The herald., 1894-12-09
FUTILE OPPOSITION.

There ia little opposition to the pro-
posed charter amendments and what
ever objection has thus far developed is
lacking in strength and cogency. For
instance. it has been urged BY one or
two political manipulators that the pro.
vision whereby some OF the city Offices
will be filed by appointment is IAN ef-
fort to deprive the people OF their cher.
ished rights" Thia is buncombe OF she
rankest sort. 1t is true that the pro.
posed reform will curtail the patronage
of the boss and very materially lessen
HE ..iiSS iiSS taiasIos'' III cortain directions,
but it is absurd to say that ths interests
of the people will be in any way affsctsd
to their detriment.
The municipality can only be regard
ed az Q great corporation doing business
in q practical, economical way; other-
wise the government is in bad hands
and must be reformed. Evil conditions
may operate in the best government in
the world and no scheme can be devised
by which these can be utterly obviated
unless the people themselves are honest
and Trustworthy, and capable Of electing
their representatives and agents with
judgment "a to integrity and ability.
Regarding the government Of this city.
from strictly business point OF view.
comparisons are in order % serving to
emphasize the proposition. There ia
not citizen in Los Angeles who, if he
were . stockholder in an ordinary
company organized TO transact ordinary
business. would expect that all the
stockholders should engage in the selec-
tion Of this cumpany's employees. 1t
would be sufficient to elect a
board of directors, q general manager
and few other officers perhaps, whose
duties would be independent. so far as
the exercise of business Judgment is
concerned all other employees would be
chosen by those elected to manage the
business, thus rendering the adminis-
trstion harmonious and systematic.
Again, outside OF municipal corpora
tion, no citizen of good judgment would
accept q position OF trust or responds
bility il that responsibility included the
unknown capabilities and character OF
his subordinates-elected independent
of his will or appreciation.
In this direction it may be claimed
with sbsolute certainty that one of the
best reforms proposed by the amended
charter is that which makes the office Of
street superintendent appointive. Il
has been tie good fortune of Los Ange-
les to secure city councils composed for
the most part of men we'll versed in affairs
pertaining to this particular depart
ment, which is one OF the most import.
ant executive branches Of the govern
ment. It is the duty OF councilman to
be especially vsrsed in the requirements
Of the ward he representa-. of which
street improvement is among the most
important. All street work is ordered
only after discussion and consultation
by the council, and is completed by
their consent and under their direction.
1t is therefore logical that they should
control the appointment of the Off
cial who is to execute their orders. To
claim otherwise ia ridiculous.
If the opponents of the amendments,
who are also the enemies Of progress and
reform, cannot advance more tenable
arguments. they might as we'll cease
their feeble efforts to defeat this popular
effort to perfect the organic law of the
municipality.