Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-11

accounting. JntS would call for sew
eral months work from some one OF
the large accounting firms that make
q specially of this line. The experience
Of such cities as Chicago, Minneapolis.
Rochester and Baltimore show the
value Of modern systems of bookkeep-
ing as against the old forms and the
league will urge that provision will be
made for this reform in the next
budget
"The rapid growth of sIum condi-
tions in certain parts Of the city led
this committee to obtain through the
mayor the appointment Of a housing
commission, and an Investigation Is
now being made into the situation in
this city and the means OF remedy in
vogue in other cities. This commis-
sion will presently submit to the build
ing commission a series of recommen-
dations looking to the better protec-
ton OF people who live In the poorer
class OF tenenents. In this connection
the league has urged the building COM
mission TO require that all buildin gs
more than three stories in height to
be used for hotel purposes should be
fireproof throughout
Leagues Fender Work
believing that the loss Of life occa-
stoned by the street cars could be
diminished by the use of better fem
der the league sent a committee to
confer with Mr.. Huntington on this
subject, and he agreed to make an in
vestIgatlon Of all tenders and accept
any device that could be shown to
possess merit over the one in use. An
other organization having taken up an
agitation on this subject the league de-
cided to leave the issue in their hands,
and we are glad to say It has been
carried to a successful completion.
when the city council undertook to
give away without compensation a
franchise along the river bed for the
operation Of a steam line to be made
over into an electric the league pro-
tested and began a vigorous campaign
to defeat the project. The council was
made to understand the extent of the
general disapproval of the measure,
and the franchise was finally with
drawn.
Beautfying Los Angeles
1.-THE league is doing all in its power
to help the work of beautifying Los
Angeles. On our suggestion the sum
of 100000 is to be included in the
coming bond issue for the purpose of
buying land for parks, and there is
good prospect that these bonds will
carry The league has asked the coun-
Gil and the water commission to ar
range for the celebration of the Owens
river water service to this city by the
construction Of a handsome art foun-
tain. Charles Mulford Robinson the
expert on civic beauty, recently visited
the city at the request OF the league
and next fall he will return and make
a study of the city's possibilities and
report recommendations for future
NJ. =, ~
auspices of the municipal art commits
sion.
1.-THE ordnance adopted by the coun-
Gil two years ago at the request of the
league requiring two miles Of street to
be cleared of poles each year is work.
ing well, the second two miles being
now in process of clearance. Finding
that poles and wires were creeping into
the cleared district the league COM
plained persistently until they were
finally all cleared away. The wire
companies are now combining on poles
in some sections, thus reducing the
number, and are at last working in
earnest to diminish this nuisance.
Lantern Slide Lectures
ITO stimulate interest in the subject
of civic beauty the league has
equipped it's secretary with set of
lantern slides, and he has been lectur-
ing in churches and before improve
ment organizations in various parts of
Los Angeles.
'In view of the fact that the coming
year holds an election of unusual i'm
portance, when officers are to be
chosen to serve three years, your COM
mittee has thought best to make some
study of political conditions in each
precinct and to prepare data that will
prove serviceable in a campaign should
the league be called upon to make one.
This organization is pledged to the
doctrine of non-partisan school board,
and in any event must do whatever
work may be necessary to secure good
men for that service. Since February
we have had two field men at work
and they have completed about two
thirds of the 139 precincts of the city.
Wide Field Opens
'In view of the continued rapid
| growth of the city, and in view of the
issues of vast Importance that are
about to come before this municipality
the Owens river development, con-
solidation OF this city with some por-
tions of the county, election for a
three-year term, great Improvement
projects and important charter changes
| there is q wide field Of usefulness
opening before the Municipal league.
1.-THE organization is in excellent Or
der to undertake the work.
ut has followed a conservative
course, and while it may not have
escaped criticism in some directions, its
| general policy of working at funda-
mental things rather than on surface
| details, and it's effort to assist the city
| government rather than to find fault
with it seems to meet with genera
| public favor. a
"The fact that the Membership
steadily grows, that its finances are
in good order, that it's force is KEEP
hard at work and that as time passes
the organization enjoys to an increased
degree the confidence and respect botf
Of the voters and of the city govern.
ment shows that there is distinct
field for the Municipal league to fill
and that it gives promise of a high de-