Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-03-30
HEWITT PROVES
FEAR BASELESS
FEDERATED IMPROVEMENT
BODY GETS REPLY
In Exhaustive Report City Official
Shows Proposition Is of Great Inn
portance and Is in Best Inter-
ests of Los Angeles

the ordinance calling the election to
vote $4,000, 900 in bonds for the improve
ment of the harbor, City Attorney
Hewitt yesterday submitted an ex-
haustive report to the city council in
which he showed conclusively why the
ordinance was worded as it is and how
a grave mistake would be made were
the city to adopt any other method.
The report follows;
The harbor committee Of the council, by its
chairman, has referred to me the resolutions
adopted by the Federated Improvement asso-
citation of this city at a meeting held March
g. 1910 with the request that I report to the
council thereon.
The resolutions referred to contained a
protest against the action Of the council in
passing the preliminary resolution upon which
the bond election is based, the particular
grounds Of objection thereto being in substance
as follows:
Ffrst-That n the harbor bonds are voted
and the proceeds thereof expended as con-
templated by such resolution and the ordi-
nance calling the bond election. a misuse of
public money will ensue that vii indehniteiy
postpone the construction Of jublic docks.
Second-That the use of the proceeds Of har-
Dor bonds in the harbor north OF Deadmans
island will result in an enormous increase in
the value of water front property that is
owned OF controlled by private corporate in
terests particularly by railroad corporations.
Third-That the resolution as passed by the
council. describing the proposed harbor i'm
provements, is in direct violation Of a solemn
agreement between the people Of Los Angeles
and the people of San Pedro and Wilmington,
and is a betrayal Of the interests OF the people
of San Pedro, as well as those of Los Angeles.
The Federated Improvement association
therefore requests that the resolution and
ordinance OF the council be amended so as to
specify in fact what part Of the bond moneys.
IF any, is to be devoted 10 the Improvement Of
the city frontage upon the outer harbor. And
# is declared that the resolution Of the coun-
Gil authorizes the expenditure Of the entire
three million dollars Of the proposed harbor
bond issue for the Improvement of private
property, and not of the public property Of
the city of Los Angeles.
A broad and sweeping charge that a direct
violation of a solemn public pledge is about
to be committed, and that the city authori-
ties of Los Angeles propose to misuse public
moneys and to betray the interests of the
people Of Los Angeles and San Pedro, should
not be passed over lightly. The people of this
rity, and they include of course. those resid-
Ing in the former cities OF San Pedro and
for II is upon their consent that the issuance
of bonds must defend. And II there is any
Just or substantial ground for objection to
the harbor bond issue on the part Of those
who are in favor Of the bonds. owing to the
form in which the question will he submitted
to the voters, the cause Of such opposition
should be remedied
The resolutions Of the Federated Improve
ment association refer TO the agreement be-
tween Los Angeles and San Pedro" and
by this is undoubtedly meant the report and
recommendations Of the consolidation commit
tee which were made public before the con-
elections And as 7 understand the
Import of these resolutions. the basis for the
statements and protests made in them is that
the resolution Of the council under which the
bond election has been called authorizes the
expenditure Of harbor bond money in the i'm
Of that portion of the harbor form
ing the channel section between Deadman's
million dollars to be devoted to the develop
ment of the "outer harbor"
Public Declaration
The report Of the consolidation committee
was public declaration Of the policy to be
pursued by the city OF Los Angeles regarding
the improvement Of the harbor, and the his
tory OF the appointment and work Of that
is so well known and so recent that
its recital is unnecessary. The portion Of
that report with which we are here concerned
is that relating to the special election for
the harbor bonds. which election the com
purpose Of submitting to the electors of the
consolidated city the proposition Of authoriz-
ing S3.0O0,o0O harbor improvement bonds for
making harbor improvements in accordance
with the recommendations herein made, and
So 000, 600 within two years thereafter. and to
further particularize the judgment of this COM
mittee, that of the 81 O00, 000 thus provided for
immediate improvement, we recommend that
81 900 900 be devoted to the improvement of
the outer harbor and approaches thereto. as
soon as the consolidation with San Pedro is
effected, and that $1,000 oo0 be devoted 10 the
Improvement of the inner harbor above the
turning basin, and approaches thereto as
soon as consolidation with Wilmington is
effected"
The first legal step in proceedings for the
Issuance Of municipal bonds is the passage |
by the city council OF n resolution declaring
the public necessity Of and estimated cost Of
the improvements proposed to be acquired or |
constructed out Of the proceeds of such bonds |
Accordingly. the council on November . last |
passed the necessary resolution for the harbor |
improvements. required by law
This resolution is in the usual form. and |
provides in substance that the public interest |
and necessity require.
First as to San Pedro improvements-The !
construction of docks, wharves and warehouses |
upon that portion Of the harbor soutberlv Of /
the east and west center line of the turning ,
basin, comprising what is known as the /
outer harbor Of San Pedro" and also that
part OF what is known as "the inner harbor /
Of San Pedro lying southerly of such center
line in the turning basin; also the opening
and maintaining of streets and highways to /
said portions Of the harhOr Of Los Angeles
and the construction of canals and WATERWAYS
between such portions Of the harbor and such
streets and highways; all Of said improvements
10 be made at a cost Of 50 600 900
Second, as to Wilmington harbor-Tbe con-
struction of docks, wharves and warehouses
upon that portion of the harbor nortbarlv of
the east and west center line Of the turning
basin, comprising that part Of what is known
rs the inner harbor Of san Pedro. or Whining
ION bay, including the east and west basins !
hereof lying northeIly Of such center lines
N the turning basin; also the openinp and /
of streets and highways 70 said
portions Of the harbor Of Los Angeles ana /
he construction Of canals and WATERWAYS /
between such portions Of the harbor and such
streets and highways, all at a cost Of 81 900 900
Improvement Bonds
1t viii be observed that the report of the