Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-03
Below is the public utilities ordinance
passed by the council yesterday MORN
ing over the mayors veto:

passed by the council yesterday MORN
ing over the mayors veto:
Section I
"There is hereby created a depart
ment of the city of Los Angeles. to be
known as the department of public
utilities, which shall be under the
management and control of a board Of
commissioners to be known as the
board of public utilities.
Section 2
''The board OF public utilities shall he
composed of five commissioners, who shall
receive an annual salary of $1,000, payable
in equal monthly installments, and shall
give a bond TO the city in the of $4,000
conditioned for the faithful discharge of
the duties of his office. The term of office
of members of the board of public utilities
shall be two years. except that the term
of office of the members first appointed
shall commence on the date this ordinance
takes effect, and said five members shall
SO classify themselves by lot, that one
shall go out Of office on the last day of
June, 1910, one on the last day of June,
1911, and three the last day of June,
1912. II any vacancy occurs the council
shall hII the same by appointment for the
unexpired term. One Of the members of
said board shall be civil engineer, one
of such members shall be attorney at
law aud one shall be an accountant.
Section 8
"The board shall organize by elect
ing one of their members president,
who shall hold Office for one year,
and until his successor is elected, un-
less his membership on the board
sooner expires; provided, hoewver, that
the term of Office of the president first
elected shall expire on the last day Of
June, 1910. The board shall MAINTAIN
an office to be provided by the CITY
conucil, and which shall be open for
the convenience of the public during
the time prescribed by ordinance for
offices of the city. 1t shall hold regu-
lar stated meetings at least once in
each month. Special meetings may
be held upon a written call therefor,
signed by the president or two men,
hers of the board, and notice of any
special meeting shall be given by the
clerk in the same manner prescribed
by ordinance for special meetings of
the city council.
'sThe board shall appoint a secretary, not
a member OF the board, who shall receive
an annual salary of $4,000, payable in equal
monthly lnsta lments.
He shall keep a record Of all its
proceedings, specify therein the names
of all the commissioners present at all
meetings and giving the ayes and noes
upon all votes. He shall perform such
other duties as are herein, or may
hereafter be imposed upon him by
order of the board.
Section &
1.-THE duties of the board OF public
utilities shall be as follows:
y. To make each year thorough
Investigation into the affairs of the
persons, firms or corporations operat-
ing, maintaining water, electric I1ght,
power gas and telephone systems in
the city of Los Angeles, and compile
such data as may be necessary to de-
ternine a proper rate for each service
supplied to the public by such persons
firms or corporations as provided py
section 81, article 3, of the charter or
otherwise by law. Such data shall in
clude a valuation of the physical prop
critics of such persons, firms or cor
norations. a detailed statement OF
gross and net earnings, and of expense
and of capitalization and Indebtedness
and shall include, moreover, sueh tacts
and figures as may be obtained re-
1
American cities and the general con-
ditions. hazards and advantages at
tending such lines of business.
40 To recommend to the city coun-
cn a schedule of rates for the utility
services specified in the preceding
paragraph, based on the data de-
scribed above, said recommendation
to be made prior 70 the hrst uay Oh
March of each year.
/ ~.
plaints against the services or the
charge of any public service corpora
tions. or Of any person, firm or corpora
tion operating any public utlllty IN the
citv of Los Angeles, or furnishing any
pub1ic service to the city or It's IN
habitants including the supplying or
gas. electric light and power tele-
phones to the said city OF It's lhhaoll5
ants and the operation of street ana
interurban railroads, and to recon-
mend to the city council legislation, or
to the executive officers of the city,
action based on such complaints
whenever in the judgment of this COM
mission such legislation or such actloh
may be necessary.
II To superintend the inspection OF
all public utilities operated or MAIN
tanned bv persons, firms or corpora tons
i'm the city of Los Angeles as to their
compliance with their franchises, ana
With the ordinances of said city regu-
latinp the manner of conducting their
! business. and the service and charges
of such nersons, firms or corporations,
and their treatment of the public and
from time to time to recommend such
legislation or execute action based on
such investigation, as in their judgment
may be required.
IS. To prepare and keep up to date
q detailed and indexed record Of all
nubIic service franchises granted by
the city that are now in existence and
that NAV hereafter be granted, show
ing date, location, term and all other
essential facts, and a similar record OF
all public service franchises exercised
nv law in said city other than fran
cbises granted by said city.
"6 To make a report to the coun-
ell once a year in the month of June,
of which not less than 1000 copies shall
he printed for distribution. giving the
essential facts and figures concerning
the public utilities operated and MAIN
tanned in the city Of Los Angeles com
paring their prices and character of
service rendered with those of similar
utilities in other cities. Such report
shall contain a statement of the
transactions Of the board during the
year preceding the same together with
such information and suggestions rela-
tive to the public service corporations
as it may deem of general interest.
Section 5
"rThe board of public utilities shall
be entitled to the assistance. of the city
| attorney and the city engineer when
| l. 81, l..f rod ~