Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-16
FRANCHISE IS
A BEACH ISSUE
LONG BEACH COUNCIL VOTES
FURTHER TIME
Elks Abandon Their Plan Of Enter
tanning Visitors-Postofflce ls
Overcrowded-ProdIgal Re-
turns Home
Special to The Herald.


LONG BEACH, Aug. 15.-At the
meeting of the city council last night
S. l.. Lent, chairman of the public
works committee, reported back the
application of the Pacific Wharf and
Storage company for an amended
franchise. The company claims prop
erty leased from the city and West
Long Beach, Before action was taken
last night a representative of the COM
pany asked to withdraw the applica-
tion, stating that the company had
found It was not necessary. City At
torney DAILY objected, as the board
had granted the original lease and he
considered It valid. The matter was
laid over for a week.
The Elks have abandoned their plan
to entertain the lodges of Southern
California In a grand roundup during
September. Some weeks ago the local
lodge assumed the obligation Of pur-
chasing their new home. 1t was then
practically decided that they could not
do this and entertain visiting Elks this
fall, also in genuine Long Beach style.
In this they were upheld by state Off
GERS.
Postmaster George Hirsch has re-
ceived instructions to appoint an
emergency clerk until September 30.
Three of the eleven clerks now in the
local office are emergency clerks, but
an effort will be made to keep them
permanently. During the first two
weeks Of this month the receipts
showed an increase of about 65 per
cent over the same days of last year.
The city trustees last night refused
an indemnity bond filed by the West
minister company, to whom franchise
was awarded by close vote Tuesday
night for a tunnel under Pine avenue
from the ocean to point between First
and Second streets. Trustee Oakford
was not present at the meeting. His
vote at the next meeting will probably
decide that the bond shall be accepted.
Trustees Lent and Mohrenstecher,
who oppose the granting of the fran
chise, do so because the bid was only
$3.50 and because they believe the West
minister's proposed construction will
make 1t impossible for any other tun-
nels to be constructed. The West
minister tunnel is for private purposes
purely.
Arthur w. Pus, 10 years old who
said that his home was in England and
that he had been without food for two
days because he had no money, asked
for a bed at the police station last
night. He was accommodated after
having been given a good meal. This
morning the boy had a high fever, and
DR.. w. H. Jones, health officer, said
that he was suffering from acute ner-
vous exhaustion. The boys limbs are
swollen from walking. If he cares to
remain in the care of the police they
will give him cot in the city hall and
will feed him. Otherwise he will be
placed in the county hospital. Pus
said. he had worked as pantry boy ir
a San Francisco hotel and later he
went to Los Angeles in vain search
for work. From there he walked tc
this city
e. j. Beane of Los Angeles, an oil
expert and prospector, was in confer
ence today with officers of the cham
Der of commerce concerning a project
to drill for oil in this vicinity. The
matter will probably come before the
chamber tomorrow night. Beane is
convinced, he says, that there is an
abundance of oil beneath the ground
here.