The San Francisco call., 1901-11-03

vice with ironclad rules. The public employees shorld
get their places solely by OF tness they snOud
keep their positions and secure advancement only
account of rIeritorous performance OF their duties.
have been asked this question: How would you
like to American cities governed?' L BY
the best within the confines OF the cities and with
every branch OF the government operated under the
Strictest rules of civil service
But will be specific in my effort outline
plans for the beterment of American city government
Every city should have adequate charter. consttu-
ton written organic law. Such basic law is in
cord with the American theory Of government and is
the best safeguard that citizens fcan have against any
of their public servants The greatest need
q Los Angeles is charter adapted to the require
ments OF Our Notwithstanding city The present city
charter adopted in 1888 when Los Angeles had a
population OF less than 10000 That old charter is in
sufficient for the present city OF more than 100000
pie. We greatly handicapped by this antiquated
charter find that many other cities labor under this
same difficulty.
Public ownership of general utilities is admitted to
be good thing. No large manufacturing concern
would purchase necessary commodity, such as water
from outside parties if could produce the needed
t;ce cheaper and more satisfactorily for itself Good
business principles demand that the public incorporated
i'll municipalities should provide for itself those things
that necessary for all the individual members of
the corporation the lowest cost for the best service
Experience has demonstrated that public ownership is
satisfactory to the people in general
thoroughly believe in city owning its water plant
Chicago furnishes good example for those munich
paties not yet equipped with publicly owned water
supply system
When Chicago acquired the properties of the pri-
vate water company in 1882 her population trAe
over $4,000. From the initial expense of $4,000 for
the first plant operated the citys investment in this
branch of tie municipal service has reached the
oi S<hooo.ooo all OF which has been supplied by the
of the department. At this time the annual
revenue of the Chicago water system is S34ooooo,
10 per cent on the total investment
Happily for Los Angeles she is about to come into
full ownership and control OF her water supply system
having recently authorized the issuance of
100000 in bonds to the desired result The
large majority of citizens convinced that
water supply will be more abundant and of better
faf
will be satisfactory
In an expansion Of municipal ownership to lighting
plants street railways telephone lines, should
slowly and conservatvey. 1t is reasonable to
suppose that municipalities will gradually take
themselves the ownership and operation of all plants
supplying public necessities believe that cities
will with in assuming these great burdens
For the practical city official no problem met in the
conduct of municipality is more perplexing than the
difficulty encountered in keeping the public streets
clean. The system of hand sweeping seems to be the
most efficient for paved streets The hand sweepers
should be kept the paved streets at all hours OF
the day in order keep the business thoroughfares in
the best possible condition. The hand sweeping of
citys streets. in my opinion. can be performed more
efficiently If under the direct management of the
city department than il ntrused to private contractors
One OF the most important and most neglected de-
partnents in our system of city government is the
branch of the government providing for the protection
of the health of citizens. In order to have the
greatest prosperity in city we must have hrst-cass
sanitary conditions The Health Board OF city should
be unhampered N its administration OF this particular
department and should have the sole OF aDDout
ing and renov ng tFe employees engaged IN this I'M
portant part of the municipal government.
In many cities the legislative branch OF the city has
the power to appoint and remove employees in the
Health Department and in other departments well
In opinion the of the legislative branch OF
the city should be limited to law making All
ing by officials who have secured their places in political
battles with the various departments drectv under
their Jurisdiction shoud be prevented Especially does
this amply TO the Health Department.
Strict rules of civil service should be applied
everv department Of the rrunciDaltv. Let restrict
the fields for the efforts nj the politicians and may
secure this "devoutly wished for consumration