Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-04
CITY GOVERNMENT
To WAR ON LIGHT
RATE EREFERENDUM
Councilman Andrews Declares
Voters Will Be Given Chance
to Express an Opinion
TELEPHONE co. TO ASK VOTE
License Ordinance, with Charges
for Illuminating, to Be Sub
mitted at Election

NE AYOR ALEXANDER and the
WI members of the Los Angeles
~ city administration are prepar-
Ing to wage an uncompromising battle
against the gas and electric corpora
tions, which are circulating a referen-
dun petition to prevent the reduction
of lighting rates.
Mayor Alexander yesterday issued a
statement citing the fact that the
lighting companies charge the street
railways only three-quarters of a cent
per kilowat hour, and charge the citi-
zenS cents per kiloWat hour for
lighting their homes.
Investigation yesterday revealed that
the published statement of Champ
Vance, political boss of the Los An
geles Gas company, setting forth that
the rate in Tacoma, Wash, is cents
per kilowat hour. is incorrect and that
the rate in that city is only cents per
kilowat hour so per cent lower, where
the city operates it's own lighting plant
in competition with corporation plants,
than it is in Los Angeles.
Investigation also revealed that the
referendum petition circulated by the
gas company has been signed bv
scores of transient dodgers and tour
lists and that in many instances the
petition has been circulated through
downtown rooming houses without the
consent or knowledge of the persons
in charge of them, hence large num-
ber of the signatures will be thrown
out as invalid.
The city intends to meet the lighting
corporations half way. and the mayor
and members of the city council will
do their utmost to see that the pub
lie is not compelled to pay the present
exorbitant rates.
No time will be lost. it was said. in
presenting the referendum on the cleo
trio light ordinance to the people for
n vote, as soon as the legal prelim-
inaries have been completed.
"If the utility corporations want a
referendum election, we will accom-
modate them" said Councilman An
drews yesterday. I'VE will see whether
the people want Z cent or a cent
rate for their electric light. l believe
in allowing the public to vote on this
question as soon as possible"
Councilman Williams also voiced the
same opinion, as did number of other
councilmen who were interviewed yes
terday.
Mayor Alexander was so aroused by
the attitude of the corporations that
he issued a public statement, the facts
which he cites having been provided by
the board of public utilities.
MAYORS STATEMENT
To the citizens and signers of the
lighting rate referendum petition:
The lighting companies charge
the street railways three-quarters
of one cent per kilowat hour for
electricity They charge the citi-
zen for lighting his home cents
per kilowat hour twelve times the
rate charged the railways.
The ordinance just passed, and
which the companies ask to be re-
ferred to vote Of the people, pro-
vides a rate of 7 cents per kilo-
wat hour. and the report of the
board of public utilities shows that
that rate will provide for deprecia-
ton of system, extensions and at
least 6 per cent interest on the ac-
tual investment.
By the filing of a referendum pc
tition the companies hope to pre-
vent the ordinance from going into
effect until the general election In
December. 1911, allowing them to
continue charging the present un-
fair rates. claiming that cents
TO the citizen Is confiscatory, al
though they can afford to sell to
the railways for three-quarters of
one cent
Undoubtedly the companies, by
refusing to make extensions to new
tracts, which they have the right
to do under their franchises OBJ
tanned years ago hope to force the
people of this city to accept any
rates they may feel disposed to
charge. regardless of the conces-
sions they grant other big corpora
tions. GEORGE ALEHANDER,
"I am here to serve all the people
and not a few corporations" said
Mayor Alexander yesterday. "If the
people really want a higher electric
light rate than that in the ordinance
passed by the council, well and good
hut I do not believe they do. I don't
want to take the word of a couple of
thousand people who sign a petition.
7 want the $4,000 voters to have some
thing to say about it, l say let the
people decide it, and let them decide
it as soon as possible. They Will do
1t right. The ~eople can be trusted"
The referendum against the tele-
phone ordinance is expected to be In
circulation in a day or two, and when
this is filed the two will be submitted
together.
At the same election the new license
ordinance will be submitted, to vote.
This ordinance was suspended from
operation by reason of a referendum
and the same public service corpora
tions who have invoked the referen-
dun against the electric light rate or
dinance paid the cost of circulating the
petition against the new license ordi-
nance The ordinance would increase
the licenses these corporations have to
pay, as the license fee is on sliding
scale, according to the amount of bus
mess done, instead of flat rate OF
5000 a month as now is the case.
The ease with which these corpora
tions have secured the necessary num-
ber of signatures for referendum pc
titions has arrested the attention of
the charter revision commission and
there will undoubtedly be a recon-
mendation by this commission that the
a referendum be increased
Under the present provisions OF the
charter a petition signed by per cent
of the number of qualified voters who
voted at the last general election is
sufficient to invoke the referendum.