Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-06-14


detrimental to our prosperity. With zeal
GUS patriotism for the honor OF this fair
city the HERALD took up the cudgels for
the Queen City OF the Angels, and pro-
tested that she was not diabolic by any
means.
WHAT HIS HONOR THINKS.
With this in mind, reporter said:
mayor Workman, what do you think
OF the condition OF this city from moral
point OF view? Do you consider that in
the past month, let us say, or in the past
two months, there has been any more
crime than in the two previous years
taking things in the average?'
His Honor, after due consideration of
the question, said:
"There have been a great many bur-
glaries committed, and there has been
much gambling going on"
Reporter-"Has it been more than the
average of the past two years? More
than under other chiefs Of police-under
Darcy, Skinner or Davis?"
Mayor-"There has been double as
much gambling as there was two years
ago."
Mr.. Humphreys being present the re-
porter appealed for his opinion on this
point and this gentleman replied:
Eyes, think there has been twice as
much lawlessnes as two years ago."
Mr.. Emil Harris was in the Mayors
office and to him the reporter turned for
aid in his dilemma. Mr. Harris is at the
head Of the detective force OF the city
and he said:
81 must differ with the Mayor and Mr..
Humphreys on this point. | do not
think there has been any more crime at
any one time in the past six months than
in the two previous years. The city is
large, the police force is small and can
not cover the entire area Of Los Angeles.
Nearly all the crime was committed in
the outskirts OF the city. 1t was the
fault of the people. When a man was
arrested for any OF these burglaries the
victims refused to prosecute. They could
not identity the emen."
Here the matter of population was
touched upon. 1t was explained that the
city had probably doubled in two years,
and that with this would naturally come
an increase of evil-doing in like ratio. In
this discussion the Mayor mentioned
that in the suburbs the people had been
afraid to go about at night. Mr.. Harris
did not confirm this. The reporter men
toned that the records would utterly fail
to show it. Coming down to the specific
point OF games of chance, Mr.. Harris
said
GAS rule during the last few months
games running by any means as there
were during the incumbency of Darcy or
Skinner"
T. ,rc4o-al1 1ae
when he claims there were very large
number Of games running, particularly
fan tan games in Chinatown. Diligenl
| inquiry reduced this especially to Satur,
day last when the Mayor, Mr.. Hum
phreys and others made their famous
pilgrimage to Niger alley.
The reporter suggested that this might
not be fair test. "A little scheme Nigh
well be fixed up to have all the games
run in full blast for day or two. The
easy virtue of the Chinese might be easily
reached for purpose. The Mayor anC
his yokefellow Mr.. Humphreys declared
that they knew OF no such scheme.
Then followed DEPRESSION on gamb
ling, in which the Mayor expressed hi
views in favor OF licensing games o
chance, if the law could be so amended
as to allow OF such a thing. But h
| thought so long as the law was as it is
the only way was TO enforce the statut
and suppress the games. In this Mr.
Humphreys agreed.
The reporter asked if the games coul,
be closed. He referred to many cities il
which the effort had been made, an
where in all cases it had been futile
| The question OF the city's fame came u
again, and it was suggested that in a
attempt to do the impossible the i'm
preston had got abroad by reason {
what seemed to many a quixoti
crusade OF an Incorporate nature, an
carried on in a very sensational manner
that Los Angeles was a sink OF iniquity
and Sodom, Gomorah and Julesburg a
rolled in to one. To this the Mayo
replied:
''That it was not the gambling VIII
was aimed at go much, as it was des
to stop
A WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION
Which tended to destroy the efficiency I
the police force, TO rot out the conscienC
of city officials generally, and to debauc
politics until there would be no decenc
left"
This being rather novel element
] the situation the reporter wished to hes
! more of it. He knew that under previol
reigns of chiefs Of police, there was a
serted to have been money paid to Il