The herald., 1896-01-14
OPENING THE CAMPAIGN
The Mayor Message Sent to
the Council
CITY'S OWN WATER WORKS
Lining Up for the Republican Ticket
This Fall
ITY'S OWN WATER WORKS
One Chapter of the Document Is Devoted to
Economy-The Mayor Aimed to Cover
Lots of Ground

They are beginning to make politics
around the city hall for the municipal cam
paign of next winter. Mayor RAIDER yes
terday sent to the council the followng
'In closing the first year of the present
administration, it may be fitting to call
your attention briefly to the conditions
which have arisen during the first year OF
our incumbency in Office, and to make
some few suggestions with view to the
successful conducting of the business OF
the city for the ensuing year.
1.-THE present administration is pledged
to two great municipal policies. First, re-
trenchment in the expenditure Of money
wherever this retrenchment can be made
without crippling the growth and dignity of
the city. Second to forward in every man
ner possible the time when the municipal
ity shall own it's own water system.
"With the first of these questions in
view, shall discuss briefly the various de-
partments and the conditions which HOW
confront us by reason of the unprecedented
the past year has been almost phenomenal
in both public and private affairs, and the
necessary expenses of conducting the af-
fairs of the municipality have been in
creased by reason thereof. 1t is apparent
to any one that the administra-
ity, and especially the furnishing of
light. police protection, fire protection.
street sweeping, street sprinkling, and
other public necessities, must keep pace,
at least, if not in advance of, private inn
provement. For this reason it has been
almost impossiblein in year of such rapid
development in every portion of the city to
keep within the estimates made at a time
wheu no such wonderful growth could have
been anticipated. In any city, and in this
city especially, we must, in my opinion,
follow a liberal policy, keeping in mind
always that as public servants our zeal
must not get the better of our discretion
and permit expenditures in excess of the
appropriations for the year. | desire to
emphasize this point FOR the reason that |
am impressed with the fact that the EN-
suing year must witness On our part the
Inauguration and carrying out of a close
financial policy in order that we may meet
our obligations and preserve the present
magnificent credit of the city. Any bus-
ness in private affairs the expenditures of
which exceed its income can have but one
ending, the ruin of the credit of it's owner,
The same is true of the municipality, and
to maintain a healthy and prosperous con-
dltion the business of this city must be
conducted by you in the same manner
that careful business man would conduct
his own busidess under the same circum-
stances.
LIVERY department of the city govern
ment should be forthwith compelled to
conduct it's affairs within the estimate, and
l especially urge that the supply and
finance committees of your honorab @
body promptly and fearlessly check any
tendency on the part of the heads of de-
partments to increase their eXpend lures
beyond the limit of their allowance under
any preteXt whatever.
II am of the opinion that the purchasing
of supplies should be done by purchasing
department., consisting of certain men,
bers of your honorable body, whose duty
it should be to purchase all material and
supplies needed by the various depart
ments of the city government, and would
recommend that no supplies be paid for
excepting they be purchased through this
department. The present method of pur-
chasing supplies at different places and by
the heads of all the different departments
results in the city paying retail prices, at
least where those supplies could be OBJ
tanned at a much lower figure if the pur-
chasing were done through one source.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
'Nothing more surely testifies to the
growth of our city than the growth of the
public schools, and there is no better evil
dence of their prosperity than the fact that
they probably stand as high in educational
circles as the schools of any city in the
Union. The schools of this city have been
maintained in a most liberal manner and l
believe this to be the wish of our people
and to be in direct line with their senti-
ment. During the past year the people al
most unanimously voted 100000 with
which to build new school houses, and it
will not be uubecoming for me at
this time to congratulate your honor
able body and the people of the city upon
the commodious, well-lighted and thor
oughly equipped buildings which have re-
suited from the expenditure of this fund.
Even with this increased capacity, how
ever, we are scarcely keeping pace with the
rapid growth of the city. and our continued
prosperity means immediate consideration
of flu ure demands by this department. We
can more readily waive improvements
which tend to physical comfort and con-
venience than those which provide facii-
ties for the education of the youth of the
city. AS each year adds to the aggregate
of our school census, the expenditures must
increase accordingly, and while the de-
mands may appear burdensome. at times.
there is nothing of more vital importance
to our people. and 1 believe nothing in
which they feel a warmer interest than in
the public schools.
HEALTH
1.-THE work of this department reaches
into the homes of citizens of every class,
and its Importance in any community cam
not be overestimated. The health of city,
like that of an individual, is of primary inn
portance, and it is more essential to OBJ
serve wholesome precautions looking to the
preservation of the public health than to
enforce sanitary regulations. The inter-
ests intrusted to the board of health are the
interests of every citizen, and should re-
ceive the attention and hearty cooperation
of your honorable body and of the people,
''The subject of meat and milk inspec-
ton has received much attention by the
present board, and while the agitation of
this matter and the enforcement of strin-
gent measures may have been unpleasant
to the dealers in these commodities. it has.
believe, resulted in much good to the city
at large. l invite your earnest attention to
the report of the health officer, and ask a
careful consideration of the subjects and
recommendations made, fully believing
that prompt action upon the subjects indi-
Gated wili conduce greatly to the general
good health of the city.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
''If the patronage that a public library
receives at the hands of the people is an
index to the educational and literary tastes
of the city, then the people of Los Angeles
may safely be rated as standing at the
head of the cultured and educated people
of the cities of the United States. The
monthly average of books taken from the
public library is almost equal TO one-half
the population of the city, and is evidence
of the fact that the public fully appreciate
the great value of this library as a source
of education and recreation. The wonder
full success of this institution is unmis-
taxable evidence that in this city is now
crystaliziDg the culture, refinement and
education of the west