Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-26
COUNCIL FAVORS
CONSOLIDATION
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTS RES0-
LUTON ANENT SAN PEDRO
Action In Calling Election Postponed
Until Monday, to Give City Ate
torney Further Time to
Study the Law

"The city council declares It's absolute
sympathy with the project of consoli-
dating Los Angeles and San Pedro, but,
in accordance with the request of the
city clerk, it is m,ved that formal ac-
tion by this council be postponed until
next Monday"
After an hour in executive session
and five minutes in open session the
city council yesterday unanimously
went on record as favorig the consoli-
dation of Los Angeles and San Pedro,
but at the same time and for policy's
sake, delayed definite action for few
days longer on the question of calling
special election.
City Attorney Hewitt gave no con-
crete reason for recommending a post
ponement OF action until Monday, but
in a general way said that mas
much as this would be the first time In
the history of Los Angeles that the act
authorizing the consolidation with any
other city would be taken advantage of
and that inasmuch as the question
was one of great Importance to both
Los Angeles and San Pedro 1t was
demed best that further time be en-
ployed in studying the law in order that
no mistakes be made.
Petitions Are Ample
Mr. Hewitt told the council that the
petitions, both from Los Angeles and
San Pedro had been carefully scrutin-
lied by the city clerk and found to con-
tain a larger number OF signatures
than the law requires that the people
of Los Angeles and San Pedro appar-
emily desired consolidation, and that
the city council of Los Angeles, he was
confident, was unanimously in favor
of doing all in its power to bring about
the consolidation of the two cities, but
in view of the Importance of the pro-
ject and the cessity of moving with
deliberation, he would s...gest that ac-
ton be deferred until the regular ses-
sion of the council next Monday
Councilman Blanchard moved that the
council postpone action until Monday,
but at the suggestion of Councilman
Wallace the motion was placed in the
form of a resolution indorsing the con-
solidation idea.
The vote on the combined motion
and resolution was unanimous and the
council formally adjourned until Mon
day.
City Attorney Hewitt stated after the
adjournment of the council that there
was no particular point in the law
which might prove an obstacle, but
that inasmuck as he act was passed
about twenty-three years ago and Los
Angeles never had taken advantage of
it, there was necessity, in view Of op-
position from certain quarters to con-
solidation, 1t was considered advisable
to move with deliberation.
viii Be Ready by Monday
| Mr.. Hewitt said that without doubt
everything would be in readiness by
Monday to proceed with the work of
calling the election, and with a cer-
tainty that every step to be taken
would be in accordance With the letter
Of the law.
| Previous to the open session of the
council there was an executive ses-
sion which lasted over an hour. This
was attended by President S. A. But
Ter, John G.. Mott, Walter Haas and
r. l.. Chesebro Of the city and county
consolidation commission, and as a re-
suit of the deliberation the sentiment
of the city officials and members of
the commission seemed to be unanimous
that a further delay Of four days would
be advisable.
President Butler afterward said that,
while the commission was very anx-
ious to hasten the work of consolida-
tion, owing to the fact that powerful
interests are at work in hopes of de-
feating the plan he thought the action
of the council in unanimously adopt
ing a resolution favoring consolidation
would more than offset the loss sus-
tained by the additional few days de-
lay in issuing the call for the election.