The herald., 1897-02-25
some INSIDE POLITICS
Methods of the City Coun-
Gil Explained
THE REASONS FOR TUESDAYS ACTION
A Somewhat Involved but Very
Interesting Story
THE BOILER INSPECTORSHIP
Played an Important Part ia the Board
of Health Ordinance
THE BOILER INSPECTORSHIP
II Was a Case OF "You Tickle M: and III
Tickle You
President Silver ana Mr.. Nickel the Only
Members Who Were Not In the D.aL
The Street Sweeping Contract
an Important Factor
The unprecedented action of the city

The unprecedented action of the city
| council on Tuesday in passing
an ordinance taking from the
! board of health the appointment
of sub-officials of that department
caused much talk among the place hunt
ers and loungers about the city hall yes
terday besides exciting considera bic
CONSERVATION among the gentlemen who
| do politics" in municipal matters
| There was but one opinion, and that was
that the move was purely political one
an effort on the part of the councilmen
to corral little patronage, and thereby
relieve the pressure which is being
brought to bear by their henchmen.
A Herald reporter yesterday inter
viewed several of those who are sup
posed to be ION the inside" and it is be-
| lieved learned the true inwardness of
the whole proposition. 1t is a some
what involved story, but 1t is worth
! reading, as illustrating the methods by
which 1--WE do politics" in Los Angeles.
AS generally understood, the whole
thing is apparently to be fight over the
street sweeping and garbage contracts,
both matters being controlled by the
| health office, with the boiler Inspector
| ship as side issue, by which the deal
was worked. When street sweeping
first commenced the price was high
enough to make a very good profit in
deed, with very little work. AS the
| mileage of streets increased the price of
course FELL until it reached about $40
! mile, the lowest figure at which the
nv.1y l1. dow ) to 4
contract, and make a profit. Ramish
! 4 Marsh and Alexander & Gibson both
have had the contract at this figure, ap-
proXimately, and, it is assumed, made
| money. Something over two years ago
w. /. Hollingsworth entered the field as
bidder and took the contract at a
very low figure, $3.50 a mile, 1t was
| freely asserted that the work could not
be done for this money. and the council
OF 1S95-96 annulled the contract and
| awarded the work to a man named
Budinger at $S.62 a mile, an advance OF
something over SO a mile. 1t was al
ways understood that Jack Vaughn, the
boss of the Fourth ward, was interested
In the contract, and that Hollingsworth
| also bad an interest. There is no doubt
but what the old councilmen were very
friendly to these contractors, for they
were in no hurry to advertise for bids
when it expired, and it was only after
repeated calls had been made by the
Herald for the gentlemen to do their
duty that they finally acted. 1t was
freely stated that there would be no
change until after the municipal Repub-
lican convention, and such proved TO be
the case. At any rate, the contract was
finally awarded to a man named Duns-
comb at $5.62 a mile or thereabouts
Hollingsworth promptly entered into
an agreement with Dunscomb by which
i,,fo l.;
they have since been doing the work
In the meantime the city election was
approaching, and Hollingsworth, realiz-
ing the Importance of having friendly
inspector of street sweeping. began lay
ing his plans accordingly. At the same
time Messrs. Ram.sh q Marsh, who
knew that the work could not be done
properly under the specifications at the
figures. set about checkmating that
gentleman, and by having the contract
carried out to the letter, compelling Hol-
lingsWorth to throw up the job. when 1t
would have to be readvertised. All this. it
must be remembered. was before the
election. Messrs. Ramish & Marsh, as
Democrats, supported Mr. Snyder, il be-
ing generally understood that these
gentlemen. in consideration of their SER
vices should have the patronage of the
health of1icer-that is, the inspector of
street sweeping and the sanitary in
spectors. Hollingsworth moved his camp
down into the Seventh ward to help Mr.
Ashman's campaign fund Mr.. Ashman,
1t was understood, would appoint an in
spector friendly to Hollngsworth in the
person of Mr.. Fersch.
The election came off in due time, and
both Messrs. Snyder and Ashman were
elected. And then the fun commenced
in earnest. After some delay the ap-
pointments We're made by the health
hoo rI - Il I i
Inspector of street sweeping, with
Messrs. RetZer, SieWicke and Wright as
sanitary inspectors. A rear at orce
went up that at least three of the four
were Marsh men, including the street
sweeping inspector Fersch did not even
get in as an inspector, having to give
way to Wright, whose pull was the
strongest. AS soon as Morris took Of
flee he proceeded to make life burden to
Mr.. Hollingsworth. 1t is alleged that
although the contractor was paid to
sweep Main street every night he fire.
quently overlooked it in the rush of bust
ness, and he was told that this would
have to be remedied. Other bad work
was pointed out from time to time, and
the inspectors We're also making things
lively for Hollingsworth for violation of
the dumping ordinance, that gentleman
having purchased fifteen acres of waste
land in the old river bed, which he was
filling up With the street sweepings.
Meanwhile the demands upon the coun-
cilmen for places continued. Fersch
was becoming importunate, and other
members who had followers who Were
equally persistent, and some way out of
the difficulty had to be found. 1t was
known that councilman Baker was very
desirous of securing the scalp of the
boiler inspector. Charley Waters. it be-
ing alleged that that official had been
using his influence in the interest of a
rival iron works. 1t was known that it
would require seven votes to carry out
the scheme over the mayors veto, and
that gentleman was taken in, he to vote
for the board of health ordinance and
nave the appointment of the new boiler
inspector, and each of the other members
were TO have the naming of one man for
the health department, there being six
Jobs. Neither President Silver nor Mr.
Nlckell were taken into the combine and
II is claimed knew nothing about It,
Everything being in readiness, all that