Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-27
REALTY MEN TALK
MUNICIPAL GIVES
BOARD BRANCHES OUT IN
FIELD OF WORK
Fielding j. StiIson and Herbert 6urdett
Urqe Members to Be Alive to
the Best interests of
the City

eff civic federations existed in Rus
| sia, the czar would not be where he is
tonight! If well organized and ably
managed civic federation had existed
in San Francisco the political situation
would not be what it is in that city"
said Fielding J. Stilson at the regular
semi-monthly meeting of the Los An
gees realty board last night. "Munic-
| ipal Civics" was the topic chosen for
discussion after the business of the
meeting had been disposed of. This was
the first of a series of monthly in
formal dinners, which the realty board
will hold during the winter months
alternating with the luncheons which
have long been a feature of its pro-
ceedings.
On these occasions the board will
cover a broader field-will go in for
acreage as we'll as lots-and will en-
courage social intercourse between its
members. Mr.. Stilson has represented
the real estate men on the Municipal
Art commission of the city since its
organization, and as secretary of the
commission was recently honored by
appointment as the Southern Califor-
nian representative on the National
Municipal league, ex-Mayor Phelan of
San Francisco being the northern dp-
pointee.
After briefly reviewing some of the
present evils in municipal and state
conduct of the public business. he
urged his hearers to make it their
personal business to attend the eau
cuses and primaries of their party and
to see to it that the right men be
nominated for office. He laid respon-
sibility for the present evil in politics
and in corporation business at the door
of the CRATER.
''Tt &c h1cinpGe tn watch and tn
denounce the suspected CRATER" he
said. "If business men know that
certain contract, say for street curb
ing, is let at what seems to be an
exorbitant price, it is their duty to
ask 'why?' That is what a committee
is going to ask the board of public
works in this city tomorrow. I do not
say that there is any graft in this
particular case, but we are going to
try and find out why that contract
was let. There may be perfectly good
reason"
Continuing, Mr.. Stilson remarked
that while Los Angeles has been COM
paratively clean, politically, If grating
here is allowed to continue, it will not
bad as they have been in Philadelphia
or San Francisco. He urged that 1t Is
the duty of the business men to pre-
vent this by watchfulness and intelli-
gent participation in politics.
Discuss City Hall Removal
A general discussion of the subject
followed. The question of the proposed
removal of the city hall was brought
up by w. G. Griffith of the Realty
Trust company, and discussed by Rob-
ert Mitchell and A. e. Pomeroy. Some
diversity of opinion was manifested,
but 1t is probable that the subject will
be laid before all the members of the
board and an expression Of opinion re-
quested. 1t was pointed out that this
board, comprising over 100 firms of
reputable, energetic dealers in real es-
tate, all of whom are also property
owners and whose partners, employees
and agents number a small army, is
vitality interested in such questions.
Herbert Burdett, secretary of the
board, warned his hearers that in times
of great prosperity materially there is
danger of apathy and neglect politic-
ally. He expressed the conviction that
Los Angeles Is pure, indeed, as COM
pared with many other cities, but that
there is hidden in municipal bodies
which, If unchecked, may develop into
malignant evils. By way of illustra-
ton he related how a communication
addressed by the realty board to the
city council on the subject of street
signs had been referred to the board of
public works six months ago, had been
promptly indorsed by the street super
intendent, but had slumbered in the
pigeonholes Of the board Of public
works until brought to light by a
reminder from the realty board,
months later, only again to be referred
and pigeonholed, until personal remon-
strances and direct appeals to mem
bers of that committee of the council
had once more aroused their atten-
ton to a much needed and compar-
itively inexpensive public need.
Mr.. Burdett related some experiences
In the organization of precinct clubs
by independent citizens and urged upon
the realty board that, with it's mem
bers, above all other citizens, politics
should be business He pointed out
that careful supervision of municipal
affairs and the election and appoint
ment of thoroughly good business men,
both competent, honest and courageous,
and their encouragement and indorse-
ment after election, should result in
material reductions in taxation and add
to the attractiveness of the city to in
vestors.
A pleasant diversion was afforded by
the introduction of J. Bronte by Mr.
Hampton. Mr.. Bronte sang several se-
lections.
The election as active members of
Horace G. Hamilton and Chamberlin &
Johnson and as county members of T.
B. Townsend of Long Beach and the
Huntington Realty company was an
nounced. Two decisions of differences
between members of the board by the
arbitration committee were reported
--9-$-A-----
Grabs Check and Escapes
Ey Associated Press.
SAN FRAC1sco. Oct. 2s.-Early
I. H..