The herald., 1896-10-30
THE PLATFORM
The League Sets Forth It's Aims, OBJ.
jects and Principles


The committee on platform and reso-
lutfons reported as follows:
First-We look upon the city offices.
not as prize spoils to be parceled ogt 70
the politicians who can most successfully
caucuses and set UP COM
binations. but as business positions in
volving duties of serious character,
which should be filled by men of known
standing in the community who have
the ability to properly carry on the
work. We believe that the city is al-
ready the loser in many hundreds of
thousands of dollars through the cleo
tion of unworthy men to responsible po-
sitions, and we call upon the people Of
Los Angeles to pause and reflect before
they go farther in this unwise course.
Second-We denouce the present sys-
tenn of city government by partisan pol
itics, whereby the tax paying and law
and order elements of the city are di-
vided into two hostile camps, the more
easily to be vanquished, and whereby
the nomination of unworthy men is
readily secured through the packing of
caucuses and the trading of delegates
in convention. We call attention to the
fact that this state of affairs in the city
Is steadily growing worse under this
system; that taxes have been at max
imum the last two years and they give
no promise of reduction; that our
streets have never been in so filthy a
condition as during that period; that
our paving is going to pieces before it's
time; that the administration in certain
offices is conspicuously inefficient; and,
In short that the city of Los Angeles,
which contains a progressive and intel
fpIa Of
taxes without complaint, city which
ought to be one of the best cared for
and most economically governed in the
union, Is, we regret to say, now making
poor business of it's municipal affairs
But while we declare against the par
tisan .spoils system, by which this state
of things has come to pass we do not
hesitate to commend those officials who,
In spite of unfavorable surroundings,
have labored hard to do their full duty
to the city.
ThirdWe maintain that the exist
ing charter is not adapted to the city's
needs, for the reason that under it's
workings numerous unnecessary ex-
penses are incurred, the legislative and
executive functions are blended
and confused, official RESPONSE
bility is evaded, and the public
service suffers. The example of leading
cities shows that the most successful
results are secured when the council is
confined to its province as a legislative
body, and the chief executive is at the
same time made responsible for his ad-
ministration, with the power of appoint
ment of heads of departments and the
right to remove them if their work
proves unsatisfactory. To secure this
end the charter should be so amended
as to bring the city out of it's present
provincial limitations, and, as a neces-
sary accompaniment a system of civil
service reform should be enacted, under
which office holders from the highest
to the lowest should learn that their
duty to the city is paramount to the
claims OF any party; that the spoils of
once nave no recognition in an honest
municipal government, and that efficient
faithful government will be recognized
as the chief title to continuous employ
ment.
Fourth-We appreciate that the most
serious issue to come before the city au-
thorities during the next two years
relates to our water supply, and we in
sist that the rights of the people and
their future health and welfare shall be
zealously guarded. We favor the mu-
niciual ownership of the water system,
by whatever means it can be equitably
and economically secured We recog-
nize, however, the undoubted fact that
.A-NAAASAP@'A =" sup VI d water system
is not to be obtained by a mere declara-
tion In it's favor, but that intelligent
business negotiations, careful planning
or extensive engineering work and
many other lines of effort must be put
forth to bring it to pass, and we warn our
people that in such a crisis the first
and greatest safeguard lies in the selec-
tion for mayor, councilmen, city attor-
ney and city engineer, of men of high
q koo
in the community, and who can be de-
pended upon to do their duty in the face
of any temptation that may assail them.
Fifth-While we favor the strictest
economy in the administration of the
city's affairs, and demand that all mon
ey paid out in municipal improvements
should bring its full value in the results
accomplished, we do not favor mig
gardly policy in the matter of city work.
We believe that Los Angeles is destined
to be great city and that 1t should
have parks, boulevards, drives, public
buildings, a school system, a water sys-
tenn and all other forms of modern civic
improvements commensurate with its
future destiny, and as the growth of the
city may require. We believe moreover
that the laborer Is worthy of his hire.
and that those cities and countries are
the most prosperous where the rates of
labor are the highest, and for that rea-
son we believe that the city, being a
prominent employer of labor, should
pay full rates, and allow fair time, should
employ none but resident voters on pub
lie work, and should require all who do
work for the city under contract to abide
by these rules in the employment of
labor.
Sixth-We beg to call the attention of
the thoughtful citizens of Los Angeles
and Of all the state to the successful
operation of the postal primary system
of voting for party candidates as exem-
plified in the ballot recently taken in
the League for Better City Government
Actual experience with this system has
convinced us that it is beyond all doubt
the best method of obtaining fair and
unbiased expression Of the voters as to
their candidates for office and their Sc
lection of delegates to the convention.
BY this process the cornering of nomi-
nation through political chicanery Is
rendered absolutely impossible, and the
best judgment of the largest number
Is made supreme. We recommend this
plan especially to our members of the
legislature from this section of the state,
and urge that they secure the passage OF
q primary law at the next session which
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