Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-25
CAMPAIGN FOR
UNION STARTED
IN FULL SWING
SAN PEDRO CITIZENS HOLD
ROUSING MEETING
COMMITTEE OF THIRTY-FIvE TO
BE APPOINTED
Board of Trade Will Be Organized
Having as Its Special Object
Promotion of Consolida-
ton Movement

citizens and taxpayers which filleo
Sailor Union hau at San Pedro, anc
was attended by more than 200 prop
erty owners.
The call for the meeting had beer
issued by the old consolidation com
mittee, and invitations extended py
personal card to several hundred vot-
ers who had manifested an interest IN
union with Los Angeles by signing
the petition for the exclusion election
or the kilograms which went to Sacra-
mento in the successful fight for the
consolidation law which made the ex-
clusion election unnecessary.
So much interest was manifested m
the meeting that Stieglitz hall, which
had been designated as the meeting
place. was found to be too small and
Sailor Union hall, in the same building,
substituted.
John L. CAREY, a heavy property
holder here, called the meeting to Or
der. DIR. William A. Weldon was
elected chairman and e. d. Seward
secretary.
Mr.. Gaffey gave a brief history OF
the consolidation movement, stating
that he was in favor of consolidation
with Los Angeles, but that there were
two parties to the contract He ex-
planned the condition of the present
water frontage of the city and the
acreage still controlled in the outer
harbor He said:
1--WE are willing to turn over all TINS
to Los Angeles, but it is the part OF
wisdom to ascertain first what she Will
do with it."
He introduced the following resolu-
ton. which was unanimously adopted /:
whereas, There is now legal ana
expeditions method provided whereby
the city of San Pedro can consolidate
with the city of Los Angeles; and,
! "Whereas, A committee is being APP
pointed by the people of Los Angeles
to meet like committee from this city
to discuss the terms on which CONSOLE
dation shall be effected;
"Now, therefore, be it resolved that
a committee of thirty-five be selected
by the chairman of this meeting. and
that from that committee a working
committee of five or more be selected
to meet with the Los Angeles commit
tee to discuss the question of CONSOLE
dation, and that after plan or con-
solidation has been FORMULATED said
committee shall report back to a mass
meeting of the citizens of this city for
ratification of the same"
The chairman, DIR. Weldon, stated
that the committee would be appoint
ed within a few days.
An invitation was extended to all
present to speak on the question OF
consolidation, and many important
points were brought out.
Frank Treichel thought the commit
tee ought to work for terminal rates.
DIR. Weldon assured him that the sem
timent of Los Angeles was with San
Pedro in this regard
Y. w. Craig also talked ably and at
length on the terminal rate question,
and was followed by Peter Peterson,
who spoke on the excessive ferry
charges. Mr.. Treichel also dwelled on
the inaccessibility of the steamer land
ings to the business portion of the
city.
Alex Muhlberg thought many good
things would come after consolidation
was effected, such as warehouses,
bridges, the completion of the city
hall, reduced taxes and water rates.
For Board of Trade
As the possibilities of improvement
along all lines were so great the meet
ing decided to organize a San Pedro
board of trade, membership in which
should be open to all property hold
ers except the agents for utility cor
porations. The need of this organiza-
ton was manifest, as 1t was stated
that the San Pedro chamber of COM
merce could not handle such vital sub
jects as consolidation.
A platform for the new organization
was prepared and signed by 120 prop
erty owners present. The roll will be
kept open, and the plan is to get an
organization composed of 500 taxpay-
ers who can deal with all subjects of
interest to the citizens.
While the roll was being signed many
citizens awaited themselves of the priv
ilege extended to speak on consolida-
Al. AL, cub Of inf 10
San Pedro.
Lewis Hansen, one of the leaders of
the consolidation fight, spoke on the
availability of the outer harbor for
immediate Improvement for deep draft
shipping. the advantages of water COM
petition and the scope of consolidation.
o. c. Abbott declared consolidation
was clearly for the greatest good to the
greatest number.
Rev. ]. C. Livingston believed that
lasting benefits would result from the
union.
e. d. Seward reviewed the struggle
for a Just consolidation law, and spoke
of the advantage to be derived from
the immediate Improvement of the
outer harbor,- instead of waiting for
the inner harbor development.
L. w. Pierson spoke in favor of the
movement and it's benefits.
A resolution was introduced, as ex-
pressing the sentiment of the people of
San Pedro, indarsing the action of Con-
gresham McEachlan and Senator
Flint in introducing bill in congress
providing for the establishment OF a
government line of vessels to ply be-
tween Pacific coast ports and the
Isthmus of Panama. The resolution
was unanimously adopted.
After other citizens had spoken ON
the benefits of consolidation and other
subjects of interest to the city, j. A..
Anderson moved that a vote of thanks
be extended to the Los Angeles press
for it's able fight on behalf of the con-
solidation bill.
The secretary was instructed to con-
vey this to the Los Angeles Times,
Examiner Herald, Express, Record
and Los Angeles News.
A vote of thanks was also given to
Joseph H. Call of the Municipal Water
ways association for his work in con-
nection with the consolidation move
ment. and 1t was decided that he should
be elected member at large of the
committee Of thirty-five to be appoint
ed by DR.. Weldon.