Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-16
COMMISSION
SHOWS WHERE
THE FAULT LIES
Flags the Enemies of
Consolidation
Southern Paeifie's Handlwork in De-
laying Greater Los Angeles Ex-
posed-Expenses Stop
April

Inc COnSOlldati tiOn commission dellV-
cred its valedictory last night in an
official statement and barred it's teeth
and unsheathed its claws at the enc
mics that have defeated it's ends for
the time. The statement was as fol-
lows:
In report heretofore rendered your
honorable body on the 18th day Of Au-
gust, 1906, by the consolidation commits
sion of the city and county of Los An
geleS the advantages of consolidation
were set forth. That report, it will be
remembered; was divided into two sec
tions, first, a general plan Knowing
what it was hoped would be ultimately
accomplished in the formation of a city
and county consolidated government;
second, a plan showing what 1t was
considered advisable to do. without de-
lay as stepping stone to the ultimate
object sought. We urged that consoli-
dation of city and county governments
would bring about great reduction of
taxes on account of the change from
a dual system of government to one
managed by single set of officers. 1t
was generally conceded that two sets
OF officers performing practically the
same duties, such as two assessors, two
tax collectors, two auditors, etc., was
unnecessary. The sentiment of the city
of Los Angeles has been practically
unanimous in favor of consolidation OF
these various offices. The residents of
Pasadena have evinced no disposition
to obviate the unnecessary expense OF
our cumbersome system of city and
county government, but, on the con-
trary, actively opposed necessary con-
stitutional amendment permitting con-
Solidation. The voters of Long Beach
indicated by the adoption of free
holders charter that they did not de-
sire consolidation.
Results of Early Investigation
In the early Investigations of the
commission it was deemed advisable
for the cities of San Pedro, Wilmington
and Los Angeles to become one great
municipality so that the harbor could
be controlled and developed by the con-
solidated city with it's increased pres
tige and influence. The consolidated
city could secure numerous improve
ments for the harbor, such as fortifi-
cations, the building of dry docks, nee
essary dredging, erection of wharves
and other betterments designed to make
San Pedro one of the worlds great
ports of entry. The commission there
fore in it's first report to eur honor
able body recommended that the ter
ritory lying between Los Angeles and
Wilmington and San Pedro be annexed
tc the city of Los Angeles to the emo
that consolidation of the cities of San
Pedro and Wilmington may be mad
with the city Of Los Angeles" Pur-
suant to this Recommendation the nee
eSsary territory was annexed to the city
of Los Angeles and the cities of Will
mington and San Pedro end Los Ange-
les are now contiguous.
After this annexation the present
consolidation act was found to be de-
fective in many particulars and it was
doubtful if the city of Los Angeles,
having a freeholders charter, could
consolidate with the city of San Pedro
"a city of the sixth class. Thereupon
the law committee of the consolidation
commission and the city attorney Of
Los Angeles prepared an act correcting
the deficiencies in the existing law.
The people were ,safeguarded therein
by a provision requiring a majority
vote in each city in favor of the prop
osition. The act had the Endorsement
of the city council of the city of Los
Angeles, the mayor of Los Angeles,
the board of supervisors of Los An
geles county, the Merchants and Man
ufacturers association, the chamber of
commerce and the press of Los An
geles. Notwithstanding this strong
Endorsement of the measure Senator
Savage was instrumental in having the
hill referred to the committee on NUM-
cipal corporations, of which he was
chairman, and there cause it to be
mutilated so that it would not ac-
complish the desired purpose. The
commission believes that in so doing
he was aiding and abetting the plans
and purposes OF the Southern Pacific
Railway company. The press and peo-
pie generally entertain the same view.
Power of Southern Pacific
1t is unfortunate that any corpora
tion should have the power attributed
to the Southern Pacific Railway COM
pany to thwart the will of the people
by controlling legislation, but this ad-
verse influence is the obstacle which
has confronted the consolidation COM
mission from the beginning 1t is
charged that the Southern Pacific Rail-
road company is interested in the up
building of the port of San Francisco
alone at the expense of all other Cali
fornia ports, and does not desire to
have San Pedro progress as port Of
entry. The actions of the company re-
garding San Pedro harbor have shown
its intentions to retard the advance
ment of that city for the past quarter
of a century; in fact, ever since it
acquired the line to San Pedro as a
gift from the people, 1t has failed to
assist in any way the upbuilding of
this port. It's improvements and bet
terments in San Pedro are trihing and
of little value, and 1t will be recalled
that this company opposed the appro-
priations of $3,0OO,O0O for this harbor
with every means within its power.
Touching the rituation in Sacrament
to we refer to an Associated Press dis
patch, which reports Judge Post of the
superior court of Sacramento county,
while assisting in investigating certain
phases of recent legislation, as using
the following language in addressing
the grand jury of that county on the
18th day of March, 1907:
"If the declarations made by Mr..
Hatton and others alleged to represent
the Southern Pacific Railroad company
are true, that that corporation and its
Representatives command and control
a sufficient number of votes in the
legislature to pass or defeat bills at
viii, it is a startling condition of af-
fairs and marks the destruction of
popular government in this state"
Credit for Press