Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-29

pregnant with expectancy,
while every eye in the lobby was
fastened on him and every neck craned
to hear what this man, who had so
suddenly stepped into the limelight of
public gaze would say. But he re-
mained in his comfortable arm chair,
tilted back against the wall of the coun-
Gil room, until Captain John Cross
arose to speak. Then Mr.. Gilmore
seemed to think it incumbent on him
to say something or other and he arose
at the same time.
He cleared his throat and again con-
templated his cigar. He cleared his
throat again.
Crowd Jeers Gilmore
"Well." he began, "to the best of my
knowledge and belief"
The lobby was convinced that his ex-
plantations were not going to be sat-
isfactory and greeted this opening with
derisive cries of "Ah-a-a-a-a-ti-a-
What he might have said has been
lost to history for here Captain Cross
caught the presidents eye and said:
"a railroad under cover is a dangerous
thing. / have built many railroads. I
am heartily in favor of railroads and
am now corporation man. l believe
that Henry E. Huntington and his
electric lines have done more for Los
Angeles than anything in it. / have
had to go before many city councils
and ask for franchises but whenever
l have done so 1 have had to explain.
1 built the nucleus of the Salt Lake
railroad and owned and controlled it.,
but could do nothing until 1 had told
what [ was going to do. Let this man
do the same thing. For if you do not,
if you act in the dark as it appears you
intend to act, you may be shutting out
transcontinental railroad instead of
letting one come in. AS l have said, 1
am a railroad man and know railroad
methods pretty we'll"
Express Utter Indifference
There were cries from the lobby:
And he was an honest councilman
once" intended as a reflection on the
city councilmen who sat in Judgment
yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Stimson again took the floor.
Gentlemen of the lobby" he said, II
plead with YOU to let Mr.. Gilmore ex-
plain. He was about to say something
that we all want to hear when Captain
Cross spoke. Now give him chance" "
mo, sir" answered Mr.. Gilmore. Il
tried to tell all 1 know about it and
1 was called down. Now l will not
say a word. 1t is entirely matter of
indifference to me whether this fran
chise is granted or not"
He sat down quickly, rose and said:
II represent party that Will build
transcontnental railroad into this
city"
rs it one that is not now operating
in Los Angeles?" asked Mr.. Stimson.
''It is not now operating in Los An
geles and is not affiliated with any
Ii,,n in anSwprp6
Gilmore.
Councilman Ford weakly called for
the question and debate was shut off.
Minute Clerk Wilde called the roll.
Councilmen Vote DoggedIy
Councilmen Blanchard, Ford, Ham
mon, Houghton, Healy, Kern and Hill
Ter voted for the ordinance granting
the franchise. Their "ayes" were
dogged, but emphatic, as though each
realized that he was taking his politi-
cal life in his hands.
Eight ayes, no noes" called Minute
Clerk Wilde.
Not so," said Councilman Smith,
rising to his feet, II have not yet
cast my vote and before L do L want
to make a few remarks.
81 have been in this council for one
year and three months and in all that
time L nave never ndQ OCCASION 10 DC-
lieve that any member of this body
was doing anything but what he be-
| lieved to be for the best interests oi
the city. l believe that such is theii
conviction now. But it has always
been my plan to make a careful inves-
tigation for myself before 1 cast my
vote on anything so important as this
This question came up while I was
in San Francisco l have just re-
turned and know nothing about it eX-
cept what 1 have read in the news
papers and what a few of my fellow
councilmen have told me. AS 1 have
had no time to investigate for my
self | must vote mo-"
This announcement of Mr.. Smith s
brought rousing cheers from the lobby
although it was realized the ordinance
had passed even without Mr.. Smith s
vote.
"seven ayes, one no." announced
Clerk Wilde.
"The ordinance is carried" said
President Blanchard.
There was a disposition to hiss, but
most of those in the lobby were SO
overcome by the audacity of the entire
proceedings that they left the council
chamber without saying word
MAYORS FRIENDS