Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-20
CONSOLIDATION
ACT DENOUNCED
SECRETARY FLEMING SAYS
LAW DISCRIMINATES
Los Angeles Members of Legislature
Pledged to Use Every Effort to
Secure Amendment to
Correct Defect

A. P. Fleming, secretary and attorney
for the Los Angeles harbor commits
sion, has prepared in reply to an in
quiry from b. F. Duskin of Claremont
a statement regarding the consolida-
ton situation which will answer the
inquiries made by other persons rela-
tive to consolidation and the proposed
borough system.
Few persons appear to have intelli-
gent idea of the law as it stands and
as to desirable amendments, and au-
thoritieS on the harbor are frequently
questioned about it.
"At the present time there is a very
unjust and unfair discrimination in the
law governing cities, which relates to
the union of one city to another said
Mr.. Fleming in his letter. Under the
present law controlling cities organized
and governed by the general laws of the
state, two or more can unite and be-
come one city under one government;
but city governed by freeholders
charter cannot unite with another city
governed by a freeholders' charter OF
with a city organized under the gen.
eral law. This you will see is mani
testify unfair and no fair-minded men,
Der of the legislature, we think, will
hesitate to remedy the defect.
Injustice Is Recognized
1.-THE members of the legislature
elected from Los Angeles county, rec
ognizing this injustice, have pledged
themselves to use every effort to COR
rect 1t.
Los Angeles, through her harbor
commission and her city council, has
expressed herself in favor of an amend
ment to the law, so as to permit two
or more cities of any class to CONSOLE
date when a majority of the voters in
each of the cities seeking consolidation
express a desire so to do and should
either one of them fail to have a ma
jority for consolidation, no consolida-
ton could take place. Thus each mu-
nicipality could say for itself what II
wanted to do. This will be recognized
as truly American; for 1T is known the
people can be trusted and the growth
and prosperity of this country indicates
that when a majority of the voters ex-
press themselves N favor of or against
any proposition they have reached a
just verdict; and by an amendment to
our charter it will be provided where
any territory comes into the city that
has heretofore been municipality
when two-fifths of the voters of that
territory petition the city council OF
the consolidated city to call an election
in that territory they shall do so, that
they may determine whether or not
they shall become a borough and exist
as such, under borough form of gov
eminent, as provided in the charter
within the boundaries of the CONSOLE
dated city.
"These boroughs shall have the right
and power conferred on cities of the
sixth class by the general law, save
and except the greater municipality OF
consolidated city shall have exclusive
jurisdiction over two streets leading ia
the water front, which shall be desig-
mated as harbor highways.
"The boroughs shall have jurisdic-
ton over a certain amount of water
front and retain jurisdiction oyer all
municipal improvements that have beer
made prior to their coming into the
greater city. This would give the ad-
vantage of local control to the beach
towns and be a further advantage OF
union with the great city of Los An
geles and thereby create a great mu-
nicipality which would have the power
and ample means to develop San Pedro
in a manner commensurate with its
material advantages. The harbor would
then be for the use and benefit of the
public and would be potent agency
in the regulation of freight charges"