Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-02
WOULD RETAIN
HARBOR CON TR0L
SAN PEDROANS STATE WANTS
TO ANNEXATI0NISTS
Consolidation Plan Appeals to Two
Beach Municipalities as Shown
by Last Nights
Meeting

Judging by statements made by mem
bers of delegation from San Pedro
and Wilmington at the meeting of the
consolidation commission last night
the citizens of the two towns named
would be willing to come into Los
Angeles If assurance could be given that
full control of the harbor would be in
cluded in the annexation scheme.
In its general aspects it was declared
that the consolidation plan appealed to
the citizens of those two municipalities
and the belief was expressed that they
would be willing to listen to any plan
along this line that promised to be of
mutual interest to them and to Los
Angeles.
The delegation which represented San
Pedro and Wilmington was composed
of Judge H. c. Downing, city attorney
of San Pedro; S. M. Storer. Frank
Burns, Louis Hansen, Miner p. Good
rich, John T. Gaffey John A. Anderson
w. w. Burke, w. II. Wickersham and
Luke Kelly.
The principal speakers were Messrs
clear that the control of the harbor was
the vital point with the towns which
they represented.
Feeling Over Harbor
1t was also made evident that good
deal of feeling had been aroused against
Long Beach because of the manner in
which that city had secured control of
part of the harbor.
AS Judge Downing expressed it, "a
harbor that is divided into three parts
is of little value, and for that reason
we believe that some kind of a consoli-
dation has become absolutely necessary,
in order to bring the harbor under the
jurisdiction OF one municipality. If a
consolidation along the lines proposed
by this commission will bring that
about L feel certain our people will be
found to be heartily in favor of the
plan"
The Vital Point
Recognizing that this is the vital
point with the people of both San Pedro
and Wilmington, the com omission decid-
ed to hold a special meeting the night
Of June Is. at which ways and means
Of bringing about a consolidation that
shall provide for such control of the
harbor will be discussed. AT this meet
ing delegation from Long Beach, as
well as from San Pedro and Whining
ton, will be invited to be present
Much time was taken up last night
in discussion of the question of policy
with respect to inviting surrounding
towns to send delegations to the meet
ings of the commission.
1t was proposed that San Pedro, Will
mington, Compton and Watts be asked
to send delegates to the next meeting,
but some of the members of the COM
mission opposed this on the ground that
wrong construction might be placed
on such action, and they favored gen.
eral invitation to every town and in
corporated city in the county to send
delegates.
The latter proposition finally prevail
ed, and the secretary was instructed to
send out notices to such cities and
towns that the commission will be
pleased to receive their delegations at
such times as may be mutually agreed
upon.
Mitchell Explains
Previous to the adoption of the min
utes John w. Mitchell asked the privi-
lege of making an explanation with
reference to criticisms of Senator Pen
dleton which he had made at the pre-
Vious meeting and which appeared in
the record.
lie Sald tflat MS remarks at that time
had been based on a statement in an
afternoon newspaper to the effect that
the senator had opposed the inclusion
of the proposed constitutional amend
ment in the governors call for special
session of the legislature.
This statement, however, he now had
reason to believe was entirely incorrect.
In fact, Senator Pendleton had con-
vinced him that, instead of opposing
the inclusion of the amendment in the
call, he had worked hard in favor of
it, and Mr.. Mitchell consequently asked
that all reference to Senator Pendle-
ton with regard to this matter be
stricken from the minutes.
Secretary Fleming stated that AS
semblyman Stanton had given as his
reason for opposing the inclusion of
the amendment that he feared such a
course would embarraSs both the gov
ernor and the legislature. He said he
did not thin kit advisable to include
this matte tehcnirlla ?tyaUsu ?gduMrk
this matter in the call and hence had
opposed it.