The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-01-04

nv energetic work been done by the Com
missioners, the Superintendent of Parks
ana his able assistants, the park system of
the city could under no circumstances have
made so marked an improvement as 1t has
curing the last twelve months, for the
| Iact is generally recognized that the APP
preparation for park purposes Is Inadequate,
pareiy enough to maintain the system
much less improve and extend 1t. trust
that 1t VIII be possible to make liberal an
preparation this year. The greatest work
has been done In Elysian Park. There to-
| day stands a monument to the work Of the
| unemployed under the supervision of the
Merchants and Manufacturers Associa-
| ton. AS you remember, In those dark
| threatening days early in the year just
| closed, about $4,000 in cash and materials
| amounting in value to several thousand
dollars were contributed by generous cit
liens to be used in providing work for the
unemployed The entrance to Elysian Park
where much of the work was done has been
appropriately named Fremont Gate" OF
| the Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation, who made this grand work possi-
Bile, nothing too eulogistic can be said. AS
a whole. all the parks are in most excel
lent condition We should exert every effort
for their development. AS soon as posi-
BILE steps should be taken looking to the
improvement of Grif1th Park. Los Ange-
les should be famous the world over for its
parks.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The members Of the Board of Police Com
missloners have every reason to feel graf
flied at the progress made by the depart
ment under their direct supervision during
the last twelve months. for they have la
bored under many disadvantages. There
are improvements which should be made
at an early date. The force should be in
creased. and I most heartily indorse the
recommendation of the Chief In his annual
report that there be an increase Of twenty
men, half of this number to do mounted
duty In the newly annexed territory The
building and equipping of branch stations
in the outlying districts Is q matter that
should receive early consideration at
your hands. The Importance of branch sta
lions cannot be overestimated. These sta
lions should be so equipped as to afford
safe place for the detention of prisoners
till such time as they may be removed to
the central station. 1t Is unnecessary for
me to urge again upon your honorable
body the appropriation Of nine or ten thou
sand dollars for an electric police signal
system. The need of such a system has
been pointed out to your honorable body
on other occasions. With an increase of
twenty men and a first-class signal sys-
tenn our city would take first rank with the
Western cities as regards police protec-
ton. The Commissioners and the Chief
should be encouraged in their efforts. They
are acting conscientiously and fearlessly
in the discharge Of their responsible duties.
There is marked Improvement among the
members of the department as regards dis
cipMne, faithfulness in discharge Of duty
and personal appearance. I doubt whether
any other city whose police department la
bors under the disadvantages that ours
does could begin to compare In point OF
usefulness and excellence.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
While our Fire Department is one of the
best on the Coast, the Board of Fire Com
missloners see room for Improvement.
They desire to place 1t on the highest pos
sible plane of efficiency, at the very low
est cost to the city. The Commissioners,
the Chief and other officers have labored In
the interests of the service, and are de-
serving OF much credit. 1t Is the desire of
the Commissioners that all appointments
to the service be made on merit aftercom-
petitive tests, open to all, Of physical, moral
and intellectual fitness. believe that all
positions, including the position Of Chief
Engineer, should be permanent, the holder
of the same not to be subject to removal
even by the Commissioners excepting for
good and sufficient cause The department
should be above politics. 1t should be con-
Quoted on purely civil service lines, which
would result in lasting good. The present
Commission has to some extent adopted
civil service, and trust that your honor
able body will take such action as neces-
sary to insure its permanency. A careful
study should be made of the methods
adopted in other cities. The time has ar
rived, In my opinion, for the provision of a
proper civil service system to govern not
only the Fire Department but other
branches of the city government. It is to
be regretted that defeat was met with at
1o cnoofo1 al xryIa no,
were given an opportunity to vote for or
against bond issue to the amount of $780,
900 for the acquisition of certain lands, the
construction Of buildings thereon and the
equipping of the said buildings for the
use Of the department, the cost of which
improvements is too great to be paid out
of the ordinary income and revenue of the
city. The ownership Of all Fire Depart
ment houses by the city Is most urgent, as
is also the immediate purchase of apparat-
US for the ncwly annexed districts and 9TH
er unprotected territory. At no other time
will 1t be possible to obtain real estate at
more advantageous figures. The city is
paying out annually $4,000 for rent of engine
houses, which is per cent ON 100000. It is
estimated that $4,000 will purchase lands
and buildings necessary for the present
and future needs Of the department, and
that $4,000 will fully and completely equip
the houses with apparatus and provide
electric alarm and all other appliances
needed by the Fire Department in city
Of the size OF Los Angeles. 1t must be re-
membered that the issuance of bonds
would not increase the taxes, but that, to
the contrary, 1t would save the city more
than $1,000 annually. I trust that your hon
orable body will see fit to cali another
special election at an early day to vote
bonds.
WATER
deeply regret being compelled to say
that after the expiration of half Of the
term of the present administration but lit
tie has been accomplished looking to NUM-
cipal ownership Of water works. / shall
not indulge in censoriousness for nothing
would be gained to the city by my doing
So The facts are before US. What Is
to be said? The contract between the city
of Los Angeles and the City Water Com
pany will expire In July of the present year
Only seven months time remain in which
to act. During the last few weeks steps
have been taken by your honorable body
which should be productive Of some GOOD
and which, in my opinion should II con-
tinued, lead to an early solution Of the
water problem. providing the water COM
pany shows q disposition to deal fairly.
But II the water company should not. what
then? do not want to be understood as
advocating tho position taken BY some
few citizens that the water company has
absolutely no rights IN the confroyersv.
on the contrary. contend that the water
company, under tho contract. has coftxfns
mora: Y not lsgal rights TINT must be re-
epected. And I also contend that the city
haq eerfoip xlGttg NJ Ia 1l|lck and wh@ch
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