Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-08
EI CAN PEDRO needs Los Angeles.
Concentration Uf power is what
Los Angeles needs San Pedro.

Los Angeles needs san Pedro.
we need"
This sentiment, uttered by President
! Burns of the San Pedro chamber of
commerce, brought thunderous ap-
plause last night at the banquet of the
Municipal league at Levys
| 1t drew from two hundred repre-
sentative men from Los Angeles and
surrounding territory encores of hand
clapping that would not down for sew
eral minutes.
1t was the keynote of the speeches
| that marked the occasion so fruitful for
q clearer understanding between the
communities adjacent to Los Angeles.
The Municipal league had called the
| gathering to permit of free discussion
of questions concerning annexation,
| consolidation, water supply and the
! special session of the California legis-
| lature, and in a few hours differences
| had been removed. mooted points had
been settled. common interests were
made apparent and motives were thor
oughly understood.
Meet on Common Ground
And Mr.. Burns pleasing phrases
sounded the keynote.
The guests, representing civic and
commercial and Legislative bodies from
the surrounding cities met on the COM
mon ground of free speech and heard
the wants of the several cities ex-
pressed by men chosen to express them.
In that respect the banquet served the
purpose for which it was called and
awakened new lines Of thought on the
most vital questions for Southern Cali
| fornia.
Ranged alongside lengthy tables. the
members gathered to enjoy spread of
tempting viands, and afterwards, at
| the call of Toastmaster J. o. Koepfii,
proceeded to hear the serious discussion
of the burning issues by men who car
ried messages and realized their re-
sponsiblity
Involves Principle of Economy
The guests of the Municipal league
| included the members of the consolida-
tion commission and representatives
of the city councils and boards of
trustees of nearly every Incorporated
city and town in the county. In eX-
planning the reason for the gathering
| President Koef1i of the league said that
it was important that this subject
should be fully understood
| If the consolidation idea is carried
| out it will mean a great change, not
only for Los Angeles, but for the en-
| tire county AS the question of con-
soidation involves the principle or
economy in the administration of pub
| tic affairs, its discussion comes properly
within the province of the Municipal
league, and therefore it had been de-
| cided to ask the members of the con-
solidation commission to enlighten
them as to their plans in this regard
The occasion also was considered an
excellent one for promulgating the in
forma tion thus obtained. and for that
reason representatives of other cities
and towns had been invited to meet
with the members of the league.
Explains Scope of Work
s A. Butler, president of the CONSOLE
dation commission, was asked to ex-
plain the scope of the work of the COM
mission and he began by replying to
certain criticisms which had been made
on the ground of delay and in failure
to present the subject to the citizens
of other communities. Mr.. Butler
stated that any delay in getting to
work which might have taken place
| had been due largely to the time re-
ouired in looking into the legal aspects
of the case. AS for the alleged failure
| to present the subject to other conlmu-
mites before action was taken, he said
that circumstances has made it neces-
sary for the commission to act quickly.
The members thought they saw an
oportunity of getting this subject be-
fore the extra session of the Legislature,
and they decided to seize this oppor-
tunity. There was no desire on the
part of Los Angeles, he said, to coerce
any other community into joining IN
this movement, and it could not If 1t
would compel any other city to CO.
operate.
There simply had been no time to-
discuss this project with outside cities
before going before the Legislature.
He called attention to the fact that
the weekly meetings of the CONSOLE
dation comission are always open to|
the public, and he extended a general
Invitation to all who wished to listen
to the discussions to come to these
Scores Gov. Pardee
Judge Dillon was the principal speak
er for the consolidation commission.
Speaking of the failure of the commits
sion to induce the governor 10 IN
clude the desired constitutional amend
ment In his call, he said:
"The governor knew what we needed
better than we did ourselves. His idea
was that we did not want consolida-
ted government down here, but rather
sort of irrigation district and con-
seauently provision for that was put
i'm his call
"rhe governor had his Legislative
team hitched up, he was going our way,
and It would not have cost the state
cent to take us into the wagon and
give us a ride. But he chose to dis
regard our wishes entirely, and for that
reason / give 1t as my firm conviction,
and | wish my voice could reach the
uttermost parts of this state, that the
time has come for the creation of the
state Of Southern California. This isl
not matter Of sentiment. 1t Is a
clean-cut business proposition for u.s.
But we will never get the treatment
1--we deserve at the hands OF the state