Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-03-07

Yesterday, the retiring county ofii
cials surrendered their lease of office
to the hesuccessful candidates of last Sep
tembar's election and these public
trusts are now mostly in new hands
Perhaps a brief review of the severa
retiring officers and the present in.
cumbents may not be out of place al
this time.
Setting asideal political bias which
so often colors newspaper opinions oi
public officers, we must acknowledge
that our county officials who have just
concluded their several terms and re-
tired have left behind them unspotted
regulations without a single excep-
tion. In these times of political job
berry, such state of public affairs is
something that
WE MAY WELL BE PROUD OF.
We would not bestow praise
upon a man because he has simply
done his duty, nor laud his honesty
because he did not appropriate public
funds when he had an opportunity to
do so-such simple probity was ex-
pected from him when he was chosen
by the people to fill position of trust.
But we may reasonably point to an
upright official when we found one
and commend him as worthy Of emu
lation by every man in similar posi-
| ton.
OF course, the past county admins
tration was not perfect by any means,
but we believe that each member of 1t
discharged his duties in a manner
commensurate with his ability. The
time will come with our rapidly in
creasing population, and perhaps it has
already arrived, when we must have a
more perfect system in our manner of
conducting public business in almost
every department.. But this is mat
ter which will regulate itselfas the ex-
igencies demand. We believe that the
new county officers are men OF enlarg-
ed views, fully up with the times, and
they will keep pace with the growth
| of the country. With single eXcep-
}ation they were all elected on the DEM
ocratic ticket. First in the list of
county officers we note that OF
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Which has been filled by Mr. Rodney
Hudson, vice Gen. Valney e. Howard,
term expired.
General Howard ranks at the
head of the Legal profession
in California, and is one of the old
| time settlers of Los Angeles. No one
of our citizens has a fairer or more
honored reputation. General Howard,
assisted by his son, Mr.. Frank How
ard, has discharged the trying duties
of his office with general satisfaction.
Mr. Rodney Hudson, the present in
cumbent is young man OF great pro-
mise as lawyer and orator who
| now fills we believe his first public
office. During the spirited campaign
| of last Fall, Mr. Hudson rendered very
material assistance to his party by his
forcible and finished speeches deliver
ed in the canvass of the county. A
law recently placed in effect author
ICES the appointment of Deputy Dis
trict Attorney, and we trust that Mr.
Hudson will be seconded'i in his public
duties by some able member of the
law. In any event, we feel confident
that the duties of the position will be
we'll discharged.
SHERIFF.
Mr.. David w. Alexander, of Will.
mington, succeeds to the position of
Sheriff. Mr.. w. r. Rowland who re-
tires will take with him the high es-
TEEN of every citizen Of Los Angeles
county, He has had to do with Grim
inal affairs of the county at most
critical time, and has proved himself
master of the position.
The capture of Vasquez, which vir-
tually broke up the marauding gang
of that bandit, will give Sheriff Row
land shame place in the history of
the State; for, by his shrewd calcula-
ton and pre-eminent executive abil-
ity, he accomplished feat which had
for years foied the best detective skill
of the Pacific coast.
Don David w. Alexander is one of
our oldest and most respected citizens.
He has prominently identified himself
with the advancement of the country,
and, we believe, for number of years
has been associated in partnership
with Gen. Phineas Banning. Mr..
! Alexander held the Office of Sheriff of
Los Angeles county some fifteen or
sixteen years ago, we are informed,
and at that time discharged his duties
with marked ability. We promise for
him thorough administration of the
criminal affairs of the county.
COUNTY TREASURER.
Thos. e. Rowan, who now relin-
ouishes the custody of the county
funds is familiarly known all over the
county. He has held this most re-
sponsible position for three terms, and
there has never been the least irregu-
larity charged against him. He has
made himself popular with all who
had business with him by his uniform
courtesy and willingness to extend
universal accomm odation. Mr.. Row.
an has financial and executive ability
that will some day place him in a
much higher position before the peo-
pie. Mr.. +. p. T. Temple, elected as
the successor of Mr.. Rowan, ls also
well known by everybody in the
county. BY the unfortunate circum-
stance of the failure of Temple u
Workman's. bank Mr.. Temple was rem
dered ineligible for his position and
the mantle of office has fallen upon
Mr.. 4. f. Spence, one of the assignees
of the bank. Mr.. Spence, although
comparative stranger in our city, has