The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-11-30
Room is, NO. 1l11a 8. Spring at.
City Charter Amsudmsnts

EDITOR HERALD I'm glancing over
the proposed amendments to the city
charter, one ia struck most forcibly with
the fundamental change that 10 sought
to be made in the method of our city
government, in asking the people to
surrender their sovereign right to choose
the officers who shall rule over them.
Are the citizens Of our city ready to
acknowledge that a government BY the
people is q failure2 That we are incom-
petent to elect all the officers that man.
age and control the vital affairs Of our
city government?
One may we'll ask: Why should the
city attorney and treasurer be chosen by
the people any more than many Of the
other officers that are made appointive
by the proposed amendments?
If the people are competent to choose
by ballot the mayor, city attorney,
treasurer, council and board OF educa-
ton why should they surrender their
right to vote for and elect all other ad-
authoritative officers. including police
commissioners? Why should 80 many
OF the city officers put in authority over
us be left to the appointment OF the
IunyO hAu COuuCllI ARC bncbO ekVhtu
of the people better and wiser than the
people who choose them? 1t is easier to
bride few individuals than it is the
age you bestow upon any administrative
or executive officer the better. The
people should be chary Of surrendering
their sovereignty.
Why should we be going backward
toward autocratic power when the ad-
vanced thought OF the day is toward
giving the people q more direct voice
in everything pertaining to government.
al affaire notably the election of United
States senators, and president even, by
. direct vote of the people?
Note how far the chief Of police 10
from the voice of tho people in his seleo.
ton. The people elect a mayor and
council, who appoint police commits.
sioners, who appoint chief of police
O wheel within wheel, SO to speak
the third remove from the popular
voice.
How much crookedness could not a
corrupt mayor and Q majority OF the
council be guilty of with all the patron
age proposed to be given them? Out
upon O scheme to take the conduct Of
public affairs from the control OF the
people! Per contra. let them assume
some of the rights they have heretofore
delegated.
2. After having left from the list Of
city officers assessor and collector, why
was it provided in section 40 that the
city council could nullify the charter in
that regard and restore the old order OF
things as to the collection of revenues.
and find two fat places for the henchmen
of somebody? Why did the revisers
thus play fast and loose with the propo-
eition to abolish the Offices of assessor
and collector and let the county ASSESS
ment of the city stand for city purposes.
and the city revenue be collected by the
county collector?
1t is practicable, nothing intricate
about it, 10 not q new thing, and no
such proviso was called for. And said
section should have provided explicitly
how the thing should be done.
For example, without providing any
way for having before it an authorita-
| tive statement OF the amount OF the
city assessment, section 40 says the
council shall fix the rate OF the city
taxes, which rate shall be certified to
the county auditor, without imposing
any duty upon MIN, or directing him
what to do with reference to it.
8. Increasing the term of Office of
coun cilmen and members OF the board
of education from two to four years is
| Objectionable. Two years is too long
| for q bad one, and the end of that
period fit time for the best one TO sur.
render the trust and 60 to the people for
an endorsement if he wants the place
again. The people should not put the
| control of municipal affairs out of their
hands by such long terms.
| The salary of the chief OF police 10
put at the same figure as city attorney.
The latter office elective. and really re-
curing native ability and legal learning
of no mean order, is put upon the same
footing, 80 far as remuneration is con-
, cerned, with an appointive one, re.
curing good, shrewd common sense and
education only OF an ordinary character.
A Fouche, euch as Napoleon had, would
command more than the ordinary run.
But the ordinary run for cities Of this
size can be had for lsss. and could earn
no moro than half the sum il turned
out to make living for themselves.
s. How does the provision in section