Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-23
CORPORATIONS
CERa/ NEa AN al
O[Ek ULLAI IN
TIDELAND CASE
DEMURRERS 0VERRULED BY
JUDGE BORDWELL
OPPOSITION TO FREE HARsoR
SEEN IN TRUE LIGHT
Claim That Los Angeles Was "lnter-
fering" and Retardine Project
FaIse-People Win lm-
portant Point

That the Southern Pacific interests
and other opponents of consolidation
are themselves endeavoring to delay
trial of the tideland suits was eVloeHt
when the cases were called D. JuuSe
Bordwell of the superior court yes'ei-
day. i.
THE railroad and other interests in
volyed have maintained that Los An
geles was endeavoring to interfere WIN
the harbor and that filing the tldelahus
suits meant endless delays. In spiCe
of that assertion, the attorneys LOT
fhe defendants in these suits argued IN
every possible way for delay, and lntl-
mated that more time would De aSkeu
when future opportunity offers, while,
on the contrary, the attorneys for the
plaintiffs endeavored to bring a uecls-
ion as quickly as possible.
Judge Bordwell overruled the demur-
rers of the defendants and gave them
thirty days in which to file their an
swers A decision in the suits will not
be reached before the vacation period,
but Judge Bordwell said he would give
them a place on the calendar for trial
early in the fall. 1t is expected to
reach them some time in October.
Corporations Delay Cases
It was quite evident Yesterday that
the opponents of a public harbor, and
not the city or the harbor commission,
are endeavoring to cause the "endless
delay complained of by the inter
ests" at San Pedro and wilmington.
When the defense lost on all the points
they advanced they asked at least sixty
days in which to prepare their an
swers. James A. Gibson, speaking for
defendants counsel, said the chances
were that that should not be ready at
the expiration of that time and that
they would probably ask for a still
longer period. James A. Anderson and
A p. Fleming, counsel for the plain
tiffs, objected to longer period than
thirty days, which was the time grant
ed by Judge Bordwell with the state
ment that he might extend 1t to forty
days.
Ask More Time
"The people will not suffer by de-
law" said Mr.. Gibson. THE defend
ants who are going ahead with i'm
provements at the harbor are the only
ones who will suffer. and we see no
occasion to hurry the matter. 1t will
take time for us to advise ourselves
fully as to the rights of our clients.
Judge Mckinley will be in San Bernar-
dino for some weeks, and before his
return I shall be called away on q
case which will take considerable time.
It is not improbable that we shall ask
for more time in which to prepare our
answers"
1.-THE cases have been pending for
more than six months already" re-
turned Mr.. Anderson, land the attor-
neys for plaintiffs have had ample
time to become familiar with the in
terests of their clients. Why not file
a general denial now and proceed with
leave to amend later? The interests
of my clients demand prompt action.
1T is not figured that one answer will
be ample for all twelve cases, but there
has already been ample time for the
attorneys for the defendants to know
the merits of the case"
Judge Bordwell said that in any
event the case could hardly be reached
until after the summer vacation period,
but that its Importance would justify
setting it at as early a date as pos
sible