Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-16
The Outfalh Has Gone with the
storm Drains.


The Outfali Has Gone with the
StOrm.Drains.
There were about as many votes cast
Yesterday as on Friday. The vote on
the interior system on Thursday was q
little larger than on either of the other
days. The man is entitled to reward
who will explain how it has been that
only one in every three voters in the
city has cared to express his will as to
the application of SO large cum OF
money to the proposed scheme. From
the nearly numerical equality OF the vote
on all three days, and from observation
of those voting, it would appear as if the
same people voted in the main on all
three days, which, of course, means that
pretty much the same people too were
utterly Indifferent ss to what the results
of the elections might be. The strangest
feature of this apathy is that more people
did not vote for the bonds or
all three days and carry them all
against the very mesgre vote cast on
the other side. The fact that even the
interior system was approved of was due
to the fact that 600 to 1000 Taxpayers
voted the bonds for this who voted
against tie others. The vote on these
three days is very interesting study in
our political philosophy.
Yet in spite of the smallness of the
vote it was quite manifest that the peo-
pie know their own will in these affairs.
Last August there was very pronounced
demand on The part OF the people to
have tie sewer plans OF the Council seq
regated Into three divisions, 80 that
they might be voted on separately. There
was very strong opposition to the storm
drain and outfall features of these plans.
The Council insisted on making rider of
these unpopular features in the expectation
that the desire of the people for an in
terror system would carry the others sue
cessfully over the opposition. 1t was
boldly said at the time that we had to
take all or none of the plan. The result
was refusal to have any of the scheme.
The matter came up again last week.
as the people wanted, and the result was
that the bonds for the interior system
were voted by very large majority of
the ballots polled, while the two features
objected to in August we're defeated on
their demerits yesterday and the day be-
fore. They received majority vote, te
be sure, but it is wise provision of ouI
laws that two thirds vote is required to
carry such a proposition as this. In
large cities the non taxpayers always
outnumber the taxpayers very greatly,
and if these could, by q mere majority
vote, vote money for internal improve
ments. there would soon cease to be any
demand for Mr.. Georges single-tax
theory for the reason that the property
of the minority would all be voted for
streets, parks, sewers, libraries, picture
galleries, champagne suppers and what
not, at the will of the landless majority.
We'll, the storm drains ard the outfall
wi r. ms in upconstructed, and the in
terror sewers proper will be built. That
is the will of the people, and we should
all accept it as final at this time. 1t is q
most happy outcome of the contest, and
proves there was wisdom sufficient in q
respectable minority Of the people to
prevent the looting of the city by the
Vaccinations of the ringsters.
There is no question parts Of the city
need TO have sewers constructed TO carry
away the offal. The central and most
deneely populated portions of Los Ange-
les have been we'll severed for years
but there are districts where sewers are
much needed. Therefore, while there
were good reasons to object to the plan
proposed, it has been the will of the
people to vote the bonds for this as it is,
and we shall gladly assume that this is
we'll enough to forestall unnecessary
caviI 1t will be well if the bonds are
spent wisely and honestly for the good
Of the city. Let the work proceed now
with due diligence, and in a short
time we shall zee work for all
who want to work. Let the
mains in the more densely peopled dis
tricts be undertaken first, and then we
shall be sure of getting the work that is
really necessary done with as much dis
patch as possible. If there are features
in tie plans prepared that are not as
attractive as they might be from the
standpoint of those who shall have to
pay most of the cost, much may still be
done TO eliminate these and to give the
taxpay ers and dvs<iIers in the city the
best retulta for their money. The Coun-
Gil can do this if so disposed.
AMoIf, tho d;oti,n,,;abad mann horo of