Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-09
REPORT PROGRESS
ONCHARTER WORK.
REVISION COMMISSION GETS
TOGETHER
RESERVATIONS CAUSE COMMIT.
TEE CHANGES
Works Becomes Chairman and Wash-
burn Vice Chairman of Body.
All subcommittee Meet
Next Week

The charter revision commission re-
organized last night with some new
men at the desks in the council cham-
Der and some familiar faces missing.
Commissioners William Mead, Meyer
Lissner, Dr. John r. Haynes. w. B.
Mathews, Joseph Mesmer and Joseph
Luckenbach with the chairman ana
secretary alone reported for duty.
Judge John D. Works took the chair
In the absence of Chairman w. j. Hun
saker, who resigned from the commits
sion this week, and the commission I'M
mediately elected Judge Works as pres
ident of the commission. George Nolan
remains as secretary.
William Washburn was elected as
vice chairman In order to prevent any
interruption of meetings during the
summer season.
Commissioner Lissner, being the only
member of the ward boundaries COM
mittee present, reported what had been
done In the way of ward revision. The
city had been divided into eleven wards
in tentative way, he said.
Chairman Works explained that in
framing a skeleton charter a nine~ward
plan had been worked out by his sub
committee on general scope of revision
and form, leaving eleven or more wards
as an alternative proposition to be voted
on by the people.
Favor Eleven Wards
Mr.. Lissner, continuing, said that his
colleagues felt that due regard for an
equal division of population-putting 6
about 2500 voters in a ward-demanded
eleven wards. readjustment was
| necessary, notably in the Sixth ward.
Messrs. Lissner, Fennessy and Mead
constitute the ward boundaries conf
mittee. A special meeting will be held
today, as Mr. Lissner will be absent
from Los Angeles next week.
Mr.. Washburn suggested that the
committee take into account the possi-
biity of an enlarged city, in creating
wards He thought the time would
soon come when there would be 4
larger city.
Mr. Mesmer remarked that he thought
population alone should not determine
ward lines. In some wards there is
much more work for the councilmen
than others, and he thought this factor
should be carefully considered.
DR.. Haynes reported that he would
call together the committee on health
department next week and submit
charter amendments for discussion.
Mr.. Mesmer as chairman of the park
committee, said he had report, but
preferred to await action by the other
members of the committee.
DR.. Haynes, for the health committee,
Sldleu lldt lie lldu COLleITeu Will
health department officials and their
views would be agreed on shortly.
Mead on Utilities
Mr. Mead was made chairman of the
public utilities committee, whose work
deals among other subjects with water.
question with which he is specially
familiar. In doing this Mr.. Mead steps
into the shoes of Joseph H. Call, who
recently resigned.
Chairman Mesmer said he had dis
cussed enlargement of the city with
men who had framed the borough sys-
tenn, and he added that ne hoped to do
definite work shortly In that committee
on consolidation of city and county gov
ernment.
Mr.. Washburn requested that Dr.
Haynes be added to the committee on
education. 1t was done.
Mr. Mead suggested that all sub
committees should hold Independent
meetings next week, so that two weeks
hence full report of progress could be
had. This was carried formally, Sec
retary Nolan being instructed to notify
all chairmen.
Last nights session of the commits
sion was the first at which William B.
Mathews, former city attorney and
now counsel for the Owens aqueduct
commission, attended as a commission
er. The Bar association selected Mr..
Mathews with the understanding that
he will serve if he finds that such
service does not detract too much from
his time and attention to city affairs.
He succeeds Mr.. Hunsaker, who re-
signed.