Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-17
WANTS HARBOR
COMMISSION TO
BE REORGANIZED
DEMANDS MADE BY BOARD OF
TRADE OF SAN PEDRO
ASKS FOR ORDINANCES THAT
WILL INSURE IMPROVEMENTS
SUGGESTED That Thomas {. Gibbon Be
Made Member of New Board to
Have Enlarged Powers
and Duties
Ispecial to The Herald


SAN PEDRO, April 16.-Impatient at
the delay in getting down to the terms
of the proposed consolidation with Los
Angeles, the San Pedro board of trade,
at q large meeting held in the Fifth
street auditorium, passed by practic-
ally unanimous voice resolutions which
are to be sent to the city council of
Los Angeles and to the consolidation
committee of fifteen, in which the de-
mand is made that the harbor commits
sion of the city of Los Angeles be
reorganized and the city officially go on
record ON the proposed improvement OF
the outer harbor, a 150-foot boulevard
connecting the proposed public docks
with Los Angeles by means of a tun-
mel under this city, and that other
propositions incident to the future well
fare of this community be officially set
tied before an election is called to put
the consolidation question to vote
of the people here.
The resolution was introduced by
John T. Gaffey and followed the adop-
ton of bylaws by the entire board and
the election of twenty-five directors, in
Guiding the officers for the ensuing
year.
The officers elected were: President,
DIR. William A. Weldon; first vice presi-
dent M. l.. Campbell; second vice pres
ident, Lewis Hansen; secretary. e. d.
Seward; treasurer, E. B. Moores. The
twenty-five directors are: DIR. ]. S.
Gwaltney, Richard Quinn, Ben T. Cross,
]. A. Anderson, r. Treichel, Harry Ar
mour, j. H. Dodson, M. l.. Campbell,
John T. Gaffey, Robert Ralston, o. G.
Abbott, ST., e. B. Moores, A. K. Ma
rusch, L. w. Pierson, Frank Curran,
Lewis Hansen, e. D. Seard. j. H. p
Ohlsen, Peter Lux, Louis Entner. Os-
car jacobson, George A. Williams, o.
S. Ihrig, T. C. Harthorn and F. NJ
Cannon.
Are Weary of Delay
Some opposition was raised to
passing the resolution at this time, but
the prevailing sentiment was that
there had been too much delav already
and that if Los Angeles wanted San
Pedro to consolidate, the terms must
be agreed upon at once. The resolution
embodied the ideas of the voters here
on the question.
The statement was made that GER
tain members of the harbor commits
sion of Los Angeles were working for
the inner harbor improvement at the
expense of free docks in the outer bay
and that the sooner the city OF Los
Angeles was officially informed of the
wishes of the majority of the voters
here on the subject, the better 1t
would be.
A few urged the postponing of the
demands until the consolidation COM
mittees of the two cities could get
together, but when the question was
put but two in the large audience
voted against it. These gentlemen
were E. D. Seward, secretary of the
board of trade, and Richard Quinn,
member of the consolidation commit
tee of this city. They were in favor
of the platform, but questioned the
propriety in making such sweeping de-
mands at this time.
The resolution was ordered sent 10
the council of Los Angeles, TO the
consolidation committee and the press
of Los Angeles. In full it is as fol-
lows:
PreIIminaries Arranged
Whereas. By the united cooperation
of the people of San Pedro and Los
Angeles, an act has been passed by the
legislature authorizing consolidation or
cities by majority vote in each city,
and the people of Los Angeles nave
adopted and the legislature has ap.
proved, an amendment to the charter OF
the city of Los Angeles, giving to the
city exclusive jurisdiction over harbors,
docks and highways to the harbor, and
authorizing the establishment OF Dor
ough government in this city whenever
required by a majority of the votoers,
by which this city shall have jurisdic-
ton over all local matters.
Whereas, On November II, last, the
city council of Los Angeles passed
resolution declaring it to be the policy
of Los Angeles to improve, for munich
pal purposes, by the construction of
docks, all water frontage upon the out
er harbor of San Pedro, and upon the
inner harbor as far as the same may
come within the jurisdiction of the city,
and further to connect the same with
the business districts of Los Angeles
with broad, direct macadamized high
ways;
Whereas. In full reliance upon this
promise and guarantee that the outer
harbor and connecting highway would
be improved without delay. the people
of San Pedro have worked diligently
and at large expense to secure the pas
sage of the present act, in order that
the city of San Pedro might by uniting
with the city of Los Angeles thus Sc
cure the opening to immediate use of
this great harbor, which involves an
expenditure beyond the means of San
Pedro:
Delay Is Costly
Whereas, We are fully aware that
the practical obscure of our harbor
and the maintenance of the present
railway monopoly is costing the coun-
ty of Los Angeles not less than $1O.-
100000 a year in excess of just freight
rates based upon water competition;
we regard any attempt to postpone the
time for the construction of such docks
upon the outer harbor and such con-
Meeting highways as being in the in
terest of the railway monopoly, and
we view with great distrust and mis-
giving any suggestions to the effect
that the construction of such docks
upon the outer harbor and connecting
highways should be postponed to await
the result of litigation concerning tide
lands upon the inner harbor, and view
with like misgiving any evasion of the
clear and unequivocal promise made to
us by the city of Los Angeles guaran-
teeing such immediate construction;
therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That before submitting
the question of consolidation to a vote
of the people we propose that the fol-
lowing preliminary steps be taken
First-That the city of Los Angeles,
by ordinance of its city council. create
a new harbor commission, with en-
larged powers and duties defined
therein, in place of the present board
of harbor commissioners of said city,