Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-26
THE PROGRAMME OF RETRENCHMENT
OUGHT TO GO THROUGH.

There is one reminder of the boom
which is not pleasant to the people of
Los Angeles, and that is the highly
ornate city government which was one
of its outgrowths. A most cumbrous
and expensive scheme of municipal out
lay was built up on the new city charter.
Having provided ourselves with a new
and expensive city hall, it was only
natural, perhaps, that we should give it
numerous and highly paid set of Off
cials, with supernumeraries in proper
ton to it's splendors, and with salaries to
correspond. Unfortunately for the tax
payers they were not aroused in time.
A scheme of municipal polity outlined
when the taxpayers were debating how
much weekly they should mark up their
property per front foot is not what
pleases them now, on mature consldera-
ton. Every one during the past three
years has had an opportunity OF
doing great deal OF thinking
over both his personal outlays and his
taxes, and discomfort has been loud
and deep at the neat not to say gaudy
displays of municipal extravaganza.
The council has realized the universal
dissatisfaction which exists as to high
taxes, unnecessary officials and excessive
salaries, and they have embodied their
appreciation in a scheme of retrench-
ment which excites universal approval
that is, universal with the exception of
the sinecures whose places are abolished
and the incumbents whose salaries are
reduced. This is simple statement of
a fact on which there is deep popular
feeling.
We have reason to believe that Mayor
Hazard contemplates vetoing this ordi-
nance. We assure him that he will
assume grave responsibility in doing
so. He will outrage the property hold
ers, and will suffer in their estimation
for all time. There may be some fea-
lures of the ordinance which might
have been improved, both in the
line OF additional retrenchment
and in sparing the knife in
exceptional instances. The mayor
doubtless resents the looping off OF his
clerk, and we cannot blame him for this.
Mr.. w. w. Robinson is an official that
any man might be excused for being un-
willing to part with, and his services to
the city in the past have been OF an ex-
ceedingly valuable character. But some
sacrifices have to be made in all quar-
ters. The people demand the passage Of
chis measure of retrenchment, as we
have said, and as we desire to oemphasize,
The mayor will veto it at his peril
While he might be willing to face the
loss of personal popularity involved in q
veto, he can scarcely look forward with
euuanimity to the solid and enduring
disapproval of his fellow citizens He can
much more readily face the dis.
content of a class of place hold
ers who are in the predicameni
applied by the poet to another class.
in the lines, "No man e'er felt the halter
draw, with good opinion OF the law
than allow himself to be set down as an
obstacle to the well-being of the com
munity.
The sum of $45, 900 year, which the
council propose to save the taxpayers
annually, is interest, at five
per cent, on 100000. 1t amounts
to nearly one dollar per cdpitO
of the inhabitants given to Los Angeles
by Mr.. Porter's census. More impor-
tant than the actual saving involved, is
the notice which 1t gives that new
spirit has taken possession of our civic
authorities, and that the aim hereafter
will not be to see how much money can
bespent, but how much can be saved. Its
passage will accentuate a new departure
1t will give improved standing to this
community abroad, and it will encour-
age people to settle amongst us. Should
we have occasion to borrow money In
the future it will enhance our credit.
We have a beautiful, progressive and
promising city, and we should be care
full to maintain its reputation for re-
sponsibility and frugality, which course
of action has precisely the same effect
upon a municipality as upon an indi-
vidual, in the money centers OF the