The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-04-29
EXPERIMENTS
SATISFACTORY
And Much Good Ac-
c0n1pITshed by the
New Methods
Adopted.
MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION KEY TO
ALL REFoMs INsTITUTED-NEW
LOANS PROVIDE FOR REMOVAL
OF OFFICIALS AND RESTRICT
MUNICIPAL FRANCHISES TO Fl
YEARS.
By Associated Press.

New York, April 2S.-Charles D.
willard and William Bennett Monroe
we're the principal speakers to-day
before the National Municipal League
which is now in session here. Mr..
Willard spoke upon the subject "Mu-
nicjpal Progress in Los Angeles" and
his address, in the abstract, was as
follows:
Los Angeles although established by
the Spaniards a century and quar-
Ter ago. is, as an American city not
mich over twenty-five years old. In
those twenty-five years its population
mas increased from IL 900 to $4,000
and with that growth a steady i'm
provement has been worked out In
municipal government.
One of the most important recent
events was the acquisition by the city
in 1902 of the water system, UP TO
that time owned by private parties.
Since the change rates have been re-
duced until they are lower than in any
city west Of Denver and an annual
profit has been earned sufficient to
meet interest and sinking fund on the
purchase price and put nearly half a
million dollars yearly into better
menJs.
Other recent events in the develop
ment of the city which may be OF
sufficient general interest to merit
consideration are: the adoption of di-
rect legislation, or the initiative and
referendum, an experiment with the
recall. which is a method by which an
unsatisfactory public servant may be
removed from Office, the establish
ment of civil service through all the
departments and including the regis
iration of laborers, the radical revi-
sion of the fundamental law of the
city by a process of bi-annual amend
ment, the working out of a new plan
for the elimination Of poles and wires,
and the establishment on solid foun-
daJion of a municipal organization
which has achieved remarkable vic
tories in the political field.
The Key to All.
The municipal organization is to
SOME extent the key to all the rest
This organization has a membership
OF 5000 and an annual income of Sc
900. while no difficulty is experiences
in raising additional sums for specific
purposes, $4,000 being subscribed IN
three days for the last city campaign
California is one of the four states
IN the Union that enjoys the blessing
Of local self government for cities
and thus the main gateway to reform
Is kept clear. If the people of any
N h. 10 hi (
system of government. they have nc
me bur themselves TO blame. Taking
advantage of the self governing sys
TEN the progressive element in tbs
CITY government of Los Angeles SCI
about the reorganization of the funda
nen'a! law of the city.
Under the old charter the executive
functions rested with a series of com
Missions appointed by the city coun
Gil The Mayor was a member o.
laeSe various commissions, but wa:
n other respects a mere figurehead
tae appointment and power of re
neFdl If these commissions was trans
ie9rei 10 the Mayor, thus clothing
Mn with direct authority and responsi
billy.
4 civil service commission was es
eoished and the competitive meri
Na'em was put in force in nearl.
every department of the city's ser
we The Board of Education wa,
changed from nine members elected
we Eom each ward. to seven, al
ee.ea al large. The initiative, refer
mum and recall were put in force
Iaese constituted the principal part
- NE first batch of amendment
, "-.el Went up 10 the legislature il
Ii''e. That body baked at the direc
cessation features and the recall am
ne competitive merit system, and i
-'ohed for time as though the amend
mems might fail of passage. The.
1e1l INTO force, however, in Februar.
o. thar year.
Recent Changes.
me second instalment of change
,sTe adopted last fall were accepts
:! the legislature after a six wee
1Olt up. The reform features of the