The herald., 1896-01-14
THE MAYORS MESSAGE

Mayor RAIDERS first annual message,
submitted yesterday to the council,
will prove an interesting document to
the taxpayers and weli-wishers of the
city. OF necessity ii is somewhat
superficial review of the various city
departments and of some of the mu-
nicipality's principal needs. 1t abounds
with suggestions which are in the main
excellent and deserving of prompt and
serious consideration on the part of
the council and the citizens.
The mayor throws out some strong
hints about the necessity Of exercising
economy in the municipal depart
ments, and the absolute Importance of
keeping expenditures within the limit
of the appropriations for the year.
Some officials might clip this portion
of the message and paste the clipping
whore it may be read easily and fire.
quently. What the mayor said about
the rapid growth of Los Angeles in
creasing proportionately the expenses
of local government, and necessitating
more liberal expenditures for i'm
provements, is unquestionably true,
and there is no doubt about
the need of larger appropriations for
the ensuing fiscal year, and, of course,
the tax levy must be adjusted accord
mgly. But if certain economies had
been practiced from the beginning of
the present administration the appro-
priations for the present year would
have proven sufficient and deficiency
would not be looming up. 1t is to be
hoped that the municipalities financial
needs will be accurately estimated
hereafter and tax levy sufficient to
cover them be made. The deficiency
habit is bad one, and with fair de-
gree Of accuracy in estimating the
needs of the city government and strict
honesty and economy in the expend-
iture of the money provided, it can be
avoided.
The recommendation relative to the
police department are certainly to be
concurred in. AS the mayor says, "the
great growth of the city and the fact of
its covering such large area" demand
an increase in the police force. The
paucity of the latter is easily apparent to
any observant person. With g total force
of eighty-two men, sixty-three only are
available for patrol duty, and this num-
Der is divided by three watches. A
very casual acquaintance with the city
will suggest the positive inadequacy
of such police protection. The num-
ber of patrolmen should be at least
doubled. A patrol force of 126 men at
present would be none too ample, and
with the remarkable increase in popu-
lation and expansion of territory that
this city is now experiencing it is safe
to say that before another twelve
months has gone $50 patrolmen will
not be too many.
From the remarks relative to the
municipal ownership of the water
works and water supply it is evident
that the mayor still has certain cam
paign pledges in mind. AS he says,
there is little reason for the people
postponing further consideration of
the subject. But the mayor commits
. grievous error in saying that the
people should give immediate attention
to the matter because the water COM
pany's plant is growing more and
more expensive" The plant is only
becoming expensive as additions are
made to it to meet the requirements of
the growing city, and these additions
and improvements would have to be
made by the city if the latter owned
the waterworks. It ia not the plant,
but the water rights that are growing
more expensive in the sense that the
mayor means. AS population increases
and the reatness of the city is assured
the value of these water rights will ad-
vance, and the longer the city defers
the purchase the higher will be the
price to pay.
In advising caution and prudence in
regulating the prosecution of manufac-
turing industries within the city lin
its the mayor has, beyond doubt, in
view legislation of the kind represented
by the ordinance to regulate oil refin-
ing now pending and adverted to re-
!cently by THE HERALD. The mayors
edmonition is eminently sensible and
should be needed.