Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-07
CHARTER AMENDMENTS

hH The charter amendments
N adopted Los Angeles has pro-
Vlded both for material and eth
zeal growth. This is to be a city of
more prosperity and higher standards
of life. Some of the city's most impor-
tent material interests and rights are
safeguarded by the amendments.
Amendment No. guarantees to the
city the control of Owens river water
power and other public facilities and
utilities. and the conservation of Los
Angeles river bed for city purposes.
On this point the amendment says the
city shall not convey lease or other,
wise dispose of its rights in the water
of the river Los Angeles or any part
thereof, or grant or lease to any corpo-
ration or person any right to use. man.
age or control the said waters or any
part thereof, for any purpose, public or
private. No other water or water
rights now or hereafter owned by the
city shall be conveyed, leased or other
wise disposed of without the assent of
two-thirds of the qualified electors of
the city" This measure of self-pro-
lection will limit markedly the oppor-
tunities of the thrifty interests and
their politicians for enrichment at the
public expense.
Amendment No. Z is also of vital i'm
portance to Greater Los Angeles. II
relates to consolidation and a borough
system, and safeguards harbor rights
and interests, providing, further, that
"the city of Los Angeles shall have
exclusive jurisdiction over two streets
or highways in each borough, which in
themselves or in continuation of or III
connection with other streets or high
ways extend from the present bounda-
ries Of the city Of Los Angeles to the
water front, and to established govern
ment harbor lines, if such harbor lines
shall have been established; and of
two cross streets within such borough
which lead to any docks, wharves, piers
or navigable waters in such boroughs." {"
These streets will be called "harbor
highways" and will be completely un-
der city control Provision is also made
by which corporations are prevented
from gobbling up or monopolizing the
water front. The expenses connected
with city control Of the harbor will be
net by bond issues, the provision re-
garding which we quote in full:
For the purpose of opening, improv-
ing, constructing. or maintaining
streets, highways or other means of
public transportation, and acquiring
the necessary land therefor by pur-
chase or condemnation, and for the
further purpose of constructing and
maintaining canals and waterways be-
tween such navigable waters and any
such streets, highways or means of
transportation, and acquiring the nee
essary land therefor by purchase or
condemnation, and for the further pur-
pose Of constructing docks, wharves
and warehouses within or without the
city boundary, to be owned and ope-
rated by the city, and acquiring the
necessary land therefor by purchase or
condemnation, the city of Los Angeles
shall be authorized to incur an indebt-
edness in addition to any amount now
authorized by law, and to issue bonds
therefor to be designated as harbor
improvement bonds.''
Along with provisions for the safe
guarding of large material interests,
Los Angeles has also adopted provis-
ions which have to deal directly with
government, and will eTnancipate this
city from the domination of corpora
tions and bosses, ring rulers and politi-
cal tricksters. For government by ma
chine will be substituted popular repre-
sentative government Although we
have spoken first of material interests,
we are aware that the attention of the
nation will be attracted and its ad-
miring comment evoked chiefly by the
adoption of the reform measures which
will enable the people of Los Angeles
to rule their own city without political
dictation and to nominate their own
candidates for office without machine
political Intervention. BY the adoption
of the amendments providing for pri-
mary nominating elections and the cleo
ton at large of city officials, the voters
of Los Angeles have placed their city
on metropolitan basis, the immediate
result of which is bound to be an i'm
provement in what we may call civic
tone, followed by demonstration of
the influence of the moral over the
material or physical by a marked in
crease in the prosperity of this city
We make this forecast with the utmost
confidence. We look for an immediate
appreciation of values, an immediate
improvement in business. BY settling
in a most decisive way it's course for
the future, and by choosing to become
a true metropolis in every sense of the
term, Los Angeles is established firmly
and permanently in a remarkable and
enviable position of advantage. We
live in ore of the greatest and in one Of
the BEST cities of the United States.
DEMOCRACY