Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-03-30
Private Interests


And IT may be said with some degree OF
certainty that there private interests
which would be pleased to be assured that
the city did not intend to interfere with their
monopoly Of the channel frontage. There are
other interests which would be equally well
pleased IL the city would be agreeable enough
to say Just where and how much money 1t
proposed to expend betweenu Timm's point
and the breakwater, for that would anord a
fine opportunity to throw few more OBJ
structions, legal otherwise, in front OF
the city. The fight being waged by this city
for a free harbor has only begun. The real
struggle is yet to come, and 1t is not TO be
supposed for a moment by any sane person
that adverse interests going 70 strew
roses in the city's pathway. And there are
other interests that would be delighted 10
see unnecessary issues injected into the har-
Dor bond discussion, thereby hoping to profit
by the possible defeat Of the. bonds. And In
saving this I do not in the least degree cast
reflections upon the good faith or intentions
of the proponents of the Federated improve
ment association resolution, or question their
sincerity as friends of the harbor. Their high
and we'll known standing as citizens, and
their loyalty to the harbor are established But
1 do most strongly dissent from their posi-
ton as expressed in these resolutions be-
cause 1 am convinced that If their request
be complied with 1t will only be to invite
trouble unnecessarily, and really to play into
the hands of those who are interested IN Cd
structing the city's plans and IN postponlhs
as long as possible the Gay Oh the city suS-
cess in the harbor.
The fact remains that the city Of Los An
geles will see to it that the obligations which
this city assumed when 1t pledged ltsen 10
the consolidation plan VIII pc observed inc
improvements designated in the report or the
consolidation committee are an integral part
Of the declared policy of the city relative 10
the harbor, and will be made, for the self
interest as we'll as the honor of the munich
pality is involved in the outcome. But, as
the legal adviser of the council, cannot rec
ommend compliance with the request of the
Federated Improvement association for the
reason that the bond resolution was drawn
after a careful consideration Of the problems
TO be dealt with and of the harbor situation
as I believed 1t to exist think that reso-
luton should be adhered to as marking out
the safe line of action to be followed in the
proceedings for the issue Of the harbor bonds
Answers Improvement Club
think that when all is said and done, the
whole question raised by the resolutions of
the Federated Improvement association Is one
Of expediency only. Those who are Directing
to the bond proceedings as at present con
templated, would have the city exhibit to the
enemies of the harbor project some Of whom
are avowed and others Of whom are secret
as well as to its friends, explicit bill of par
ticulars Of what it proposes to do, where its
harbor improvements are TO be located, and
how much 1t intends TO spend for each sep
arate improvement. That may not be their
express intention, but there is no way under
the law of avoiding such disclosure If the
city begins TO enter into specifications. The
city has already declared its general policy
regarding the harbor improvements, and by
every proper means has committed itself and
its officers to certain specified improvements,
including the development of the 146 acres
which were designated in the report of the
consolidation committee. Further than this II
should not go at this time, in my judgment
But in the outer harbor itself, access to the
146 acres is yet to be obtained and there are
other factors Of a local character to be con-
sdered in the improvement of this splendid
body of submerged lands. AS the officer of the
city who is held responsible for the advice
given in conducting these bond proceedings
from legal standpoint, I counsel against the
mistakes, for 1 should consider it such, of
designating what improvements and what
amount of money the city proposes to spend
for any particular improvement, except in the
general manner adopted in the council
luton. There other points in the outer
harbor, aside from the lac acres, where Inn
provements should be made, If the way can
be found to do So but there abundant
reasons why they should not be specified in
the resolution upon which the bond issue is
based.
1 bespeak for the officers of the city that
they be trusted to carry out the intentions
of the city as already declared for it is not
to be presumed that they could would be
permitted TO be so forgetful of a public duty
as to disregard seek to defeat them. And |
in conclusion / would say that l of the |
thorough conviction that the only safe policy |
for the city to follow in the bond proceed |
incs is to adhere to the resolution as already |
passed. So far from being contrary to the |
public pledge of the city of Los Angeles / |
hope / have made it clear that, under the |
present resolution, it will be easier to do the |
very things which the report Of the consol- |
dalton committee recommended, and which the |
improvement association desires,
/ return herewith the resolution Of the Fed |
Grated Improvement association.