The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-13
REVISING THE CITY CHARTER
The Citizens League Takes a
Hand.
Thep Favor Centralizing All the
Power.
Accommodation to the Revision Com
mittee to Place the Selection and
Appointive Power of Nearly All
Officials With tho Mayor.

The charter revision committee met
yesterday afternoon, with Mr.. Rhodes
in the chair, and took up the section
relating to the park department, which
was not changed.
A delegation from the executive COM
mittee of the Citizens' league. consisting
of Messrs. Slauson, Griffith, Wood, For
man and Kohn. then appeared before
the committee and Mr.. Sauson stated
that the league had been giving q good
deal OF thought to the question OF new
charter, and stated that they were in
favor of largely centrslizing the power
in the hands of the mayor. and per-
uniting him to fill the major part of the
Offices by appointment.
Mr.. Nickell-The majority of the peo-
pie with whom | have talked are op-
posed to one man power.
Mr.. Slauson--I find that the business
men favor the extension Of the appoint
ing powers, and then the responsibility
for the acts of public servants can be
definitely placed and incompetent men
promptly removed. The first point to
determine is whether the officers should
be elected or appointed
The gentlemen stated that they had
prepared some amendments which they
ubmitted. They provided that the only
officers elected by the peopls shall be
the mayor. CITY treasurer, two justices
and five members of the school board,
and nine councilmen, and all other
offices to be appointed by the mayor.
The offices OF city water overseer and
the street superintendent are abolished,
the city engineer being delegated to per-
form the duties of the street superin-
tendent.
MIR. Munson-I believe it would be
much better il the power of selecting
the man delegated to perform the duties
OF street superintendent be placed with
the city council.
Mr.. Nickell-I am convinced that if
we were to pnt such an enormous
amount OF patronage in the hande OF the
mayor 1T will result most perniclously to
the interests of the city. The jobs will
all be fixed up in the mayors conven-
tions and the candidates will 60 into
back rooms to the bosses and delegates
and make pledges to them that will
cover all of the Offices in the city.
Mr.. Sauson-lf man does not do
his duty or is not competent he will be
Immediately discharged. This fact
would keep the public service clean.
The mayor and council would have the
power to remove any or all of these Of
fcers for cause.
The causes for which officers should be
removed are incompetency, neglect of
duty, habitusl intemperance, dishon-
esty, electioneering or attempting to in
tuence the vote of any citizen, and NAL.
feasance in Office. We are satisfied that
there are plenty OF men who get into
ONCE in this city who would not receive
one-fourth the money they receive from
the public treasury from business men,
in compensation of thei, abilities.
Mr.. Munson-I do not believe in put
ing all the appointive power in the
hands of the mayor, because all OF the
offices will be slated ahead.
Mr.. Slauson-Incompetent men could
be removed.
Mr.. Rhodes-We have an illustration
OF how the sppointive power works in
the zanjero's office. The men are placed
by the mayor.
Nr. Munson-I know OF health
officer In city where the places of the
inspectors were filled by the mayor, and
they spend most of their time in ga
looms. The health officer could not re-
move them because the places were
filled by the mayor, and thus the public
had to suffer.
The question was raised by Mr.. Nick
ell of the Importance of the establish
ment of water commission. Tue
matter OF city water works was one
that the people would have to deal with
in the near future, and water commits
sion would be absolutely necessary. The
instead of election of the
auditor wac next discussed.
Mr.. Griffith thought that the powers
OF the auditor should be materially in
creased 80 that he could veto any i'm
proper bills, snd then the question of
appointive officers came up again.
Mr.. Slauson-I tell you, gentlemen, it
is the politician who has the pull who is
elected.
And I tell you," said Mr.. Munson.
that it will be the politician who has a
pull who will be appointed if your sug-
gestion is adopted"
ION the question of salaries" said
Mr.. Slauson, I'VE are in favor of paying
good ones. The mayor should either