Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-27
HARBOR BOARD
PROVIDED FOR
: BY CITY SOLONS
THREE MEMBERS AND SCRIBE
GIVEN PLACES
FRANCHISES AND RATES WILL BE
UP TO COMMISSION
Designation of Men Who VIII Control
Destiny of San Pedro for Four
Years Is Up to the
Mayor

AN ORDINANCE providing for a
n new harbor commission Of three
n members and a secretary who
will receive $4,000 a year was passed
by the council yesterday. This COM
mission is to replace the present board
that did so much for San Pedro har-
Dor and is to exercise control over the
harbor under ordinances to be passed
by the council in the future.
Briefly this commission is authorized
to recommend a schedule of rates for
dockage and wharfage; investigate all
complaints relative to the service at
the harbor; investigate every applica-
ton for franchises and leases on the
water front; determine what police
patrol and fire protection is necessary
for the protection of shipping; exam
inc into the establishment of a NUM-
cipal ferry in the harbor; superintend
the inspection of all public wharves;
exercise general control over the en-
forcement of ordinances governing the
harbor; and compile information on
the construction of docks, wharves,
warehouses, etc, and manage them
after construction.
The passage of this ordinance
brought struggle in the council that
produced one of the most peculiar
alignments of councilmen that this
administration has witnessed.
Salary Reduction Cancelled
A provision that the $4,000 secretary
should be an attorney licensed to prac-
tice in the supreme court of the state,
which was in the ordinance when 1T
was first presented, was stricken out.
An effort was made to reduce the $4,000
salary to $2400, but this failed to carry
by a vote of four ayes to five noes.
The matter of the reduction of salary
lined up Wallace, Blanchard, Healy,
Lyon and Yonkin on one side and
Dromgold. Wren, Clampitt and Pease
on the other.
Two ordinances on the same matter
had been put before the council for its
consideration. The first ordinance was
presented by the city attorney several
weeks ago and provided for harbor
commission of three members, one to
be elected president, and the president
was to receive salary of $4,000 year.
A secretary, whose salary was fixed
at SIS month, vas also provided.
For some mysterious reason the
council could not get together on this
ordinance, and it was referred to the
finance committee. There it developed
the finance committee, which is com
posed of Wallace, Dromgold and
Blanchard, was not a unit, and the
city attorney was asked to draw an
other ordinance. The second ordinance
provided for a commission of three
none of whom was to re-
ceive a salary, and secretary who
should be an attorney, to receive a
salary of $4,000 a year.
Ordinance Reported
Yesterday two members of the
finance committee reported the ordin-
ance for the $4,000 secretary and Drom-
gold presented a minority report in
favor of the ordinance with the $4,000
president The two ordinances are
Identical in every other respect, defin-
ing the duties of the narbor commits
sion in precisely the same terms
These duties, in a general way, are to
encourage and supervise the develop
ment of the harbor. The commission
ers are to be appointed by the mayor
and confirmed by the council and are
to hold office for four years.
In presenting his minority report Mr..
Dromgold said he did not propose to
be bellicose about the matter of wheth-
er the president or the secretary re-
ceived the high salary. but he wanted
the condition that the secretary be
an attorney eliminated from the or
dinance and also wanted the salary
of the secretary reduced to 5000
month, if that official was to be paid
the high wage.
Healy promptly took up the matter
as Dromgold presented 1t and insisted
that the provision that the secretary
be an attorney be stricken out. He
approved the salary of $4,000 a year, for
Healy is a firm believer in high sal
aries for everyone. He said that If 1t
had been proposed that City Attorney
Hewitt take the position he would ask
that the salary be made $4,000 year.
cIampitt Has Peeve
Lyon suggested as an amendment to
the ordinance that Hewitt be put in
sole control of the harbor at salary
of $4,000 a year, and his suggestion
was warmly received by the other
members of the council. But 1t was
taken as it was meant-more of com
than as a formal motion that the idea
be carried into effect.
Clampitt had his usual peeve against
of any kind. He wanted
to know if the council wasn't able 10
take care of the harbor without the
advice of a commission.
1--WE might as we'll cut out the office
of councilman alIOBeIHer, ne Seiu'
land appoint few commissions to
run this city"
"I move Mr.. Clampitt's suggestion
be referred to the Municipal league,
said Healy promptly, with flash Of
wit that set his colleagues roaring, for
4ealy's antipathy to the Municipal
league is only equaled by his hatred
Of neclSties.
The discussion was followed by n
vote on the matter of eliminating the
provision that the secretary should be
an attorney. On this question Blan-
ehard, Wallace, Yonkin and Pease
voted mo" and Healy, Lyon, Wren,
Clampitt and Dromgold AYE" When
this motion had carried, second to
reduce the salary from $4,000 to $4,000
was put and lost by Blanchard, Healy,
Lyon, YonlSin and Wallace voting
against 1t and Wren, Clampitt, Drom-
gold and Pease in favor. On the pas
sage of the ordinance Dromgold and
Pease aligned themselves with the ma
Iority and left only Wren and Clampitt
voting against it.