Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-09
LFAGUERS HEAR
CHARTER ADVICE
AMENDMENT NO. / CONCERNS
AoUEDUCT PROBLEMS
DEALS WITH ELECTRIC AND
RIVER BED RIGHTS
Attorney Martin Addresses Democrats,
Showing Significance of LeglsIa-
ton Proposed for Settle
ment in February

The Democratic league yesterday
heard the proposed charter amend
ments explained in detail at it's weekly
session at the Westminster hotel.
First Vice President Richmond Plant
presided, and many of the orld guard
as well as new faces were present.
Attorney George G.. Martin took up
each amendment, showing what it's
tenor as well as it's language implied.
The address was lengthy one, and
special interest was shown in several
of the amendments.
Proposed charter amendment No. 1, IL car
ried involves the addition to the powers Of the
CITY, already granted under the old charter,
of the power OF supplying electricity to the
city and the Inhabitants. The city now only
has the power to supply water and gas
Sequel to Aqueduct
The production of electrical energy is esti-
mated to be equivalent, at its maximum. to
more than 90,000-horse power. The CONSTITUTE
ton of the Los Angeles aqueduct makes this
amendment necessary.
By this subdivision, It is also proposed to
change the number of votes necessary to vote
bonds for erecting gas. water electrical
plants, from three-ffths to two-thirds of the
number of votes cast. This is difference
of sixty-slx and two thirds (66 2-9 votes in
each thousand
Subdivision Ia proposes to empower the city
to sell surplus water and electricity to other
municipalities and other consumers and users
outside of city limits.
Subdivision q prohibits the sale, grant,
lease, transfer or alienation of the bed Of the
Los Angeles river, but provides that the whole
thereof shall be kept at all times for mu-
nicpal purposes and that no franchises shall
be granted on same, provided this shall not
prevent the granting of franchises or rights
to said river bed or to take gravel
therefrom
The intention of this provision is TO re-
serve the river bed for the municipal railway
above mentioned.
Section 191 makes the same provisions rela-
tive to water as mentioned in subdivision
26 of section relative to electricity.
The obvious purpose of these two subdvs-
ions last mentioned is to enable the city to
dispose of its surplus water supply and cleo
trical power to the greatest advantage Of
the community generally, as well as the city,
and at the same time to prevent any part
of it from being capitalized by private parties
corporations for private gain.
Subdivision 7b proposes to empower the city
to acquire or build and operate railroad
interurban railroads from Los Angeles to the
ocean or any inlet thereof and to fix and col
lect charges for transportation thereon.
Subdivision &c proposes to empower the city
to acquire build and operate public docks,
wharfs, piers and moles on the seashore, and
to fix and collect, charges in connection there
with.
Utilize Water Power
The aim Of these amendments is to enable
the city to utilize the enormous power which
1t will be able to generate from the watHr
brought down in the aqueduct, and to use
1t when the time comes motive power
for a transportation line to the coast. Adop-
ton of these amendments will make it pos
sible for the city to regulate rates between
seaports and the upper city, and to give
the inhabitants of this city and county the
benefits which should follow the cheap water
transportation.
1t is estimated that at least $40. 000, 900 are
annually paid to the railroads in freight
charges which could be saved If We possessed
free harbor.
Subdivision rs prohibits the sale or disposal
by the city of any wharf, dock, seawall, rail-
road, . electric railroad, traction road, canal,
subway, conduit, etc, water, gas or eled-
treal system plant, any other public
utility, now or hereafter owned by the city,
except upon the favorable vote of two-thrds
of the duly qualified electors at any election,
and places the same limitation upon the sale
of electrical power, except that the city may
have the power to sell to its inhabitants its
electricity and except that it may sell
plus power and provided, also, that when
surplus power is sold outside of the city it
must be done by the authority of the board
of public works, and no power may be sold,
under any circumstances, to any person or
corporation for resale, rental, disposal or dis
tributlon to consumers without the consent
of two-thirds of the qualified voters voting
at any election.
This amendment is intended a protection
for the city's electrical power, which it has
been estimated will be asset when fully
developed. worth probably all the aqueduct
win have cost.