The herald., 1897-01-17
than when the mayor is only one of nine
equally powerful and Independent Of

than when the mayor is only one of nine
| equally powerful and Independent Of
| ficials.
EASTERN EXAMPLES.
@. Is this federal" system in vogue
in other cities?
A. With more or less change 1t exists
in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Cleveland,
Indianapolis, Columbus. st. Louis, Min
neapolis, Greater New York and in many
smaller cities. In some Of these cities
only the mayor and council are elected.
| In some of the larger ones two or three
| additional officers are chosen and are
made subordinate to the mayor or under
the councils. direction. Substantially
| this same plan is in force IN a score of
eastern citfeS of a size approximating
Los Angeles.
| Q. Has the plan worked advantage
ously?
| A. So much so that no discussions is
ever heard OF a return to the old "hide-
and-seek" plan.
ELECTING COUNCILMEN
| @. Why do you propose to elect coun-
cilmen by general vote of the entire
city?
| A. To Insure the election of able,
| broad-guage men and to keep out those
unsuited to the position. Nine-tenths
Of all the questions that come before a
| councilman relate to the city at large,
not merely to his own ward.
| @. Then there will be no ward repre-
| sentation,?
| A. There will be, because it Is provided
| that not more than one councilman can
be elected from any one ward Of the city.
| @. Why does this provision meet with
| such vigorous opposition from men who
| are active in politics?
| A. Because it prevents them from put
| ting up jobs in the wards whose votes
| they can control.
CIVIL SERVICE RULES
| @. What is meant by the civil service
system? &
A. Subordinate positions in the city
I offices will be filled by those who are
| selected for their ability to do the work,
instead of those who happen to have a
political pull.
O. How will these subordinates be
| chosen?
| A. All subordinate positions will be
| filled by the appointment cf successful
| candidates for the various positions,
| who must pass a rigid examination on
| their proficiency to discharge the duties
of the position to which they aspire
| These examinations will be conducted
! by a civil service commission, precisely
| as examinations are now conducted to
| fill vacancies in positions under the U.
| S. government The positions will be
open to all citizens of Los Angeles who
are able to pass the examinations.
| @. What advantage will there be In
that? :
| A. Better service and vastly less poll
| tics and wire pulling in the city hall; the
| opportunity open to honest and capable
citizens without political influence to
secure work in the city offices.
| @. Does this turn out of office those
who are now in 1t?
| A. Not until their term expires.
| O. Won't this meet with opposition?
| A. The push" Is unanimously against
| it, although many of them will attribute
| their opposition to the new charter to
| other causes
LIMIT OF TAXATION
G. What effect will the new charter
| have on taxes?
| A. II limits the tax rate to 81 on the
| $100 of valuation Under the present
| charter the rate ranges from 81 10 to 81 &c
| per 500 valuation business admins
| tration under the new charter viii give
| better results with a 81 assessment
than we receive under the present char
| ter with an assessment of $40
! TO THE LABORER'S INTEREST
| G. Is this a rich mans charter?
| A. BY no means. True, 1t will effect
| a lowering Of the tax rate and thus fav-
orably effect all property owners But
the new charter will result In producing