The herald., 1894-11-16
What Some Citizens Think of
the Changes in the
Old Charter.
RADICAL CHANGES MADE.
summary OF the Amendm ,nts-It Rs-
mains for Our Citixsus to Decide
For or Against It at the
Ballot Boz.

The work Of revising and amending
the city charter has been completed,
and yesterday afternoon the council
adopted it as q whole. To be put into
force and effect. the charter must be ap-
proved by the legislature and voted
upon by the citizens Of Los Angeles.
The council met in adjourned session
at 8 O'Clock, and after transacting some
routine business, went to work upon the
final portion OF the charter amend
ments. They were passed, and without
Q dissenting vote the charter was
I'D opted.
WHAT THE PEOPLE THINK.
Several leading business men OF the
city were intervie we'd as to their opinion
OF the new charter. and all Of them ex-
pressed their belief that it was far bet
than the old one and would save the
city many Thousands OF dollars. One
protest, however, was filed by William
Llewellyn, D. Jones and John A. Carl
son, who expressed their disspproval OF
it as follows:
1--WE demand as substitute that the
section OF the charter wherein persons
for public Office are to be appointed by
the mayor or city council. or both, be
left to the voters Of this city to fill, pro-
Vided, however, that the chief of each
particular Office shall have the exclusive
power to appoint his own deputies and
Office assistants, as has been the custom
under the present city charter"
General Forman, in speaking Of the
charter, said:
II am pleased with all of the amend
men.s to the charter. except that think
il would be much better to have the
city engineer appointed by the mayor
and contir med by the council instead of
his being appointed by the council.
"The charter as amended will be a
great improvement. and, in my judg-
ment. will enable the council to save
thousands OF dollars each year in the
street department alone"
THE AMENDMENTS.
A study OF the amendments shows
that. if carried, the new charter will put
Los Angeles on an equal basis with
many leading cities OF the east. and be
the means of great saving to the people
and taxpayers. Below will be found
most of the important changes, though
noted briefly, but no attempt is m sde to
compare them with the present charter.
THE CITY OFFICERS.
The first important change noticed in
the charter 10 section 8, which shows
hat the officers of the municipality
shall be Q mayor, one councilman from
each ward, a city clerk, q mayors clerk,
city treasurer, city auditor, seven
members OF the board of education at
large. five directors of the public library,
q public librarian, city engineer, city
attorney, superintendent of buildings,
o water overseer, street superintendent,
five police com mmissioners, q chief of po-
lice, chief engineer of the fire depart
ment, five members of the board of
health, q health officer, five fire COM
missioners, five park commissioners,
three water commissioners, three build.
ing commissioners.
The following officers shall be elected:
The mayor, the city attorney, tho city
treasurer, the councilmen and the mem.
bsrs OF the board of education.
All other officers shall be appointed
90 follows: The mayors clerk, by the
mayor, and the auditor, the superin-
tendent Of buildings, members OF the
police, park and fire commissioners, the
building commissioners and the di-
sectors of the library, by the mayor,
subject to the confirmation of the
council.
The council shall appoint the city en-
sineer, the city clerk and the street su.
perintendent.
The city school superintendent shall
be appointed by the board of education,
the chief OF police by the police commits
sioners. the chief engineer by the ire
commissioners, the health officer by
the board of health, and the Librarian
BY the library directors.
The appointing power shall have the
power OF removal OF officials for cause;
the council shall have power to suspend
any officer OF the city pending trial,
against whom criminal proceedings
pased on misdemeanor In Office or civil
action for the recovery OF money due the
CITY, have been commenced, and the
council and the mayor shall appoint a
substitute during such suspension.
THE TAX LEVY.
The council shall on the first Monday
OF October in each year fix the rate of
the city taxes, and the taxes shall then
be collected by the county officers at the
same time and manner in which the
county and state taxes shall be collected;
provided. II the city council shall at any
time ordain that the city taxes shall be
assessed, levied, equalized and collected
by the city officers; the city council shall
have power to appoint q city assessor
and tax collector and provide for a
system OF collecting taxes and equaliz-
ing assessments.
SECRET SESSIONS.
Contrary to the old charter all sessions
Of the council, boards and commissions
may discuss business secretly, to be
acted upon openly.
CITY ENGINEERS DUTY.
The city engineer, in addition 10 the
duties noted in the present charter,
'hall have exclusive control Of ali pub !