Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-27

| toW paidIloh are pdlu Juugeb upon bnt
bench, we shall have either corrupt
men or ignorant men on the bench and
we don't want one or the other. Our
fee system is faulty from to to bottom.
1t costs four times as much to record a
deed here as its costs in San Francisco
and three times what it costs in Sonoma.
All our litigation fees are too high. He
said: Again | like the consolidation
law of San Francisco, because it takes
the fire department and police systems
out of politics.. do not care what any
chiefs politics are, 60 long as he gives
us good police system. | see no rea-
son why we should not adopt these San
Francisco systems which have worked
go well in that city.
The next question was: Shall the
Fire Department Be Taken Out of Poll
| tics and the first speaker was Hon. w.
| Workman, who said this was case that
called for sweeping reform in the mat
| ter of taxation. Itmust be accomplished
| by taking the fire and police depart
ments out of politics. You must either
do that or have boss rule and property
confiscated by taxation. San Francisco
recently had an election which was an
honor and credit to that city. Tax
payers rose in their might, put down
professional politicians and elected their
mayor and board of supervisors, giving
them virtual control of the city for the
next two years.
He wanted to see an organization
grow out of this meeting to control city
affairs by the aid of the Australian bal
lot, which made every man the master
of his own actions. The moment he
stepped inside the booth he could defy
all the political bosses and vote
an independent ballot. He was
in favor OF consolidation of the
city and county offices, to reduce ex-
penses so that what is now spent to
fatten 800 cormorants, calling them
selves public officers, could be spent on
public improvements and our city
adorned and bsautifed. Mr.. Workman
said some very wholesome things, but
scarcely touched upon the question on
which he was chosen to speak.
Hon. Geo. w. Knox was the second
speaker on the subject. Mr.. Knox said
the city charter provides that the city
council may appoint the chief of fire
department and chief OF police, but says
nothing about the term of Office nor how
long any man shall hold either place.
Now if you want reform in these Offices,
all you have to do is to insert an amend
ment into your charter prohibiting
officers and employees of these
two departments from interfering
cipating in primary elections. Now,
we have men who 'are in the hands of
their friends" being put up for the city
council, on pledges to turn out firemen
and policemen and put in their "heel.
ers" instead. Politics have demoralized
the good and efficiency of both these de-
partments; and it is high time that a
reform was had, because lit makes the
men who have seats in the council too
strong for the public good.
snow, If you want reform without i'm
pairing good service, you can cut down
the salary list of Los Angeles city Off
cials from $500 to 5000 each, and go on
in like ratio. 1t will save $25, 900 year,
which makes quite an amount of taxa
tion to be saved. just 80 in county
offices. The district attorneys Office
has had salaries paid out to an extent
that is positively wasteful. This in
crease of salaries il from $4,000 to $4,000
for the district attorney and proper
tionate increase for all deputies"
He said there were 20 lawyers just az
competent in Los Angeles who would
gladly take that place at 5000 per month.
Mr.. Knox was loudly cheered as he
lett the rostrum.
Mr.. Griffiths offered resolution that
the police and fire companies should
hold their Office during good behavior,
and that employees of those departments
should not be removed from the force
except for misconduct in office, but may
be suspended temporarily for cause
while pending investigation, which was
adopted.
Judge Silent moved for the appoint
ment of committee of 10, to organize
an association of taxpayers, men who
will bind themselves not to run.for
Office, and to see that none but reliable
men are put up for Office. This was
adopted.
The committee consists of Judge
Silent, ]. L. Murphy, G. J. Griffith, W.
H. Workman, George w. Severance, G.
D. Stimson, I. w. Brotnerton, Abbot
Kinney, George w. Knox, H. o. Collins,
w. T. Bosbyshell, J. M. G. Marble, J. F.
Slauson, George III. Stewart and J. M.
Elliott. The committee is called upon
to meet at Judge Silent's office at 8 p. m.
N1~Iou