The herald., 1898-08-06
MAYOR TO Be MASTER
CHARTER MAKERS GIVE HIM
EXTENSIVE POWERS
FREEH0LDERS PROGRESSING
Reports on Legislative and Executive
Departments Received-Change
in Construction of Council

who are charged with forming charter
for the city are making considerable prog
ress, though a visitor to their meetings
would not be apt to think so, for they 40
a great amount of talking all around every
point that comes up, but manage always 70
finally get back to the starting point ana
Go execution. The various committees to
which were referred the different divisions
Of the work have been assiduous in their
labors, and very soon the document Will
assume definite shape, though it does now
seem bit incoherent.
At last nights meeting Messrs. Cohn,
Graft. Croft Hazard, Millard. Morgan,
O'Melveney, Stephens and Chairman Lee
were present.
Mr.. Graft, chairman of the committee on
the legislative department. read most ex-
haustive report of sixty-three typewriter
pages Its chief points were: The council
10 consist of twelve members, seven to be
elected from seven wards, one from each,
and five members to be elected at large
each to receive $1,000 yearly. The powers OF
the body are largely the same as now ex-
list, with the exception Of the removal from
II of the appointing of the various boards,
which is given TO the mayor. The terms of
office are to be four years, so arranged that
half of the council go out OF office every
two years.
1t was first provided that the council
should rely on the county assessor and tax
collector to conduct that portion of the
city's business but this was changed. after
considerable discussion, on motion of Judge
Stephens, so that the city will continue TO
do that work, but will have an assessment
of real estate once only in five years, the
council 10 equaize this every year as may
be found expedient Provision is also to
be made that property cannot be trans
ferred without due notice to the assessor,
so that it may always be assessed TO the
proper owner
Chairman OMelveney of the committee
on executive department and officers then
read his report, which was partially acted
upon. The officers and their method of Sc
lection are in this report set forth as fol-
lows:
The officers Of the city of Los Angeles
shall be a mayor, twelve members of thd
council, city attorney, city treasurer and
ex-off1cio city tax collector, city auditor and
ex-officio city assessor, city clerk, city en-
eineer and ex-officio superintendent Of
streets, superintendent
chief of police board of park commission
ers, consisting of three members; board OF
library trtstees, consisting of three mem
bers; board of health, consisting of three
members; board of fire commissioners, con-
sisting of three members; board of police
commissioners. consisting of three mem
bers, board of public works. consisting of
three members; board of civil service COM
missioners, consisting of three members;
board of education. consisting of five men,
bers; chief examiner, superintendent of
buildings.
The following officers of the city shall be
elected by the people: Mayor, city treas
urer and ex-ofiicio tax collector, city au-
ditor and ex-officio city assessor, twelve
councimen. in the manner in this charter
prescribed; board of education, as in this
charter prescribed.
The mayor shall appoint: Board of park
commissioners, board of library trustees,
board of health, board of fire commission
ers, board of police commissioners. board
of public works, board of civil service COM
missioners.
The city council shall appoint the city at
torney and the city clerk.
It was proposed in the report to have the
mayors salary fixed at $4,000 year, but
there was so much difference Of opinion on
this that action was deferred. The portion
of the report determining the mayors du-
ties was adopted, as we'll as that giving
him the appointive power of the officers
and boards as named above.
A change was also made, on motion o.
Mr. Graft. who introduced a section provid-
ing that the first appontees made by the
mayor be for one year, and that on the ex-
piration of this term they are to be reap
pointed for four years. During the one-year
term of the first appointees under the char
ter their rotation as one, two and three
year men is to be decided by lot, and thus
the next mayor will have a majority of ali
boards to appoint after he has been one
year in office.
Mr.. Hazard made a strong plea for the
appointing power of the council TO be used
In selecting the various city boards, the
mayor TO be member of them all. as at
present; but this was not supported.
The clerk of the freeholders Major No
Ian, has copies of all the reports acted
upon. so that citizens interested in all of the
details can obtain such informant by
calling on him at his office in the Laughlin
building. The matter is entirely too vol
luminous to be treated in extenso here
CERVERA VISITS HIS MEN