The herald., 1894-09-15
The Joint Committee Has An
other Meeting.
Some More Important Changes Are
Made.
The Term of the Councilmeu Changed
The Public Library Demands
Must Run the Gauntlet
of the Council.

ing new charter, with Mr.. Slauson in
the chair.
The question Of making change in
the term OF Office of councilmen was first
taken up. and section was presented
providing that at the first election all OF
the councilmen shall be elected for four
years after the adoption of the charter.
Thereafter ons-half OF the council shall
be elected every two years, the division
being made on the odd and even num-
bers OF the city wards. The design OF
this provision is to have certain num-
ber OF members in the council who are
familiar with municipal work.
Ex-Councilman Collins suggested that
section be added providing for the
election Of three councilmen at large, in
order that the balance OF power could be
held outside of the ward lines.
Mr.. Munson took the ground that
such a section would virtually give two
councilmen to three wards. and that the
election OF three councilmen at large
would not materially change the situa-
ton.
The new section stipulstinR that all
demands from the public library shall be
approved by the council before they are
paid was read, and il was agreed ON by
the committee.
petition was read from large num-
ber OF ladies and business men asking
| that clause be added to the city char
ter giving the women the right to vote
on all school questions in the city of
Los Angeles. On motion of Mr.. Munson
it was decided to add section to the
charter in accordance with the text OF
the petition.
The question of reaching the tax
sharks was discussed, and Mr.. Graf
though the best way to reach them was
to provide for monthly penalty to the
city after delinquency and no penalty
after the purchase of the property.
1t was decided to leave no loophole
for the council or the different munici-
pal boards to hold star chamber ses.
sions. by the adoption of q section
which provides that all sessions OF sll
city bodies shall be open to the public.
The main question at variance be-
tween the council and the reform COM
mittee was with regard to changing the
charter to provide that the mayor shall
appoint the bulk OF the city officers, in
stesd OF electing them. The point was
also raised that street superintendent
and city engineer be appointed by the
mayor, while the council maintained
that these officers should be appointed
by the council
Judge Graft suggested that these
questions could be submitted to the
voters in an alternative form and let
them decide how these officials shall be
elected or appointed.
Ex-Counclman Collins was OF the
opinion that the selection OF the street
superintendent should be placed in the
hands Of the council, as they we're in
constant communication with him, and
they should have the power to remove
MIN if he neglected or refused to do his
duty.
Mr.. Slauson took the position that by
placing this appointive power in the
| hands OF the mayor the citizens would
bs able 10 bold the mayor responsible in
the event of bad or vicious appoint.
ment. This was the reason why he
wanted this power placed in the hands
OF the mayor.
Mr.. Forman thought that under the
provisions of the present charter it was
possible TO call the street su perintendent
to account il an ordinance properly
drawn were passed by the council. If no
change were made, or if it was decided
that the council should appoint the
street superintendent, then the council
should pass an ordinance which would
fully ana clearly define the duties OF the
street superintendent.
Mr.. Rhodes said that if q charter was
adopted which placed the appointment
I OF nearly all OF the offices in the hands
of the mayor it would have the effect of
producing gigantic political machine,
which would virtually have the whole
city government at the mercy of a czar.
Mr.. Munson called attention to the
fact that in Brooklyn, where the city
government is modelled on the one-man-
power idea, that it has developed snor-
nous political corruption and extrava-
gance.
The matter of the salaries to be paid
was next discussed. and Judge Graft
thought that the salary OF the city attor
ney should be raised. in order that it
would not be necessary for him to go out
and practice in the courts.
Mr.. Kinney did not think the question
of salary would have any effect as TO the
mayor, for man who could intelligently
and effic entity discharge the varied
duties under the one man-power plan
would be much more valuable than the
salary paid him.
Mr.. Munson advanced q new idea
which, he said, might take off some of
the curse of the one man power system
His idea WAS that the city employees.
outside OF certain clerical positions.
should be selected by the board of public
works In this manner as no one would
know at the outset who was going to
be- on the board of public WORKS, it
would not be possible to carry out any
| pledges or trades.
Mr.. Pessell differed from Mr.. Munson,
a. he thought that a candidate for pres
ldent OF the council would make certai n
promises to mem bsrs for their votes and
reward them by placing them on the
board of public works.
Mr. Forman offered motion that the
council committee be requested to form
uiate their charter and submit it to the
public for discussion and analysis. This
was adopted. and Mr.. A. W. Latham
moved that the city attorney be con
snlled as to whether an alternative
proposition could be- submitted ae to
whether the mayor should control The
appointive power OF the different offices
or not. This wac carried.
The joint committee then adjourned
Ths Modern Beauty
rhrives on good food and sunshine, with
nlantv Of axarcise in the Oueu air. Her