Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-08

ingly and without information upon a mat
ter that from its very nature demands
information and thought, and which in
its conclusions unavoidably affects every
interest in the city. Therefore, we sug-
gest that the request that we rush the
referendum into the hands of the city
clerk seems to presume that we mean
merely to ask the voters whether they
agree with the board of public utilities,
the city council and the mayor that the
ordinance treats the corporations justly
and offers them a rate that will earn a
commensurate profit. But this Is not our
intention. Our purpose Is to ask the
voters, after they have had time to think
and fairly consider the matter, whether
they so agree. This could not and should
not be possible IL the proposition be pre-
cipltated as your honor asks.
PRICE OF JUSTICE SMALL
You suggest that 1t will cost about $4,000
to hold a special election. That sum is
a small one to pay that Justice and fair
ness may prevail No doubt but that not
far from that amount has already been
expended either by or on behalf of the
board of public utilities appointed by
your honor in employing alleged experts
and others to make expensive guesses
operations That board frankly told your
honor and the council that 1t had not had
time to make such Investigations as were
necessary
These companies therefore have had
enough Of the results of undue haste, half
baked theories and academic Dreams and
they have no desire to unduly hasten the
presentation of the question to the voters.
Haste heretofore on the part of the city
over which you preside threatens to cost
those companies many hundreds of
thousands of dollars. Why, therefore,
should you be so anxious because of
expenditure of $4,000? That sum is negligi-
BILE to what 1t may cost this city and
its business II ordinary fairness does not
prevail. The laws of finance governing
supply and demand, risk. hazard and
earnings are not in our keeping nor under
our control, and we apprehend that the
city of Los Angeles, no more than others,
can set them aside or unwisely and ''as
soon as possible" toy with them. We
remain, Yours very respectfully,
L. A. GAS AND ELECTRIC CORP,
Per VIM. BAURHYTE. Second Vice Pres.
PACIFIC LIGHT AND POWER CO.,
Per A. C. BALCH. General Manager.
SOUTHERN CAL. EDISON co.
Per r. H. BALLARD, Secretary.
PHONE COMPANIES FOXY
It was limited around the city hal
that the telephone companie
might institute a referendum on thei
own account, and it was said that
proflting by the experience of the light
ing corporations, they would make n
move in this direction until too lat
for the June election and too late fo
similar petitions to be circulated b,
Good Government adherents, with tn
of getting the question set
tied the last of this month.
If this is done either the council will
be compelled to call another specia
election or after all allow telephon
rates to remain at their present figur
for another year.
An ordinance reported to the cit.
council yesterday by the city attorne.
and which provides that no charg
shall be made for incandescent LAM
was referred to the com
mittee on legislation 1t was mad
by the rate ordinance ant
will be adopted in. all probability a
next Tuesdays meeting.