Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-30
FIRE COMMISSIONERS
EXONERATE CHIEF LIPS
lttorney Rogers Declares Grafters Seek Control
of Department-MayOr McAIeer Says He and
Members of Board Are Offered Bribes

ness to regain control on behalf Of cor
ruption that obtained In this depart
ment for y good many ADMINISTRATORS.
This department buys hundreds OF
thousands Of dollars worth of goous
every year. We all know that there
were times when there was graft III
this department, and lots of 1t. since
chief Lips got in there has been
neither graft nor suspicion of gratt.
This Is the fight they are making.
make no charges against any one man.
but I can recall commissions who nave
sat I'm your place who were absolutely
dishonest and through whom nose
contract never went that there was not
only suspicion but absolute certainty
Of graft and this Is nothing but the
commencement, the opening battle, oil
a fight for the control of this depart
ment again to be regained on behali
of the grafters at some future time:
~ will acduit Attorney Brown ot
conscious participation in this. lie is
not that kind of man. That Is why
they chose him, because he could come
ir here without anybody suspecting
that he was in on this play. But that
Is all It is"
II may be the political tool of some
political party, but l am not aware OF
the fact and / think I know about
where I stand" answered Mr. Brown.
THAT Is possibly so. At any rate.
they are getting behind that beautitul
Brown stone front that you present,
responded Mr.. Rogers.
The mayor held a different opinion
"I/thnk this investigation was di-
rected solely at myself" said Mayor
McAleer.
Mayor Talks Of Brides
There are lust few things / would
like to say to the citizens OF Los An
geles. We are all here as city officials
TO do our duty. first last and all the
time, to the best of our ability, for the
entire city and it's inhabitants. We
have not at all times had the assist
ance and the encouragement that we
should have had from every paper In
this city. I want to go on record at
this time as saying, for the benefit of
some of our critics, that this fire COM
mission is the first that l have ever
known of in this city that is above
reproach from any faction. affiliations
political or otherwise. There is not a
man at this table today who has not
been approached, directly or indirectly,
with offers of money bribes in buying
supplies.
"I myself, as the mayor of this city,
have been shown SS0,000 a year if
would do certain things; and because
this commission and the mayor are
trying to give an honest business ad-
ministration we are criticised. Why?
Because we will not allow ourselves
TO be used.
Wants Support of Papers
After all these facts which / have
stated, and which can be proven, the
papers, some of them, are not sustain
ing us in an honest, conscientious
business administration. 1t is not
rigll&& 1t is u shame. When you get
honest men in Office to administer the
Affairs of this city they should have
the assistance OF the papers that the
public support. Now. let us be fair.
If you have not the respect for the
mayor that you ought to have, treat
the fire commission with all due re-
spect and we will have a better admin
istration our firemen will strain every
nerve To do more than their duty.
They are not paid enough at the pres
ent time, and upon every fire alarm
that they respond to they take their
lives in their hands. What is the re-
suit? They are criticised for their en-
deavors to do their whole duty while
but half paid men,