Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-31
SAYS FRANCHISE
IS WORTHLESS
ATTORNEY GoUDGE DECLARES
RIVER BED Is CITYS
If Necessary Residents May Yet
Invoke the Referendum to
Check Measure-The
Days Developments

nous influence exercised by corpora
tions over our council.
The mayor will undoubtedly veto this
measure and it must then be voted
upon again In council. During the
next ten days the members of that
body should be made to understand
how their constituents feel with regard
to their course.
You stand for morality in public af-
fairs, and for the doctrine of square
deal" for all. We ask your help in
this conflict.
1t is a fight of the people against
the corporation political bosses.
If you are willing to help write to
us and we will cooperate with you in
every possible way.
C. D. WILLARD, Secretary.
Mayor McAIeer Writes to Council
Mayor McAleer also wrote a few
letters himself yesterday; in fact he
devoted almost the entire day to busi-
ness connected with the franchise. One
of his first acts yesterday morning
was to indite the following epistle to
every member of the city council that
had voted for the franchise:
Referring to the ordinance which
was passed at a meeting of the city
council yesterday, granting E. w. Gill
more a franchise for a steam railway
in the Los Angeles river bed.
Understanding from the press that
this railway is to be used as a connec-
ton for a transcontinental railway.
and assuming that as you voted for
the passage of the ordinance you have
full knowledge of the facts in connec-
tion Herewith, I respectfully request
that you advise me who is the real
beneficiary of this grant, and what is
the purpose for which this franchise
will be used?
81 ask for this information in con-
nection with the proper consideration
of the ordinance"
CounciImen Ignore McAleer
But this letter of the mayor did not
create any great furore among the
councilmen. 1t was not noticed that
they broke any speed records in getting
to Mayor McAleers office to explain
their vote. Not a single member of the
council complied with the mayors re-
quest to come and tell him all about it.
Mayor McAleer was in the letter
writing mood yesterday and while die
tating his request to the members of
the council also wrote letters to City
Clerk H. J. Leande. One of these
letters was commendatory of Mr.. Le-
lande's stand on the question and was
as follows:
My Dear Mr.. Lelande:
Your actions as city clerk in connec-
ton with the Gilmore railway franchise
ordinance are highly commendable.
showing you to be honest, faithful and
fearless and I desire to thank you on
behalf of the people as well as myself
for your pluck and determination.
I trust that the public will reward
you in the proper manner by returning
you this coming fall as capable and
efficient public official. and for many
terms thereafter should you desire the
office. Very truly yours,
OWEN McALEER, Mayor.
LeIande Not to Be Hurried
In his letter to Mr.. Leande Mayor
McAleer referred to the effort that had
been made to induce Mr.. Lelande to
attest the ordinance after the council |
had voted on it Monday evening. Less
than an hour after the council had
taken its action, which was subse-
quently found to he faulty the ordn-
ance was presented to the city clerk
with a request that he attest it so that
it could be taken to Acting Mayor Sum
merland for his signature that very
evening and become a law the follow
ing morning.
mot so fast" was Mr.. Lelande's
answer as he took the ordinance and
buttoned it inside his coat pocket,
where it stayed until the council passed
a copy of the same ordinance Wednes-
day, invalidating the original.
Another letter from the mayor to Mr..
Lelande was meant for Minute Clerk
Wilde, who recorded the action of the
council. In this letter such questions
were asked as the following:
"Is it not customary to call the name
of the president of the council last when
q vote Is taken? If so, why did you
call the name of Councilman Blanchard
first when he was acting as president?"
Writes Letter to Gilmore
Blanchard is one of the councilrnanic
"big three of which Smith and Kern
are the other two members, and
Rlanchard's vote sometimes has a Won
derful effect on other members of the
council.
Wilde explained that the regular pres
idents name was always called first
but the name of a president pro tenn
came in alphabetical order and alpha
betically Blanchard heads the list.
The mayor also wanted to know why
the vote was announced before Smith