The herald., 1894-07-28
WILL REMAIN ON THE PAY ROLL
No Reduction in License Col
Letting Expenses.
The Revenue Is Reduced But That
Is All.
An Ordinance which Transfers an EN-.
ployes From One Offics TO An
other-How n Big Saving
Can BE Made.

1t is recent history that the council
paesed an ordinance taking the license
off the merchants OF Los Angeles. II is
equally true that this action reduced the
revenue OF the city $25 900 per nnnum.
In view Of this marked cnt in the re-
ceipts OF the city it is natural that the
taxpayers should expect that by reason
OF the marked diminution in the labor
Of collecting licenses from hundreds Of
merchants who have been exempted
under the new ordinance, that there
would be corresponding decrease in the
running expenses of the tax and license
collectors Office. At the present time
the cost Of operating this Office in esla.
ries alone is $1,000. and while one or two
OF the councilmen emitted gentle roars
in line with this theory, not hing has
been done looking to cut down in this
expense.
At the last meeting OF the council.
however, an ordinance was passed and
is now lying ON the desk of Mayor
Rowan, awaiting his approval or veto,
that illustrates the usual municipal
method of juggling with those worthies
who are fortunate enough to be on the
public payroll. In substance this or.
dinance provides that one license COL
lector ahsll be dropped from the payroll
Of the license collector. In the next
paragraph. however, 1t stipulAtes
that there ehall be added to
the force of the city clerks Office |:
Zone license inspector, who shall re.
ceive a salary of $50 per month. II
shall be the duty of said license inspec.
tor to assist the deputies of the tax and
license collectors Office in reporting all
violations of the license ordinances, al
we'll as to gee that all persons shall taks
outlicense as required by the ordinances
OF said city, and he shall also procure.
endorse and assist in the prosecution Of
all persons violating the provisions Of
the license ordinances"
In other words the deputy 10 removed
from one Office to another and deeig-
mated by a different label, but still re-
maine on the pay roll. Some of the
sapient advocates of this change, say
that by making an inspector Of q collec-
tor the revenus OF the city will be greatly
enlarged. If this is true, why Was he
not put to work on commission; and IL
it not equally true in that event that
the license collectors in the past have
been grossly neglecting their duties?
1t ia exceedingly rare that case OF
selling liquor without license is devel-
oped, and the reason therefor Ia that the
sellers OF liquor are under the supervi-
sion of the police department.. Now
the law requires that the police shall re-
port all violations OF the city ordinances.
Is it not fair to assume that If they fe.
ceived specific Instructions to report all
persons liable under the new license or.
dinance for violations of the same along
the line of their beats that q much
more efficient enforcement OF the or
dinance would be effected? The city
ordinances are very plain on this point,
and If the police force was held ~.
countable all license violators would bs
reported, the revenue increased, and an
opportunity given to cut down the grow
ing expenses of the city tax collectors
from $1,000 per annum to $500.