The herald., 1896-10-30
CALLED TO ORDER.
A Brief Morning Session at Which Lit
tie Was Done,

1t was 1875 o'clock when President s.
B. Lewis called the league convention
to order. 1t took the delegates about the
They talked and "chinned" each other
just like ordinary mortals, but finally
they got down to business.
Secretary Charles S. Walton read the
call for the convention, a purely formal
affair.
At the conclusion of the reading of the
call Percy R. Wilson nominated for tenn
porary chairman Charles D. Willard.
The mention Of Mr.. Willard's name
was received with applause of the
heartiest kind. Jay e. Hunter AMI
Frank Scheidler seconded the nomina-
ton.
On motion of T. E. Gibbon it was made
by acclamation.
Mr.. Willard came to the stage and
made brief speech thanking the con-
vention for the honor conferred upon
him. He took occasion to give his old
confreres-the newspaper men-a
kindly mention. Mr.. Wizards remarks
met with hearty applause.
On motion of John r. Francis the nom
ination of c. s. Walton as secretary was
made by reclamation.
Fred l.. Allies moved that the chairman
appoint three committees-seven on res
olutions, five on rules and order of bus
mess and five on credentials.
A recess of five minutes was declared
to enable the chairman to select the COM
mittees.
When the convention reassembled
Chairman Willard announced the ap-
pointment of the following commit
tees:
Platform-F. L. Allies, William Prid-
ham, James Gunner, o. Morgan, w. I.
Washburn, Gregory Perkins, jr., o. G..
McWain.
Order of business-J. R. Newberry, s.
A. Butler, Robert McGarvin, P. r. Will
Credentials-W D. Woolwine, H. M.
Sale, F. A. Pattee, Jay e. Hunter. e. H.
Woodman.
The committees then retired for busi-
ness and the convention took recess
while delegates made addresses.
REMARKS BY DELEGATES.
Major H. T. Lee was called upon to
make an address. He spoke to members.
not as delegates, but as stockholders Of
the great corporation of Los Angeles.
First. he referred to the work of revising
the charter and the vast amount of labor
involved. The old charter had long since
outlived it's usefulness. The business
and development Of the city demanded
the revision. He paid some attention to
the proposed amendments. The time
for holding the city election is changed
TO the month of March. The new charter
has endeavored to separate the legisla-
tive from the executive Departmental
change that seems highly necessary.
The duties of the mayor are defined
Much of the political power is removed
from his control. Under the present plan
If we have bad mayor we have bad
appointments. If we have a corrupt
council we are certain to have bad ad-
ministration. The council. instead Of
being elected by wards. is to be elected
at large. This gives the voters of the
whole city an opportunity to pass judg-
ment on candidates The same plan is
suggested as to electing the board of
education. The proposed new charter
favors the enforcement of civil service
this latter plan most admirable. 1t
placed the business Of the city on busi-
ness basis. 1t meant efficient work.
T. E. GIBBON SPEAKS
He said the gentleman who set about
revising. the charter looked upon the
conduct Of city affairs as a simple busi-
ness proposition-a matter of dollars and
cents. In every we'll conducted busi-
ness house there must be responsible
neaO, anu every department Has d SUD-
head, etc. The administration Of the
city at present is not conducted on busi-
ness principles. Mr.. Gibbon illustrated
this by pointing out the many defects
in the management OF the city's affairs,
and took up the matter of consolidating
some of the offices. The proposed power
Of the mayor was referred to and COM
mented on. 1t is necessary to have con-
centration of power The desirability
of electing councilmen at large Is quite
apparent.
HENRY O'MELvENEY TALKS
This charter agitation, he said. has
been going on for two years. If the
amendments to the charter are carried
the city will be greatly benefited. Mr..
O'Melveney did not consider the old
charter UP to date. He favored the con-
centration of power of the mayor. and
making him responsible; he also favored
the civil measures proposed by the new
charter. Az the city progresses the "po-
litical bogs' Is certain to thrive by the
distrihutton ~ once and the way to kill