Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-12
COUNCIL TO ACT
ON BIG WARRANT 7
Concrete and Hollow Block Men to
Debate on Building Ordinance
Before the City's Law
makers

Today's meeting of the city council
will probably settle number of muni-
cipal topics of local Importance.
Whether the bill for the voting ma.
chimes bought by the city shall be paid
must be decided soon. The mayors
rubber stamp signature was attached
to a voucher for $40, 400 to the United
States Voting Machine company but
Treasurer William H. Workman held
it up. The mayor wrote the treasurer
asking that this be done and intimated
afterward that the signature was at
tached through an inadvertence, though
who did it is burning mystery at
the city hail.
1t is settled now that the machines
cannot be used at the coming city
election, as there are too many tickets
to be voted on to accommodate the
keys which the machines carry. In
the shoestring strip annexation cleo
tion they cannot be profitably used,
as it costs $5 to convey each machine
to a polling place.
Storage charges on the outfit have
been heavy and the machines have
proven a costly experiment.
Even If they were used city hall
attaches say that because of their
complications many voters would fore
go their franchise rather than attempt
to use them. A sample machine is now
installed at the hall, but 1t is regarded
as a curiosity more than a utility.
Concrete VS.. Blocks
The delayed debate ON the building
ordinance may come UP today
1t depends on letter which Mayor
McAleer is known to contemplate send
ing to the council.
Makers of hollow tile and artificial
stone believe that he is In sympathy
with their industry and that blocks
should not be barred from exterior and
interior walls, as will be done if the
contemplated clause becomes law.
The recent hotel collapse at Long
Beach may prove a factor in the de-
bate, as the proposed ordinance is
strongly in favor of concrete
Both sides will have good speakers
on hand to seek to influence the coun-
cilmen for and against hollow blocks
If hollow blocks are permitted in
construction strong precautionary tests
will be insisted on. AS thousands of
dollars and at least 300 workmen are
interested in the artificial stone indus
try 1T Is thought the mayor, who is
from district in Ohio where blocks
are produced heavily, will urge the
passage of an ordinance giving both
sides a chance to utilize their products
The special commission which drew
up the ordinance favors concrete ex-
clusively, the results at the San Fran
cisco disaster being one of the prin-
cipal governing factors in reaching
that decision.
Would Bar Vehicles
Councilman Ford may bring up an
ordinance forbidding the use of any
portion of Main street, Spring street
and Broadway as a standing place for
vehicles. This applies to the area be-
tween First and Sixth streets.
Some Of Mr.. Ford's constituents have
complained that the congestion on those
thoroughfares is reaching alarming
proportions and that the remedy lies
in doing away with horses and wagons
which are tied up there. A time limit
Is proposed.
What the automobilists and bicyclists
will do when the proposed ordinance
comes up are questions for future con-
sideration.
The raise of rates by the Home Tele-
phone company In the business district
VIII probably result In resolution OF
inquiry The franchise of the COM
pany specifies the rates to be charged
for telephone service and provides that
regular reports OF business transacted
must be filed with the city. The Home
company evidently wishes to bring the
controversy to an immediate issue.