Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-01

DECAUSE Of the long, involved sem
tences made necessary by legal
technicalities in the charter
amendments and the fact that they
take up twelve columns in agate type
IN the official paper, busy citizens OF
Los Angeles have not had the time
nor the inclination to read them. Many
do not even know what some of the
amendments are that are to be voted
on at the special election February q
Several Of them have been discussed
py various civic organizations, but
others have not been touched on.
A few subdivisions of the amend
ments have no real significance in
changing the form of the city govern
ment or any matters pertaining to it,
put are legal machinery necessary for
the city attorneys office and conform
to other subdivisions of the amend
ments which are vital
The amendments boiled down. to their
most easily digestible form are as fol-
lows:
Amendment No. /
7a-Gives the city power to own and
operate municipal gas, electric light
and water plants, railroads and other
methods Of transportation and to incur
a bonded Indebtedness for any Of these
purposes.
7a-Gives the city power to sell or
lease surplus water or electric power
to other municipal corporations or In
dividuals or firms outside the city
limits.
TITO build and operate interurban
railroads from Los Angeles to any
point on the ocean for the transporta-
ton Of passengers or freight.
7c-To build and operate public
wharves on the seashore in connection
with the municipal transportation lines.
26-Prohibits the disposal of any mu-
nicipal. gas, electric or water plant or
railroad without the consent of two-
thirds of the voters at an election held
for the purpose or leasing to any pri-
vate corporation for resale without the
same percentage of votes.
27-Prohibits the sale of the Los An
geles river bed at any time, but pro-
vides that it shall always be kept in
trust for the people for municipal pur>
poses. 1t prohibits so much as grant
ing a franchise in the river bed.
Sec. 191-Prohibits the city from dis
posing of its water rights in the Los
Angeles river or in any other munich
pal water supply which may hereafter
be acquired.
Sec. 3-Names the officers Of the mu-
nicipality. This is exactly the same as
the present provision of the charter on
this subject except that where nine
councilmen are referred to the charter
amendment omits designating they
shall be elected by wards. This sec
tion of the amendment is the one pro-
viding for the election of councilmen
at large.
Sec. 4-Provides which officials shall
be elected by the people. This also
leaves off the ward feature in the elec-
ton Of councilmen.
Sec. ia mere technical amend
ment, conforming with the election Of
councilmen at large. 1t provides the
council shall be the governing body Of
the city, as 1t is now.
Sec. 200-Provides the city council
shall order the holding Of all elections
by ordinance. Only special elections
are now held by ordinance.
Sec. 203-Provides that candidates
for the office Of councilman must have
been resident of the city for two
years preceding the election. The
charter now specifies a certain length
of residence in the ward from which
he is elected. This is eliminated.
Amendment No. 8
Sec. 146A-Provides the board Of
public works shall have entire control