The herald., 1897-01-19
DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS
Heuc eforward on q Business and NOT q
Political Basis
The Machinery of the Municipal Government
Is Approved
Nv Those Taxpayers Who Have MOST
Vital Interest-The Business Men,
Property Holders and Labor
ing Element in Line

"I shall distinguish such as I esteem to
be the hinderers of reformation INTO tiree M
sorts: !. Antiquarians tlor so nsa Iahors
call them than antiquaries, whose ldpots
are useful and laudable). 2, IAoertl"vs.
g. Politicians. Milton.
The immortal composer of Paradise
Lost may have been bereft of sight, but
he evidently had his perceptive faoul-
ties 30 trained as to be able to diagnose
the disease which afflicted the body
polite with greater accuracy than the
average man rejoicing in the possession
Of q most acute vision.
And the "hinderers of reformation
have not changed much since the days
when Milton wrote. Mans ENVIRON
ment may have changed but man HIM
self we'll. "can the leopard change his
spots?"
Today there are citizens who sys-
tematically oppose change of any de-
scription because it is change, ana al
together apart from any merit the
change may imply These, fortunately,
are not numerous, albeit we'll meaning
for the stand they take is opposed TO the
genus of the average American. 80
those citizens who are opposed TO the
amendments to the new charter can
scarcely be classed under the head OF
"antiquarians."
All Of those who choose to enroll them
selves under the second heading may do
SO, but while it must be confessed that
1t has representation it is under the
heading of the third claSS-polltIclans
that the opponents of the new charter
find their true status. But there are
politicians-and politicians. GOOD OLD
John Milton was pretty good politician
himself, if report speaks truly, but not
of the kind to which reference is mace
above. Those are they who are
pledged to their own advancement and
the success of their party as means TO
subserve their own private ends; IN
other words, the ''shyster politician, to
use the campaign vernacu!ar. And these
truly are opposed to the new charter and
not without cause.
There are two ways Of judging the
merits of the new charter The first is
in examining into what the reforms that
will be inaugurated under its warrant
anG the dement's that will accrue to the
public generally, and the other is to es-
innate the character and standing of the
people it Is liable to hurt. Viewed in this
light it Is certain that all those who
have found either profit or pleasure in
appointments to city office being made
subject to party strife will be hurt Sc
verely The municipal elections under
the new charter will be comparatively
dull affairs for men will be chosen for
public office on account of their busi-
ness sagacity, rather than for party
purposes, and this cannot be adVan-
tageous to the politician
That the business community is as one
in the demand being made for municipal
reform may be CLEANED from the general
expressions of opinion in favor of the
charter made by business men. Yester-
day a number of prominent business
men. many of them giving employment
to q large staff of work people, were
asked to give their opinion regarding
the charter and with the following re-
suit:
TAXPAYERS ARE STOCKHOLDERS
John F. Francis, capitalist. Main
street.-The new charter Will have the
practical effect of lifting municipal ar
fairs from out of the political arena. Ii
was not drawn by those having the mat
ter in hand, and who were of varying
political faith, with any intent to 'pur-
ify politics-to use a very common term
only to seggregate the business affairs
Of the city from that which has neither
art or part with it. Taxpayers are
stockholders, really, in the city corpor-
alton, and it matters not to them whether
a. profit is returned to them under the
management of men who believe a high
tariff to be a blessing or curse to the
country at large. 1t does make all the
difference, however, when the officials
for carrying on the affairs of this larS'
city corporation are attained by th'
doubtful methods obtaining during {
heated political campaign. For tina
reason the new charter wisely provides
that the city election shall take plac,
In the spring and not as heretofore in the
fall. The incentives, too are all II
favor of business men and not politi
clans being returned to office"
A. L. Brown. Hyams, Brown q Co., ths
The Hub clothing store, Spring street
"Our firm is really San Francisco one
but we have large interests here, anC
consequently have vital concern II
all that affects this city. l think tina
the adoption of this new charter means
an impetus given to the city along bust
ness lines. ] do not believe that the city
government ought to be made subser
Went to party politics. but ought to bC
administered as a business concern fol
the benefit of the people a large who are
interested in it as a business venture ,
]. S. Slauson, Bryson block-"Whilt
the charter may not be all that each in
Q1VlQudl cOuIu WlSH-HO Sucn cndrtel
ever will be devised--yet, this new char.
ter is a great advance on the old one
These amendments make possible al
economical business-lke administra
tion of the citys affairs, and if they are
not sanctioned by the people at the poll:
many years will elapse and full time bt
afforded for repentance before another
and equally good charter will be drawn >
]. H. Braly, Savings Bank of Southern
California, member of the board of edu
cation-"The strong points Of tn,
new charter are the fixing OF responsi
bility, and the election of councilmen q
large These, with the minor appoint
ments made under civil service rules
will ensure competent business men ad
ministering the city and the end of 30
litical chickering's We want reduc
ton in taxation and many other things It
place Los Angeles in lire with other pro
gressive cities, and all this we will re
under such an administra ton as con
templated by the new charter"
RESPONSIBILITY IS FIXED
o,1y nj 4