Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-29
PROPOSE ROADS
TOGOVfRN PORT
TWO ORDINANCES OFFERED
TO COUNCIL
HARBoR BUREAU AND NEW BODY
FOR CONTROL INVOLVED
City Attorney Submits Drafts of Laws
Looking for Government and
Advancement of Los Ans
geles Seaport

i
One of these measures was recon-
mended by the board of public works
and provides for the establishment of
a harbor bureau to be attached to the
department of public works. This
bureau is for engineering purposes
only, and the ordinance provides that
its employees shall be one chief engi-
neer, who shall be the city engineer;
one assistant engineer, who shall re-
ceive salary of $3.50 a month, and a
superintendent of dredging, who shall
receive So a day for such time as he
is actually employed. 1t also provides
that other engineers may be employed
when required.
This ordinance means that enough
money must be appropriated by the
city council to pay the salaries for
the persons to be employed, and this
is a matter requiring grave consider
alton. Councilman Dromgold made a
vigorous effort to have the council
pass the measure yesterday afternoon,
but was out-voted.
The second ordinance was submitted
by the city attorney yesterday at the
suggestion of the council. 1t provides
for certain changes in the harbor
commission in conformity with the
changes made necessary by consolida-
ton. The ordinance practically pro-
yides for a new harbor commission.
1t is as follows:
Section l. There is hereby created a board
of the city of Los Angeles to be designated
as the board of harbor commissioners the
powers and duties of which board shall be
as hereafter provided.
Sec. 2. The board of harbor commissioners
shall consist of three MEMBERS to be appoint
ed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by
a majority of the city council. Members Of
the said board except the president thereof
shall serve without salary. No person shall
be appointed a member of the board Of har-
Dor commissioners who shall not have been
an elector of the city of Los Angeles for at
least five years preceding his appointment
The term of office Of the members Of the
board of harbor commissioners shall be four
years; Provided, however that the three
members of said board first appointed shall
be appointed for the term of two, three and
four years, respectively, and in such ap-
pointment the mayor shall designate the
term for which each of said members is so
appointed. If any vacancy occurs the mayor
SHALL subject to confirmation of the council,
fill the same by appointment, for the unex-
pired term.
Salary of President
Sec. s. The said board shall organize by
eecting one of their members president who
shall hold his office for year, or until
his successor is elected, unless his member
ship on the board sooner expires. The presl-
dent of the board shall receive a salary of
$4,000 per annum, payable in equal monthly
installments Said board shall appoint
clerk, who is not member of the board, at
a salary of S75 per month. The president of
the board shall be the executive officer there
of and shall perform such duties, in addition
to those hereinafter provided, as the board
may require of him, and he shall devote his
entire time to the duties of his office. The
clerk of the board shall act as the secretary
thereof and shall keep a record OF the pro-
eeedings of the board, and shall perform such
other duties as the board may prescribe. The
board shall maintain an office, to be provided
by the city council, and keep the same open
for the convenience of the public during such
nc he prescTibed by the ordinance,
The board shall hold regular stated meeting
once IN each week.
Board Controls Wharfage
Sec. l. The board Of harbor commissioners
shall have charge, superintendence and con-
troll, under such ordinances as may from time
to time be adopted by the city council OF
anchorage, wharfage, dockage and pilotage in
the harbor of Los Angeles; and 1t shall be
the duty of said board as soon as practicable
after the organization thereof, to submit IN
writing to the city council its recommenda-
tions relative to said matters, and from time
to time thereafter TO make such reports to
the city council concerning the same as in
its Judgment may be proper for the informa-
tion of the council in order to enable the
council, by ordinance, to make such amend
ments or changes thereof as may be proper
or necessary.
The board of harbor commissioners shall.
soon az practicable after the organization
thereof, make a thorough investigation into
the charges for anchorage, wharfage, dockage,
TO report to the council the result Of such
investigation, and shall include therein such
facts and figures and other data as may be
obtainable regarding similar services In other
ports and harbors of the United States, and
the general conditions attending the same.
Said board shall also recommend to the coun-
ell schedules of rates for said services based
on the data hereinbefore referred TO- sald
recommendations to be made on or before the
first day of June, 1910 and annually there
after on or before the first day of June of
hall ole a Lra TFt
additional reports relative to said matters as
it may deem proper, or as the city council
NAV require together with its recommended
tions thereon.
To Make Annual Probe
The said board of harbor commissioners
shall make annually a thorough investiga-
tion into the affairs Of all persons, firms or
corporations engaged in the business Of oper-
ating or maintaining public wharves in the
harbor Of the city Of Los Angeles and col
lecting tolls for wharfage thereon in so far as
such affairs pertain to the same, and snail
compile such data as may be necessary to
enable the city council to fix proper amount
OF license to be charged by the city council
for each person, firm or corporation so en-
gagged in operating or maintaining such
wharf Said board shall submit to the city
council, before the first day OF june
1910 and annually thereafter on or before the
first day of June, a report containing a state
ment of such investigation and of the result
thereof and its recommendations relative 10
the amount of such license TO be nNed ana
charged by the city of Los Angeles therefor.
Said board of harbor commissioners shall
also in such reports last above mentioned sub
nit to the council its findings relative to the
fair cash value of all wharves operated or
maintained in said harbor. and on the cost
of repair and maintenance thereof, exclusive
of the amount of such license tax as the city
council may by ordinance. fix for the priv
uege of taking tolls thereon, and to recon-
mend to the council a schedule of rates of
tolls for dockage and wharfage for any and
All wharves SO operated and maintained in
said harbor.
Provides for Complaints
II shall be the duty of the board of harbor
commissioners to investigate all complaints
relative TO the service or charges for anchor
age. wharfage, dockage, steyedoring or pilot
age in said narbor or concerning the opera
to the council such legislation, or to the eN-
ecutlve officer of the city such action based
on such complaints whenever In the Judgment
of said board such legislation or such action
/ is necessary.
Sec 5. Every application for a franchise to
construct opertae or maintain a wharf in the
harbor of the city of Los Angeles, and every
application for renewal of such franchises,
made to the city council shall, before any ac-
| tion is taken thereon, be referred to the board
of harbor commissioners for its recommends
| tlons relative thereto. Said board shall pro-
| oeed to inquire into such application, and as
| soon as practicable after such application shall
| have been referred thereto said board shall re-
| port to the council its recommendations there
| on. IT, ia the Judgment of said board such
/ application should not be granted, or the
| franchise applied for therein should not be
| advertised for sale, said board shall so report
| to the council, stating its reasons theretor'