Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-09-22
LETTERS FROM TINE PEOPLE.
Duties of the Mayor.

EDITOR Los ANGELES DAILY HERALD
"Under the old charter the Mayor
was paid 500 per annum. and perform
ed the duties of Police Judge. These
were performed by Mayors Beaudry,
MacDougal and 1oberman.
The New Charter, approved April |.
1876, aud under which the business Of
the city is now conducted. increased the
salary Of the Mayor to $3.50 per month.
II was understood that the increase oil
salary was made in order to compensate
the Mayor for devoting his attention to
the duties Of city Justice or Police
Judge.
Article III. Section l. Page IL says:
"The officers of said corporation, that is
the city of Los Angeles, shall be May
or, who shall be ex-oflicio City Judge
Article v, Section 10. says. "The
City Judge of said city, as to
all offenses committed within such linz
its to which the jurisdiction Of said city
by this Act Is declared to extend,
whether against the laws Of the State or
the ordinances, resolutions, rules aud
regulations of said city, shall have the
same iuris liction power and authority
as is nov or may hereafter be conferred
upon Justices of the Peace, or Justices
Courts in anil for the townships whereof
said city may form part or whole"
Section IL says, sin case of the alb
ssnce from the city or the inability to
act of the City Judge. he may select and
deputize one of the Justices of the Peace
in said city to act in his place"
'sAll fines collected in said Court shall
bs paid by the said Judge into the City
Treasury and placed to the credit Of the
Salary fund"
The Mayor OF Los Angeles acted as
Police Judge under the charter until
the Amended Code of Civil Procedure in
1881, Sec 1903, provided us with
the luxury Of Justice OF the Peace
for the city of Los Angeles. who
is elected under call from the
County Board of Supervisors, and
voted for at the county election and
gives bonds to the county for the faith
full performance of his duties. etc. IN
der Justice Adams, all moneys collected
in the City Court were paid into the
City Treasury. The question of the
legality of the proceeding being never
raised
On first Inst. District Attorney
White served on Justice Nor
gan notice to pay no more money
into the City Treasury, and filed
a complaint against him for the
possession Of all moneys, some
$500, collected in said court for the
month of August 1888.
AT the last meeting of the City Coun-
ell, Sept. 18th, 1888. on motion of Coun-
Gilman Moore of the Fifth Ward, the
City Clerk was ordered to notify the
Mayor to assume the duties OF Po-
lioe Judge OF the City of Los Angeles.
The resolution was a very proper one
to be made and lies in the right direc-
tion. By the assumption of
these duties by the Mayor who
is SO well qualified to perform the duties
Of the Office, the money collected by him
will bo turned into the City Treasury
without contest or friction, and the city
will be the gamer. The suit now begun
may be many months in course of trial
and no additional contests should be
begun.
Oar citizens may not be aware Of the
fact that at present the receipts from
the City Court almost pay the entire
cost Of our police force, the receipts
being from $4,000 to $4,000 per annum.
II the suit against City Justice Nor
gan goes against the city, it loses all, the
only gamers being the City Justice of the
Peace and his constables, as the Justice
will secure his salary of $1,000 per an
mum, and three dollars each for all cases
tried under the statutes, making to him
difference of probably 500 per month,
in addition to his regular salary.
Yesterday, District Attorney White
Sled cross complaint against the city
for the recovery of S7,660.75 fines col
lected by the ex-Justice D. NJ. Adams
for the years 1881 and 1882. 1t should
also be stated that Mayor Toberman
deputized Justice Adams to act in his
stead as City Judge, and that Mayor
Thorn has deputized Justice Morgan to
act as City Justice. To conclude: Ii
the Mayor has no jurisdiction to act as
City Judge, how could he deputize the
authority to act as such officer to others?
This case is important, and the City
Council should act promptly and wisely
L. 10 1ffb "