Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-12-21

clty OllCeTS, anu lbdN6 u SUI plQc VI
more than $500. By the report of {
the City Clerk made November IA,
1878, it appears that the expenses
for maintaining and managing the
water for irrigation for the ten Il
ending November 1st, 1878,
exceeded the income from the sales
of water in the sum of 81 $685.,
and that the salaries of the city
officers for the same period OF time
were $7,575 35 in excess of the in
come from licences, fines and pound
fees.
THIS REFERENCE
To the income from these sources OF
revenue, and the disbursements
chargable to them respectively in
different years, is not made for the
purpose of leading to an inference
that the management of the affairs |
of the city has not been as prudent |
and economical during the past |
year as in any previous years, but
solely to direct the attention of the
Council to the financial condition
of the city and the urgent necessity
of devising ways and means where
by the credit of the city cannot
only be sustained, but improved,
while oil its pecuniary liabilities
shall be punctually met and can
celled.
A RECOMMENDATION TO REFUND.
A considerable amount (S75, ,000)
of the debt of the city (the railroad
debit falls due in 1881. To meet
this pay m ent in SO short time by
tax upon property might injuri-
| ously affect the prosperity OF the
city. The attention Of the Council
has been heretofore called to the
expediency of refunding a portion
of the outstanding bonds that will
shortly become due. Under the
present and the prospective imme-
diate future financial condition of
the city. q measure of this nature
seems Imperative. The rate of in
Iterest on money has, within the
past wear or two, fallen very mate
rially, But while the rate Of in
terest has fallen greater security
and the certainty of the punctual
payment of the interest is observed
by capitalists. The rate of interest
and the cash value of any bonds
which the city should be called
! upon to put upon the market TO
raise the means of paying off
, the outstanding bonds Will
greatly depend upon the financial
condition of the city at the time OF
offering the bonds for sale. In
, contem plation of refunding some
portion of the city debt, and upon
better terms than the existing ones,
no effort should be spared to place
the financial affairs of the city in
the most healthy and satisfactory
condition possible. To effect this,
every branch of the city govern
, ment should be conducted in the
most economical manner possible
consistent with the general welfare
and prosperity of the inhabitants
,, All the sources of revenue must be
diligently guarded, no leakage
should be suffered along the cham
nels through which it flows into
the treasury, nor waste whlle
there, nor unnecessary drain there
from.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
While it may be a question
whether those using water for irri-
CATION should be taxed for its use
sufficient to defray all the expenses
incurred by the city in controlling
and distributing it, the good man.
agement of the water for irriga-
ton, upon which so much labor
and patient industry depends for
its reward, is of essential import
ance.
While the common schools of
this city, upon the efficiency of
which the character of incoming
generations so greatly depends, are
under the control of the Board OF
Education, the means for their sup
port and for suitable buildings is in
part dependent upon the city. This
subject should receive the atten-
tion its importance and the increas-
ing number of pupils demand. Any
measures which the Council may
lawfully adopt to provide the req
uisite means for the education of
those children who neither attend
the public or other schools, and for
enforcing their attendance at the
public schools, will meet my
hearty approval.
By the blessing of Providence and
the efficient laboTs of the Health
officer, the health of the city has
been good during the year now
about closing.
The recent report Of the City At
torney embracing a period of two
years, ending November of this
year, shows the great amount of
litigation in which the city has
been involved during that time
and the present state of lnde-
cided cases. 1t is gratifying to
learn that a number of cases have
been terminated, and that the city
has gained favorable decisions by
the Courts in some important ques-
tions.
A RIGHT GREATLY NEEDED.
The welfare of the inhabitants Of
the city and their future prosperity
so largely depend upon the right of
the city to the cOntrol and distribu-
tion of all the water of the Los An
geles river, from its source to and
through the city, that no effort
should be spared to secure an ad-
mission of that right from the
Courts, so that the city may there
after control and distribute the
water without hindrance.
The act incorporating this city
was, at the last session of the Leg
islature, amended, and the provis-
ions prescribing the duties of the
officers, their number and the man
ner of carrying on the affairs of the
city changed in many respects.
The new system goes into effect
with your entrance into office. 1t