Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-06
HEWITT TELLS
CIVIC BODIES
To LEND AID
Consolidation Scheme
in Jeopardy
Supreme Court Willing to Give Early
Hearing to Test sufflcleney Of
Law Bearing on An
nexaton

City Attorney Leslie r. Hewitt, just
back from a visit to Sacramento and
San Francisco, sounds a note Of warn
Ing te the business men of Los Angeles
that measures affecting the welfare of
the southern section of the state are In
Jeopardy in the legislature.
He thinks meeting of all business
bodies should be called at once to send
representatives north to impress on the
legislators the unanimity of the de-
mand for legislation beneflting the
Owens river aqueduct project and an
nexation between Los Angeles and San
Pedro.
81 find that conditions in Sacramento
render ii necessary that Los Angeles
should make it's wants known in very
decided fashion," said Mr. Hewitt last
night Its relations to the consolida-
tion movement should be made clear
and emphatic at once.
Senator Savage is opposing consol-
idation, and by way of compromise has
proposed certain conditions. which rem
der 1t very difficult to accomplish con-
solidation unless the terms in cer-
tain sense are modified.
Needs BoIstering
"The consolidation commission needs
bolstering up. The entire business COM
munity should line up to help the move
civic bodies should unite to make an
impression at Sacramento and show
just what San Pedro and Los Angeles
want.
Lack of information may to some
extent cloud the prospects, but the enc
mics Of the city are opposing it. led by
Senator Savage as the chief active op-
ponent.
Unfortunately the Broughton county
division bill is being pushed and it is
exciting opposition to the other legisla-
ton. 1t lines up our opponents on
fictitious basis. Los Angeles and San
Pedro are being coupled as twin sis
ters, and in the eyes of some San Pedro
and the county division act are cut out
think are proving effective in injuring
our cause.
Supreme Court Willing
"While north l went to sec Chief
Justice Beatty of the supreme court at
San Francisco with reference to bring
ing an early proceeding to test the suf-
ficiency of the present consolidation
law. Mr.. Haas of the commission went
with me and assisted in impressing
Justice Beatty with the Importance of
the situation. He gave us much en-
couragement that the supreme court
would consider such a matter on a rea-
sonable application. 1 left convinced
that the supreme court would entertain
such an application by next week
1--WE shall probably ask the council to
postpone the date of the San Pedro
election from March IA to March 2S,
thus giving us two weeks more time.
ITO my own satisfaction the ques-
tions involved in the consolidation
scheme at present are so serious that
the law should be tested before the
election rather than have the delay af-
terwards. It seems to be the popular
wish that this be done now, so that we
may know whether we are on safe
ground or on no ground at ALL We can
then find it out very quickly. We can
go before the court on a writ OF man.
date compelling the giving of notice of
the election.
Counsel Can Postpone
Some one else must begin the suit
against the city clerk before February
II. The council can meanwhile pass an
ordinance delaying the election.
"If the supreme court grants the writ
II would do so on the theory that the
present law is adequate and fills the
bill. If the writ Is refused the present
law is inadequate.
"At any rate, our legislation in Sacra-
mento will be pushed. We have two
strings to our bow. We will have one
proceeding going and have the law con-
strued. I would advise against any re-
taxation or relenting in our efforts We
can II necessary go back and do 1t all
over again with the San Pedro election
IT Is just question of passing the or
dinance and giving the notice of elec-
tion.
But the representative citizens Of
Los Angeles must act quickly"