Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-02
PASADENA COUNCILMAN
TENDERS RESIGNATION
City Father Who Opposed Sunday
Theaters Says He Is
Sick of Politics

PASADENA, Nov. 2.-The following
statement was given to The Herald
last evening by City Councilman john
d. Mersereau, who yesterday rendered
his resignation to his colleagues With
out giving any reason, and VINO VIII
be asked to reconsider his action;
st am simply tired of it. 1 am SICK
of politics. 1 never wanted the Joo
anyway. I have nothing against any
of the council members and l think q
whole lot of the people of Pasadena,
but there are evidently many citizens
who want the job and I would rather
thew would have it, Councilman
Mersereau in reply to the rumor that
he desires to be free from councllnanlc
duties in order to groom himself, Tor
mayor, declared emphatically Ihere
is absolutely nothing TO II; 10 Hol
want any Office"
Councilman Mersereau's formal let
ter of resignation apparently came as
a surprise to the members or the CITY
council. although several of his col
leagues, in the informal discussion
which followed the reading OF the let
ter. stated that they had heard Mer-
sereau hint at such action but dld not
think he meant it. The letter in full
was as follows:
"Gentlemen-I am indebted to you
for one thousand and one favors eX-
tended during my brief sojourn with
Won and I would like to have you add
one more to my debt, namely TINS:
Accent my resignation from the coun-
Gil beginning with today"
On motion Of Councilman Cattel,
which carried unanimously, Mayor
Farley was instructed to ask the aP-
narentlv dissatisfied councilman to re-
consider his action. Members of the
council after adjournment expressed
opinions that Mersereau, being sincere
in his duties as they appear to hlm
is inclined to take to heart any crit
icism which may result from MS
actions and that reports have come TO
their ears that he has of late become
nervous and at times unable TO rest
at night. -
The councilman as chairman of the
ordinance and judiciary committee
fathered the erstwhile anti-chicken or
dinance which stirred up the city, ana
more recently was sponsor Tor the ue-
feated anti-Sunday theater measure
AS chairman of the electric light and
supplies committee he has waged an
aggressive campaign in FAVOR OF the
municipal lighting plant and ne Is also
a member of the streets and alleys
committee. which handles more pro-
tests and counter protests than any
other councilmanic committee.
COUNCILMAN KORsTIAN SPEAKS
An anticipated clash was aVerteu
near the close of yesterdays councll
,neating when Mayor Farley grace
fr1lv acceded to a point raised by
Councilman William Korstian, who Is
ding the chair vacated by Former
Councilman C. J. Crandall, and VINO
is a sticl<ler for marquis of Cranuall
rules. The question arose over tile
manner of voting on the matter %
adjournment to Friday evening 10
consider the proposed garbage liG j
and nuisance ordinances, Councilman
Korstian winning the point tnat the
vote should be taken by roll call
The council session was also llVenea
nv a discussion over the merits ana
dement's of proposed constituents
amendment No. l, regarding the Sc
eregation of state and local taxation
and providing for the taxation OIL pun
lie service and other corporations 1or
the benefit of the state. CITY AuulIoI
Kellogg suggested that the council
shouId pass resolutions against the
measure on the ground that it would
deprive the municipality of revenue
through taxing the property of the
corporations. ,, H..
Citv Attorney Wood declared that
he will vote against the amendment
because of it's seeming lack or uenlille
INTERPRETATION. Councilman Cattell,
who is also a member of the state
assembly. came to the defense Of the
Droposed measure, declaring that the
nurport of the amendment is to take
The railroads out of politics.
His argument was that If the rail-
roads and other corporations are taxed
on their gross earnings direct by the
state they may have to pay more
taxes, but they will be renewed of the
expense of keeping a political machine
to control assessors and boards OF
eoualization and will save money in
the long run. This, he said, probably
accounts for the fact that the rail
roads are not fighting the measure.
He declared that all but seven mem
bers of the assembly were in favor of
the amendment.
He raised the point that the council
should not pass snap judgment on the
proposed measure. To this the mayor
and councilmen nodded assent, and
the meeting adjourned without any
formal action being taken.
The council adopted lengthy pro-
test from north side citizens against
changing the name of Old Fair Oaks
avenue to Lincoln avenue and chang
ing the name Of the present Lincoln
avenue. The change was requested
last week by the Citizens league on
the ground that Old Fair Oaks should
be q continuation of Lincoln avenue
from Hammond street north.