The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-08-02

the rights of the public are to be pro
tected, and il corruption is TO ne pre-
vented, that the whole moral weight OF
the community should be so organized,
and when organized, so utilized, as to
strengthen the weak officials VINO are
subject to these influences; to sustain
the honest and to sternly overaWe the
corrupt.
SCRUTINY OF OFFICIAL ACTS
There should be a careful scrutiny OF
all official acts, and particularly of leg
islation proposed in council and espe-
ciaily that touching expenditures or
debt. There should be reports on clty
affairs and comparisons of past with
present expenditures, as well as with the
expenditures of other cities. THESE re
ports should be printed and circulated
among the people. The result of such
watchfulness is stimulating to the Off
Gals Can anyone doubt the effect OF
the ringing warning of the vigilance
league of New York, through their pres
ident, DIR. Parkhurst, That wherever
the administrative blood beats In this
city. the finger of the league shall be
upon 1t, counting it's pulsations?"
EXPERT STUDY OF FINANCES
There should be q study by experts
of the financial condition of the city, in
order to reduce its expenditures to
minimum, having in mind, of course.
the growing duties of municipalities, and
or increasing its revenues, While still
tightening its taxes. A municipality has
legitimate sources of income, among
them licenses and franchises, whose
values grow daily and whose profits,
constantly increasing. should flow into
the public treasury, instead of enriching
individuals or corpora lions, who simply
sit and guard their privileges builded
from nothing into fabulous fortunes,
wholly by the enterprise and from the
pockets of the people, taxpayers and
non taxpayers alike.
AS one of the first steps to improve
ment. the method of nominating should
be such that the simple citizen can have
a voice. So long as he is practically
disfranchised at the caucus, all reform
is throtted.
CIVIL SERVICE
The separation of city politics from ma
tlonal and state politics must be brought
ABOUT In order to have any effective or
lasting reform. But even with such sep
aration of elections, it has been found
that the cohesive effect of spoils at
stake at city elections Is such as to prac-
tlcally leave the party lines intact The
only complete remedy for this evil is to
do away with the offices as a stake in
the elections and take them out of poll
ties. If there be no Offices for the ring
TO control and dispose of to it's followers
the power of the ring is largely lost.
rms radical remedy in reform is met
ana overcome by the adoption of the
so-called civil service reform for city
affairs, by which man will not be given
| place because of political activity, but
because in fair. open competitive test
| he shows himself to be best fitted for
the work to be done.
| PROCURING LEGISLATION
| The success of such a movement me-
| cessarily implies the procuring of laws
| winch favor improvement in the city
| government, and the repeal of laws. or
charters, which in any way hamper or
interfere with the growth or improve
| ment of the city. Los Angeles realizes
that situation under her charter and the
difficulties attending any attempt to
| amend it,
| UNION OF REFORM FORCES
| Above all, movement of this nature
| should endeavor to bring together all
| or the forces which make for the public
| good in the city-the churches with
their vast influence; the workingmen's
| clups and their extended qualifications
social and fraternal orders; humanitar-
| ian, industrial and commercial bodies
| Among the most powerful aids to move
| ments of this kind have been the asso-
| cations of Christian Endeavor, which
| are composed of young people, full of
| enthusiasm and willing and anxious to
embark in any undertaking which tends
ways been an essential part of anv suc-
cess1ul movement; and they should be
urged TO take part in the movement
ilolii me beginning. In some of the
| movements, the influence of women hot h
IN CLUBS or individually, has been a
I most powerful aid, Their assistance
! mas been marked in reforms toucbine
schools, tenement houses. the cleaning
OF streets and other matters whose de-.
| force 'i pe' 'iiar
| The power of such combination vo,,
| organized and directed with good gon.
| eralshlp, was shown most astonishineIv
| at Chlcago last year, when the citizens
| were called on to vote upon a proposed
civil service law for the city. The citv
| federation had but 10 days to organize. to
| educate the people and to get out the
| vote; they placed 500 speakers in The
nela VINO talked at noon to the work.
| lngmen in the factories, and in the even
ing at mass meetings. The 500 pastors
OF the city were asked to sneak on tho
SUBJECT in their pulpits the Sunday be-
fore and every labor and fraternal or
ganization in the city was drawn into
the work AS result, the law was
adopted by $4,000 majority.
Prof Bryce has said that we fail in
our city government; but while we re-
MEMBER that, may we not remember
TOO, that the spirit of liberty and prog
ress-the genius of democratic institu-
tions-has guided us in upbuilding a
government for the people; has inspired
us in sustaining and Strengthening that
NOBLE structure; has led us in the paths
of science, labor and philanthropy TO
victories more brilliant than those of
the field of battle; and may we not take
courage from the past and confidently
nope that that same guiding genius
which is today pleading the cause of
peace and justice with our motherland
across the sea, may still lead us to a
triumphant success in the endeavor of
the people to free our cities from the
Shiny coils of political corruption and
degradation, which are strangling to
It's death the independence of patriotic
American manhood.
Where Blame Belongs
The RonuhlpaD bo eft