Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-30
HEWITT RULES AGAINST
CORPORATION PETITIONS
City Attorney viii Instruct Clerk
Not to Count Names on
the Paper

City Attorney Hewitt will instruct
the city clerk this morning not TO at
tempt to verify the names on the rel
erendum petition which the lighting
corporations filed with the city CLERK
last Monday, as he considers the peti-
tion superfiuous, inasmuch as one Verl-
fled petition on the same ordinance mas
been filed. and the ordinance will be
voted on today.
This action on the part of the city
attorney in instructing the city clerk
to ignore the 10000 named petltlon' ana
the clerks compliance with his order,
it is said, will bring writ OF manoate
from the lighting corporations on tne
city clerk ordering him to show cause
why he should not verify the names on
the petition. In this manner the llght-
ing corporations will have an oppor-
tunity to test the matter in court.
'4 do not consider" said City Attor-
nev Hewitt yesterday, that the re1er-
endum petition recently filed has any
weight or standing. 1 consider 1t to be
superfluous, in view of the fact that
one petition, the names on which We're
verified, has been filed against the
lighting ordinance and on Whlcn we
are to vote tomorrow.
"I expect this will be the start or
litigation against the city in regard 10
the referendum proposition. The couit Us
will then have an opportunity TO pass
on the city's attitude, and will give
decisions that will define the various
phases of referendum proceedings
X i j. :. X i i !. < \ 1" + = = . y
roa,+ of the city of Los Angeles extended its
mains III so miles, while the Los Angeles Gas
and Electric corporation extended its gas
mains 23S. rs miles. -,
Which most seriously retarded the ueVel-
of los AngpleSv
Mr. Taggart you state that you personally
know of scores of instances where these cor
porations have refused to iurnisn S nthey
to new tracts until poles and wires and otner
equipments were put in by the owners OF the
tracts or the residents therein
CHALLENGES CITY
challenge you to name one single instance
where the Los Angeles Gas and Electric cor
poration has refused to furnish electticily ~
until noies, wires and other equipment. o:
any part OF 1t, was put in by the owners OF
the tract, and further challenge you 10 name
a single instance in which the Los Angeies
Gas and Electric corporation permitted any
person TO put In or pay for any poles, wires
or other equipment to be used for furnishing
electricity Are you simply talking, or do you
claim to have facts to substantiate your state
nentsP Name a single case II you can.
You are advocating the adoption Of an elec.
tric lighting rate, and threatening 10 ADOPT
a gas rate, which will so reduce ana aiiilinlsn
the earnings of this company that 1t cannot
plaoe it's securities and is therefore forced TO
stop its extensions until these obstacles can
be overcome. Not only thls' you are aolns
more, Not satisfied with large taxation you
are increasing this burden by raising the
monthly license, so that In the case OF tne
Los Angeles Gas and Electric corporation
the rate is increased from $24OO per ahhuIil
10 xa000 per annum. Not satisfied with the
fact that in the year 1909-lO the lishtins cor
porations of Los Angeles paid one-twenteth
Of all the assessed taxes in Los Angeles city
YOU urge the reduction of possible income
and the increase of expense, and under sueh
conditions is 1t any wonder that the torelgh
investor hesitates before investing in securi-
lies the value of which are largely dependent
upon the justice, fairness and impartiaity OF
the municipal authorities!
INVESTORS CAUTIOUS
The mayor of Los Angeles in an address de-
livered at Pasadena on the 10Th INST IN
speaking of the value of the distributing sys,
TENS of the various companies. is reported
to have said What was up to date SIX years
ago is out of date and useless now But
does he stand for an electric rate whlch VIII
permit of depreciation of one-sixth or the IN
stallation value? Oh no, The bond people
are closely in touch with local conditions
They know the existing feeling among the
municipal authorities and realize that the
opinions expressed indicate au antagonism
which should not exist. At the present time
these investors hesitate. awaiting the action OF
the people. The adoption OF the ordinances
under discussion means their refusal to ad-
vance further funds The rates now charged
are lower than those charged in hfty-seven
of the prominent cities OF the country, ana
the lighting companies have offered 10 Volun-
tarily reduce these rates If this lighting ordi-
nance is defeated at the polls Who is doing
the most to retard the growth of Los An
geles the lighting companies, which have
Invested money in extensions in advance OF
requirements and having shown faith and con-
idence in the cty's future by so doing are
now asking but a fair return on the money
invested or the man who admits he has not
given the subject careful study, that he has
made no physical valuation of the properties
involved and that his conclusions are large
ly based on conjecture rrd supposltion?
Yours respectfully.
c. 4. UCKr
Manager of Constru"i .Y5 Angeles Gas
and Electric Corporation.
Arrowhead Hot Springs