Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-03

Below Is the ordinance proposed py
the Municipal league, and for wnIeh
the initiative was invoked to place It
on the ballot:
Section I
There is hereby created a depart
mcnt of the city of Los Angeles, 10 De
known as the department OF pubic
utilities. which shall be under the
management and control of board OF
commissioners to be known as the
board of public utilities.
Section 2
The board of public utilities shall De
composed of three commissioners. VINO shah
be appointed by the mayor, subject 70 c0h- con,
nrmatlon by n majority of the council Inc
term of office of members of the board OF
public utilities shall be three years, except
that the term of office of the members ~ ~hls1
appointed hereunder shall commence upon
the date this ordinance taxes erect, shu
said three members shall so classify them
selves By lot thai one shall go out OF
Office the last day of June. lSlV' one
on the last day of June, loll, ana one
on the last day of June, 1912. III any va
rancy occurs, the mayor shall fill the same
by appointment for the uneHpired term
Section 8
THE board shall organize by elect
ing one of their members president
who shall hold his office for one year,
and until his successor is elected, unless
his membership on the board sooner
expires; provided, however. that the
term of office of the president first
elected shall expire on the last day ot
June. 1910 The board shall maintain
an office to be provided by the city
council, and shall keep the same open
for the convenience of the public dur
To- St9Y1a szaRD "a NJ
by ordinance. The board shall appoint
a clerk not a member of said board. 1t
shall hold regular stated meetings at
least once in each month. Special meet
ings may be held upon written call
therefor, signed by the president, or by
two members of the board, and notice
of any special meeting shall be giVer
by the clerk thereof in the same man
ner prescribed by ordinance for special
meetings Of the city council
Section 4
"The duties of the board OF public
utilities shall be as follows:
II To make each year n thorough in
yestigatIon into the affairs of all persons,
firms or corporations operating or main
tanning water, electric lighting power, gas
or telephone systems (Or street railways,
OF interurban r3ilrOads), or other public
service utilities In the city of Los Ange IS,
sary to determine the proper charges for
the service furnished supplied by such
persons, firms or corporations, ms PROVIDED
in the charter of said city, or otherwise
by law.
such data shall include a valuation
of the physical properties of such per-
sons, firms or corporations, detailed
statement of gross and net earnings,
| and of expenses, and Of capitalization
and indebtedness thereof, and such
other matters as the board may deem
proper, and shall also include such
! facts and figures as may be obtainable
! regarding the operation and main
tenance of similar systems and utili-
ties in other municipalities.
"2-To recommend to the city coun-
ell, prior to the first day of March OF
each year, a schedule of charges for the
| services specified in subdivision l OF
this section.
"S-To investigate any and all COM
| plants against the service or che
! charges of any person, firm or corpora
! tion operating any public service utll-
| ity in the city of Los Angeles, or fur
nishing any public service to the city
or it's inhabitants. including the sup
plying of water, electric lighting, power,
gas and telephone service to said city
or its inhabitants, and the operation OF
street railways and interurban rail-
I ROADS ana TO recommend lSBlSldIlOn u
! the city council or action to executive
officers of the city. whenever in the
/ judgment of said board such legislation
or such action may be necessary.
| "4-To superintend the inspection OF
all public utilities and services ope-
rated, maintained or furnished by per-
sons, firms or corporations in the city
of Los Angeles, as TO their compliance
with their franchises, and with law and
the ordinances of said city regulating
| the manner of conducting their busi-
| ness, and the service and charges OF
| such persons, firms or corporations, and
their treatment Of the public, and from
time to time to recommend such legis-
| lation or executive action based on
! such investigation, as in their judgment
may be required,
! "5-To prepare and keep a detailed
and indexed record of all public service
franchises granted by the city that are
now in existence, or that may hereafter
| be granted, showing the date, location
term thereof, and all other essential
facts, and similar record, so far as
practicable, of all other public fran
| chises exercised in the city of Los An
geles.
! "6-To make a report to the council
| in the month of June Of each year OF
which not less than 1000 copies shall be
.s..+s.... \ 4 = - +
!
ployment of such other engineers and
su, persons qualified to render profes-
/ sional. scientific, technical or expert
services as the board may deem neces-
sary, and to fix the compensation of
such persons so employed, not in eX-
| cess of fund allowed.
Section 6
at shall be the duty of any person,
! firm or corporation operating a system
| for supplying water, gas or electric
| light OF power or telephone service to
the city of Los Angeles or it's inhabi-
| tants to permit the members of the
board of public utilities and any person
employed by such board as provided in
| section hereof to inspect the property
| of such system and pertaining to the
| services thereby rendered. and to eX-
anime the books showing the affairs,
property and financial condition of the
person, firm or corporation operating
! the same.
Section
"a fund to be designated as the pub
! lie utilities fund is hereby created, and
! there is hereby apportioned to said
| fund out of the money in the city
! treasury for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1910, the sum of EIGHT THOU
| SAND DOLLARS, and annually there
after there shall be apportioned for
| said fund out of the revenues of said
| city not otherwise appropriated the
! sum of EIGHT THOUSAND DOL
! LARS; said fund shall be devoted to
! the payment of the salaries Of the
| members of the board of public utili-