Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-17
CITY NOT INVITED TO
COMMITTEE MEETING
RESIDENTS THERE ONLY IN
PRIVATE CAPACITY
Senator Savage's Statement That San
Pedro Was in Favor of State Con-
troll Comes in for Severe
Criticism

SAN PEDRO. Nov. 16.-Why the
CITY of San Pedro was not represented
at today's meeting of the legislative
committee in Los Angeles, held for
the purpose Of determining whether
state control of the harbor is desired,
is a question that is bothering tho
heads of many citizens this evening.
None of the trustees was at the meet
ing, or, if they were asked they did
not go. The only other representative
body of the city was the chamber OF
commerce, and that received no inYi-
tation.
AS the first opinion asked for at the
hearing today was that of San Pedro
it was embarrassing to have to admit
that no one was there to represent the
city, except in a private capacity.
Assemblyman Leeds stated that the
chamber of commerce had been In
vited through Mr.. Storer of this city,
who was formerly president of the
chamber of commerce here, but evil
IDENTIFY Mr.. Storer did not understand
that the invitation was aught but a
personal one, and the chamber of
commerce secretary here says he
heard nothing of 1t.
Los Angeles was ably represented
by both the chamber of commerce and
the harbor commission, and Whining
ton had nearly all her trustees there,
besides the city attorney and the city
clerk.
AS to whether Attorney Frank Karr,
counsel for the Southern Pacific, and
at present deputy city attorney for
San Pedro, or State Senator William
H. Savage, or former Assemblyman
w. H. Wickersham, or S. M. Storer
was intended to have the honor of
giving the committee the views of San
Pedro on the subject of state harbor
control has not been divulged.
The only other resident of San Pedro
who was there had secured a verbal
invitation at the last minute, and
while a director of the San Pedro
chamber Of commerce, he did not go
to represent that body. Being asked
for his personal views on the subject
and the views of the residents, he
readily gave such information as he
had on the subject. namely that
nearly 600 voters had signed a petit
ton which would be presented to the
trustees tomorrow, asking that an
election be called for the purpose of
dividing the city, to the end that san
Pedro may unite with the city of Los
Angeles and thus have municipal con-
troll of the harbor.
Senator Savage claimed that most Of
the people of San Pedro were in favor
of state control. but in the face of the
big petition which has been signed
here 1t is hard to reconcile this state
ment with facts The city of Los An
geles and the city Of Wilmington and
Capt. Fries, the government engineer,
and all the other interests represented
at the meeting were against an ap-
preparation for this harbor, to be
bought at the price of control, and the
citizens of this city are likewise
against such control being anxious to
annex themselves to Los Angeles,
which opposes such control
AS soon as President A. P. Ferl of
the local chamber of commerce returns
from a trip he is now taking to his
mines in San Bernardino county the
question will be brought Up before the
executive committee of the body and
official action taken on the subject of
state control.