Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-04

The solid three Of the board of super
Visors yesterday delivered what was
considered a defiant ultimatum 10 the
advisory committee when the regal
triumvirate elected George II. Bixby
of Long Beach to the highway commits
sion, in the face of strenuous objec-
tions on the part of the advisory COM
mittee and while the latter were still
in the room members of the committee
declared that they did not object to
Mr.. Bixby on personal grounds, but
insisted on their right to be consulted
in the matter.
The new members of the highway
commission are Martin c. Marsh, Los
Angeles; George H. Bixby, Long Beach,
and ]. w. Calvert, Azusa.
The action came after a heated ses-
sion between the board and the several
members of the good roads advisory
committee when, at the invitation of
the board, the latter sent seven repre-
sentatives to enter into a discussion of
differences and attempted an amicable
adjustment.
Seven Members Present
S. A. Butler, p. J. Beveridge, A. P.
Fleming, J. o. Koepfii A. G. BichoW-
ski. H. r. Walker and ]. S. Slauson,
were present at the momentous unonn-
cial meeting to discuss conditions with
the SUPERVISORS. Inc illSu dppOlALSh ~
keep a check on the actions of the
committee and representative of the
will of the people. who carried the
SO, SOC, 900 bond elections, with the un-
derstanding that there would be such
a check, were treated with marked
hauteur by the supervisors, and MEM
bers of the advisory committee con-
cluded that they might as well be In
Kamschatka as in the committee
har their
for usefulness was concerned.
After a heated discussion between
members of the advisory committee
and the supervisors, Philo j. Beverage
arose and suggested: THE members
of the advisory board believe that the
highway commission should be com
posed of big broad and competent
men in view of the fact that the board
considers it the most important of all.
Therefore we ask the members of the
highway commission to submit their
designations to the advisory board for
it's consideration"
Marsh Refuses to Resign
Martin c. Marsh, member of the
highway commission, instantly inter-
posed an objection and vociferated: Il
will not resign. 1 have lived in this
city thirty-fiVe years and l dery any
man TO point out any wrong deed on
my part 1 did not seek my appoint
ment. 1t came to me unsolicited.
What right has the advisory board got
to come around and seek my resigna-
tion?"
Sidney A. Butler, chairman of the
advisory committee, replied to Marsh
and said: "While I admire Mr. Marsh
as much as any man in Los Angeles,
and there never has been any element
of personal animosity in the actions OF
this committee or myself, we never
theless feel that we have grounds for
objections in that it is the principle
of overriding the advisory committee
and acting without their advice or con-
sent"
awe ourselves did not solicit our po-
sitfons. Gentlemen, we are here pc
cause you put us here, and we are
holding our positions on the advisory
committee because you asked us TO.
we feel that if you cannot treat us
with the courtesy and dignity due us
as YOUR appointees and representative
of that principle which the people de-
manded in granting the S3,500,000 bond
issue, YOU had better discharge u.s."
EIdridge Nominates Bixby
Shortly after the address of Chair
man Butler "Tus" Eldridge made his
motion to elect BiXby member OF the
highway commission. 1t is not hard to
guess how the votes stood. Eldrldge.
Nellis and McCabe voted in favor or
the Long Beach man. Manning refuseu
to vote and Prldham voted against the
action.
Shortly before the close Of the meel-
ing Supervisor Pridham made a mo-
ton to have J. w. Calvert and Martin
G. Marsh. members of the highway
commission, submit their names to
the advisory committee for approval.
asrsfN 1nn oil 40
ticked off their may" and the motion
was lost by a vote of to 2.
When seen last night at his home
Sidney A. Butler, chairman of the ad~
visory committee, stated as follows:
This is indeed serious proposition.
It seems hard for some people to real
ize that the advisory committee is as
the purpose of furthering the good
roads project as is the board of super
visors. 1t is a moral obligation of this
committee to give their advice and
voice their opinions, and these should
be given consideration. For at the
election a majority of the voters were
persuaded to acquiesce to the issuance
of the bonds only because of the ap-
pointment of committee which would
he a check on the board of supervis-
ors."
No Animosity Involved
81 do not feel any personal animos-
lty in this matter, and l bear no
grudge. l only feel, as do all of the
advisory committee, that as body the
supervisors have ignored us in the
most important part of our duties and
In the very things for which we were
appointed to advise upon"
The meeting yesterday morning was
held following the advice of District
Attorney Fredericks Three letters
were read at the opening of the ses-