Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-18
CITY CHARTER
AMENDMENTS
ARE ADOPTED
STATE ASSEMBLY APPROVES
MUNICIPAL CHANGES
POSTAL DIRECT PRIMARY BILL
CAUSES LONG DEBATE
Appropriation of 100000 to Widen
IsIais Creek at San Francisco
Harbor Also Is
Passed
Especial to The Herald.1

q OACRAMENTO, Feb 17.-Amend-
ments to the city charter Of Los
~ Angeles adopted at the recent spe-
cial election were approved in the as
senbly today.
II The amendments were sent to the
capitol by special messenger, immedi-
ately following the election, in order to
give the legislators time enough to act
on them.
There are ten amendments in all, but
they cover a wide range of city gov
ernment and embody several radical
advances in municipal management.
The other cities Of the state will
watch with interest experiments which
Los Angeles is undertaking, and espe-
cially in regard to a change from the
ward system to that of selecting coun-
cilmen from the city at large.
The direct primary system of nomi-
nations has also aroused a great deal
of interest.
Lawyers who have taken occasion to
read the amendments have expressed
admiration at the clauses adopted to
safeguard the holdings of the munich
pality in the riverbed and the water
project.
The harbor provisions were drawn
with a special regard for the future Of
a large city.
IsIais Bill Passed
Debates on the bill by Senator Rich
ard j. Welsh of San Francisco, appro-
priating 81, 100000 for the Improvement
of Islais creek as an addition to the
harbor of San Francisco, and on the
measure of Senator ROseberry, provid-
ing for the postal direct primary, oc-
cupied the major portion of the SEN
9te's time today.
The Islais bill was passed with little
opposition. It's principal proponents,
Edward l. Wolfe and Senator Welsh
talked long and earnestly in favor of
its adoption, while Miguel Estudillo of
Riverside, D. j. Reilly and Gus Hart
man of San Francisco as vigorously op-
posed it on the ground that San Fran
cisco did not need the additional har-
Dor room, and the persons who owned
the property sought to be condemned
should not be compelled to give it up
against their will
The measure was passed by a vote of
35 to 2, those casting their ballots
against it being Senators Hartman and
Reilly, both of San Francisco.
The first floor fight over the direct
primary question was precipitated by a
motion of Senator Wright to strike out
the enacting clause Of Senator Rose
= berry's postal primary bill. Roseberry
admitted he was willing to have the
measure emasculated in that manner
merely to get it before the senate for
discussion.
Wright=stanton Bill
Senators Wolfe and Leavitt were in
favor of taking this bill up at the same
time the Wright-Stanton bill was to be
discussed, as a special order of busi-
ness tomorrow, but Wright's motion
prevailed and the Santa Barbarian ex
planned his measure at length.
On motion of Senator John w. Stet
Of I16
of the measure was postponed for one
week
The Wright -Stetson bill will be called
UP in the senate tomorrow and fought
out on an amendment suggested by the
committee on elections, eliminating the
clause calling for the election of United
States senators by direct vote of the
people.
Senator Wright will lead the propo-
nents EOf the original bill. and Senator
Wolfe will marshal the opposition.
Senator J. B. Sanford's resolution
calling for the establishment of a gov
ernment-oWned line of steamboats, to
ply between California points and
Panama to compete with the Hartman
system of railroads and steamships
was brought up in the assembly this
afternoon, and after a lengthy debate
was postponed for further considera-
ton until next Thursday.
Constitutional Amendment
On reconsideration the senate again
passed the constitutional amendment
proposed by Senator J. B. Curtin of
Sonora whereby the state board of
equalization is to have the power TO
raise or lower the assessed valuation of
any class or classes of property on the
assessment roll of any county
Senator Sanford's 2-cent fare bill
was reported today, with the recon-
mendation that it do not pass. The
bill then went to the judiciary commit
tee. Louis H. Roseberry's postal pri-
mary bill and A. E. Boynton's bill
providing for the rotation of the names
of candidates in certain groups on the
election ballot also were reported un-
favorably.
Marshall Blacks bill preventing the
sale of Intoxicating liquors to minor
children was reported favorably by the
committee on public morals.
The Berkeley charter was approved
by the committee on municipal cor
porations.