Los Angeles herald., 1890-03-25
a ROTTEN BODY

we are. rot prepared to instigate q
r,o' 70 get rid of the present City
Oou'' Al, sithough we believe that such
" .ewement, under the premises, would
~ .ee far more than the ordinary justit-
6stion of such unlawful procedures.
Notwithstanding our law-abiding dis
position, there is nothing to prevent the
expression of our great contempt and
ioathing for such municipal body as at
present governs the city of Los angeles.
At its meeting yesterday the Council
declined to buy "a safe. 1t not only de-
cGned to buy 8 safe, but to accept the
loan of one. OF course, no man who Is
not an idiot thought that the buying of
a safe cut any figure in the controversy.
The city charter contains an alternative
proposition in which the City Treasurer
shall either keep the city moneys in a
safe provided by the city, or let them
out to the highest bidder, after the
highest bidder has been ascertained in a
fair and open competition. He is
authorized to let these moneys without
the possession of a. safe, but the Ring
! manipnlators of the city funds have
planted themselves upon frivolous and
indefensible bubbles.
Thee Council yesterday determined to
place the municipal moneys in peril As
in nearly every case in which public
funds have been entrusted to Republican
officials, in critical times, in this city,
they have been lost, this was a
great risk. The violation of the law
made it an outrage as well. There are
now in the hands of the City Treasurer,
who has chosen to deposit this vast sum
in five banks, 1850, 900. This sum is
liable to be increased to half million
by the acceptance of offers for bonds tie
I the amount of $4,000. As against all
these immense liabilities the Treasurer
has only filed bond for $l50,0e0.
The liability and the Official bond are
discrepant to the extent of scandal.
The HERALD belongs to those who haze
entire faith in the personal integrity of
Treasurer johnson. But there is no coul-
|
of the public moneys ought to be
dependent on the good inten-
tions of single naan. Ii the
Council, following the plain intent ofthe
law, had insisted upon theacceptanoe OF
the bid of the City Bank-the highest
bidder for the custody OF the city funds
the taxpayer would have, the consola-
ton of knowing that his mooney would
be forthcoming when it was called dor.
Even if no financial disaster shall follow
this indefensible course OF the Council,
there is an urgent necessity, ON the part
of the taxpayers, for protest against
course which is neither warranted in
law, morals nor business methods. The
bond OF Mr.. Yarnell, which simply re-
lates to indemnifying the city for loss
of interest, which can only amount to
several thousands OF dollars, is all that
separates the city treasury from loss.
which might range FROM $190.o00 to
$340, 900.
The people of Los Angeles have n
great grievance against their Council.
No human being, belonging to any party,
or to .cabal of any party, can have the
hardihood to assert that the public
moneys were intended to play game of
shuttlecock and battledoor in private
interests. Considering the number OF
times in which the people of this city
have suffered great losses from Republi
can custodians of the public moneys, it
is quite right that they should look with
distrust as to the safety OF the munich
pal moneys, and with extreme disgust
upon the tergiversation and double
dealing which have characterized every
phase of the present Couneilmanic Ring.
There is nothing to console the tax
payer in the way in which his money is
being handled. He has been BETRAYED
by the Council, and he ought TO insist,
whether by mass-meeting or otherwise,
upon having fair deal