Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-08
THE CRY OF REFORM.
1T is UTTERED BY A MEETING AT
ILLINOIS HALL.
Ex-Mayor Workman Denounces the Pres
ent Extravagant City Government.
Col. Wells on the Same Subject.

There was large audience last night
at Illinois hall, composed of very in
telligent class of people. who had gath
cred to listen to suggestions for muni-
cipal reform. Ralph E. Hoyt was chair
man and r. H. Hewitt secretary. The
vice-presidents were John Shirley Ward,
w. A. Ryan, r. R. Haines, d. Gilbert
Dexter, w. J. A. Smith, E. M. Hamil-
ton, M. Whittlesy, Col. Dunkelberger,
Judge Cochran, E. K. Green, +. 5. Mon
son, w. H. Workman, G. Wiley Wells
and T. E. Stanton.
Chairman Hoyt called the meeting to
order under the auspices of the NUM-
cipal Reform association of this city,
and after brief speech introduced Hon.
w. H. Workman.
The ex-mayor opined that the con-
duct of the affairs of this city was too
costly. The Republican party, as a
party, of course endorsed the acts of the
officers of our city government, who are
doing their best to deplete the treasury.
The speaker blamed the present council
for its extravaganza. He advised that
each ward at the coming election should
put up its best man, regardless OF poll
tics, and force him to run for the office.
He believed that the Democratic party
could produce q better state of things
than had heretofore existed, but if a
change is demanded he would, irrespect-
i've OF politics, heartily endorse tine will
of the people.
The Woods orchestra gave some selec-
tions, after which Col. G. Wiley Wells
addressed the audience in very forcible
speech. He did not want to be under
stood as saying that the present city
council is corrupt, but he meant to say
that it favored its personal interest more
than the interests of the city at large.
The council had made number of i'm
provements where they were not needed.
The laying of sidewalks had been or.
dered, and these had had to be repaid
four times over. The council had built
sewers where sewers were not needed,
and it had neglected to build them where
they were badly wanted. The colonel
disclaimed that ne was at the meeting
as partisan of any political party, but
he stated that he was there as a taxpayer
to denounce the corrupt methods of the
city council. [Applause.] A certain
councilman, he said was interested in the
opening of a certain street, and he
was working in the interest of this
scheme for all he was worth, and to have
the city assessed all of $64, 900 to attain
his ends. The speaker said that peoples
property had actually been confscated
by high taxes on account OF the coun-
ci's extravaganza. 1t was now time for
the people to Cry halt. The man who
sells his vote is corrupt, and the council
man who sells his vote for private in
terests if equally corrupt. For that rea-
son he would say and maintain that
some of the councilmen are corrupt
[Applause.l The street superintendent
is an incompetent. Colonel Wells re-
ferred to the disgraceful condition of
Main street, which had only been paved
two years ago. He understood that some
of the councilmen were bondsmen for
the contractof.; II Main street was re-
paired, the cost of such repairs would
have to be paid by the bondsmen.
The speaker advocated the election of
none but the best men for the city gov
ernment, regardless of politics. He said
that President Frankenfeld had been
the dictator of this council, and that it's
members had yielded in cowardly
manner to his mandates.
D. Gilbert Dexter addressed the meet
ing next and denounced bossism and
machine politics.
Chairman Hoyt said that collection
would be taken up to defray the expense
of the hall. This was the signal for a
stampede, at least one-quarter of those
present leaving the hall hurriedly.
After few more speeches and the
adoption of some resolutions, the meet
ing adjourned.