Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-04-01
THE MORAL OF IT ALL

LIE F1OhhL UT IL Till
Los Angeles has had rare week of
municipal excitement. The members
of its city council surreptitiously passed
an ordinance-and afterward brazenly
and openly repassed it-giving large
franchise or right of way, without re-
muneration, to certain railway mag
mates who have remained unidentified
and absolutely in the background. This
ordinance was adopted in face of a
solemn warning by the city attorney
that the council had no power to either
sell or give away any portion of the
Los Angeles river bed.
Fortunately, the press was enabled
to put all the facts quickly before the
people. resulting in such storm of in
dignant protest against the proposed
ordinance that the mayors veto inter-
venes and the councilmen have prom
ised to sustain the mayor.
The moral of it all is that Los An
geles must have larger and better
councilmen-men of affairs, who will
carefully inquire into all business pre-
sented and who will conduct the city's
affairs openly, above board and in q
businesslike manner; men who will be
able to so apportion the enormous
revenues derived from taxation as to
insure its best uses and not be con-
tlnually confronting an empty treasury.
while at the same time giving away the
city's property.
Los Angeles has faithfully tried out
the plan of eecting councilmen on par
tisan tickets. The scheme is a fiat
failure. 1t fails peculiarly in Los An
geles because the dominant party is
really represented by railroad ma
chine that makes all nominations,
forces elections and assures the owner
ship of officials. The Republican party,
as a party, has no voice in it.
The remedy is the election of nom
partisan. indedendent ticket chosen by
the citizens themselves regardless of
party. This can be accomplished
through observation-disclosures various
organizations, in fact-whereby men
can be chosen who will wear no party
collar, no railroad collar, no special
interest collar and who will stand for
the best interests of all the people of
Los Angeles.
The Herald has already shown how,
by reason of the creation of board of
public works. business and professional
men can now afford to give the small
time that will be required for the duties
of councilmen, and how immensely
satisfied the public now is with the
board of public works, with the water
commission and with the board of edu-
cation-three boards that have become
non-partisan and truly representative.
The city council should be likewise
composed of first class business or pro-
fessional men. or conspicuously sue
cessfuI skilled workmen. We must
have the best class of men to serve as
councilmen, representing no special in
terest whatever.
An article in a recent number of
the Outlook calls attention to the
great responsibilities and duties which
college men, for instance, have and owe
to the community. The college man
has been educated and trained upon
high moral lines and to patriotic SER
vice of his country-national, state and
city. Being thus trained he has civic
ideals and consequent enthusiasm. He
is, or should be, a power for civic right
eousness. Suppose the university clubs
of Los Angeles should take up the
question of better councilmen for this
city, without regard to politics. Their
agitation alone would accomplish Won
ders. Then add to this the active in
terest of social and civic orders, and
the ball will go rolling to success.
A city council composed of first class
business men, chosen freely from the
whole body of the people, is a crying
necessity in Los Angeles. 1t must come.
And it can only come by non-partisan.
independent action.
Think it over!