the privileges granted.
The people of Los Angeles are still
in the dark as to the ownership of the
franchise thus freely given for a period
of twenty-one years. Three days have
passed since the ordinance was sprung
upon the public, and still no informa-
tion is forthcoming as to its purpose
or into whose hands the franchise will
eventually go.
IT is A DARK AND MYSTERIOUS
SECRET.
Members of the city council profess
to know nothing, except they have
been told" that the purpose is to admit
into Los Angeles another transconti-
mental railroad supposed to be the
Gould system. Mr.. Gilmore, to whom
the franchise was ostensibly handed
out, says that ito the best of his
knowledge and belief it is for the use
of a transcontinental road.
No public official appears TO know
the real purpose of this measure.
Those who do know refuse to tell. 1t
is simply a general supposition that
Mr.. Huntington is back of the fran
chise and that he may be acting with
Gould for another transcontinental
road, or he may be acting for himself
to build up suburban lines In compe-
tition with Hartman.
But this much the public does know,
to wit: That the city council has
brazenly and defiantly passed the ordi-
nance giving away the river bed to un-
identified persons and that no compen-
sation has been required.
The bed of the Los Angeles river is
or was owned by the people of Los An
geles, and the city council had no more
right to give 1t away than it had 10
give Mr.. Gould the city hall for his
general offices.
There is no disposition in Los Angeles
to unnecessarily hamper or impede any
efforts that are being made to bring
another ans-continental railroad to
Los Angeles. On the contrary, such
an enterprise would be warmly well
coined
But it must not sneak into Los An
geles the back way, wearing a mask
and carrying a dark lantern.
The people demand. to know the
identity of the persons who are to have
this great franchise.
They demand to know the purpose
of 1t.
And they demand reasonable COM
pensatiOn for 1T.
These things having been fatty de-
MED them by the city council, there
is one recourse that should be tried at
once
APPEAL TO THE REFERENDUM.
Under the referendum law, which the
Municipal league has declared it will
invoke. and in which movement it will
have the support of the people and
press, the question of granting this
franchise can be referred to the voters
And while that reference is pending the
ordinance will be suspended, no matter
if the mayor vetoes it and it shall be
again passed by the council.
Los Angeles is in no mood for any
more monkey business" or foolishness
on this question. Citizens of even the
most conservative kind are conscious
of the fact that they have been un-
fairly dealt with by their trusted SER
wants, who are now desperately en-
gagged in giving away property that
belongs to the city.
The referendum appears to be the
only present remedy. Let it be tried!