Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-23

consolidation of these two cities Will
benefit us more than we can estimate.
1 am for it at all times"
]. D. Blanchard of the Imperial Ice
company declared: Il think consolida-
ton is the only thing for US. 1t will
make US a better and greater COM
munity"
Fred H. Taft of the law firm of
Tanner, Taft and Odell replied: you
know how 1 stand. l am for CONSOLE
dation until we win. 1t is absurd to
have a couple Of little towns when we
can have a big city and command the
respect we should in financial and
commercial circles"
II am in favor of it," said c. D.
Pettis, one of the leading hardware
merchants of Santa Monica, but I am
afraid that we can't win out"
II believe if the movement could be
effected in way equitable to all par
ties it would be the proper thing" said
c. w. Pinkerton, manager Santa Mon
lea branch of Montgomery and Muloin
Lumber company.
Would Increase Business
Charles H. Toll. vice president Sc
curity Savings bank of Los Angeles,
also large property owner in Ocean
Park, said:
Those who regard the conditions
now affecting Santa Monica and Ocean
Park from disinterested standpoints
easily reach the conclusion that a con-
solidation of the two places must I'LL
timately, if not Immediately, produce
beneficial results from a financial
standpoint. Municipalities are not I'M
like business institutions, and the
maintenance of two of either variety
as separate entities, while their inter-
ests intermingle, is done with the
usual attendance of friction of units
and financial waste.
The business world recognizes this
and the result is concentration and
combination on lines of economy. Mu-
inequalities do not act with the same
power of initiative owing to the ad-
verse political influence and the per-
sonal interests which combine to
raise "bugaboo'' questions, such as in
creased taxes, loss or prestige, etc.
80 fully is this principle of econ
omy in unifcation of units established
in the business world that | am firmly
| convinced that outside financial inter
ests would respond to the needs of
! borrowers in the combined bay city
much more generously than as under
present conditions"
Taxation Would Decrease
A. f. Webster, president of the
chamber Of commerce and chairman of
the consolidation committee. declared:
II am for consolidation because |
believe it to be right and just and the
best thing for the entire bay section.
1 believe that under one larger city we
will have less taxation, a greater and
better standing with the outside world.
II am satisfied the banks and money
loaners of Los Angeles would look upon
us with greater favor and more con-
fidence and would place loans among
us if the security was sufficient; but
nuder the present conditions we are
simply ignored by the banks of Los
Angeles. l have talked with the heads
of a number Of the large banking in
situations of Los Angeles during the
past thirty days, and invariably they
advise consolidation if they wish to
accomplish anything.
II find that all newcomers to our
section and men who look on from
the outsiders viewpoints are unani-
nous in their opinion that consolida-
ton should be brought about / am
satisfied that both cities can be run
much more economically under one