The herald., 1898-12-05
JOINT CHARTER DEBATE
JUDGE VARIEL AND JOB HARRI-
MAN TRY CONCLUSIONS
SOCIALIST LABOR GATHERING
Large Audience Packs Music Hall to
Hear the Provisions Of the New
Charter Discussed

A joint debate was held at Music hall yes
terday afternoon under the auspices of the
Socialist Labor party by the Hon. r. Fl. +
Variel and Job Hartman, who spoke re
srectively for and against the adoption o.
the new city charter. The hall was crowded
a considerable number of ladies being pres
cnt. The meeting was presided over by DR.
A. j. Stevens and brass band was in at
tendance.
After the singing of the "Marseillaise," to
the accompaniment of the band, DR.. Stevens
made a short speech, explanatory Of the
principles of the Socialist Labor party, whicl
he said were grievously misunderstood, be
fore presenting the principal speakers. The
formal discussion of the charter provisions
was then commenced.
Judge Variel was first introduced. lie
expressed satisfaction because of the oppor.
tunity afforded him to discuss measure
of public policy, soon to be settled by the
votes of the people. BY few well chosen
sentences the speaker placed himself on the
best of terms with his audience, and then
passed on to the consideration of the salient
features Of the new charter, calling atten
tion to the chief differences between the
present system of municipal government and
that proposed for adoption under the provi-
sions of the new charter.
The great reforms made possible by ar
ranging city elections so that they would fall
on the ''off' years, free from the pernicious
influences of the state and national elections,
Judge Variel outlined in telling words. He
next took up the subject Of boss govern
ment, the outgrowth of the present system
by which no responsible head exists in the
ranks of municipal oifice-holders, making it
possible for rself-constituted regulators to sub
vert government, plunder the city, and cor
rupt the commonwealth. To offset and
overcome this grievous condition, he favored
the provisions of the charter whereby the
mayor is clothed with greater authority, and
therefore made responsible for the exercise
OF the power conferred upon him as the CEN
tral figure in the municipality.
Civil service reforms made possible under
the new charter Judge Variel commended.
Such rush for appointments as deputies of
county officers elected in November, more
than 800 applicants for the twenty deputy
ships of the sheriff already having appeared,
would be unknown under such changed con-
dtions Oifice-holders would be compelled
to carry on the business of their positions by
the aid of those who, by competitive exami-
nation, had worked their way up to civil APP
pointment. Persons trained to the skillful
performance of their official duties would
not then be driven from office to make way
for others, who, as friends of the new incum-
bent, claim their places as the rightful spoils
of party success.
requirement of public utilities, now so diff
fcult to effect, would be made easy under
the system proposed for adoption. Water
rates would, in the opinion of the speaker,
be reduced one-half by municipal owner
ship. Other public utilities would in time
be secured, Notwithstanding the limitation
of 81, ,00O, 900 for bonded Indebtedness, which,
with the present obligations, would give only
S75O,00O for public utilities other than such
as are related to the water supply. This
was the limitation in the present charter,
so no further restriction had been attempted
in the new, fact which should be under
stood by the voters.
The idea of continuous boards had been
approved, and this was provided for by the
appointment of two or three members once
in two years, the others holding over, so
that at all times three or two members would
have had at least two years experience in
each department. Reforms in the system Of
appointing school teachers and other public
servants had also been provided for, so as
to do away with partisan methods, in conse-
quence of which those now in the employ
of the municipality were kept constantly
in fear of the loss of their positions.
A word to the laboring men was added,
showing how the worst evils Of the contract
system had been made impossible, resric-
tions as to the hours of labor, making it OBJ.
ligatory on contractors in their own interest
to treat their employees with hberality.
A generous reception was accorded to
Judge Variel, and his points, mostly ably
presented, were punctured with applause.
At the close of his address the customary
collection was taken, after which the other
speaker was introduced as "Our comrade
Job Hartman"
Mr.. Hartman pleaded for the exercise of
great care in deciding on wlach side to vote
in the charter controversy. He deplored
the principle of submitting to the minority
Of the people the right of government, and
urged that any modification of the charter
provisions should be with the view of en-
larging the powers of the masses instead of
abridging them. The plan of electing
mayor for four years he denounced as per-
nicious, the better way being to reserve at
all times the right of recall Private corpor-
ations secured good service by holding the
right to discharge their employees at will and
without notice. The power to remove was
the power to guide. By reserving the right
Of recall the voters of Los Angeles would
have angels in the city hall; take it away
and they would find only devils there
The limit of Indebtedness provided in the
new charter, Mr.. Hartman characterized
As disproportionate to the enhancement in
The values of public utilities. Where with
A $2,0OO,OOO limit could the city hope to ac-
luire $4,O00,0O0 system of street railways
from the Southern Pacifc?. No restraint
was placed upon the council in the granting
Of franchises, and inadequate provision made
for the requirement of public utilities pro-
vided by virtue of those franchises. Don't
ruin men," said the speaker, ''by giving
them too much power. They will grant the
franchises for nothing, and put the price in
their pockets"
Further objection was made on the score
of the initiative, the object of which was
violated by the new charter, though falsely
lpeparing to be protected by it. Laws
adopted by the council could not be over
hrown by the people if they had been in
orce thirty days. impeachment alone could
rec the public of unworthy servants, and
had failed last year in the case
If notorious member of the school board.
If whose guilt no one who knew anything
# the case had any doubt, but whom the
aw failed to reach through impeachment.
How many men in the history of the ma