Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-09
MAYOR OFFERS
MUCH ADVICE
ANNUAL MESSAGE SENT TO
COUNCIL
Universal Transfers, Adequate Fend-
ers and School Building Fund
Urged as Necessities by
Mr.. McAIeer

Mr.. McAIeer
q, Universal transfers over all railway
lines In the city, adequate tenders on
the street cars and a building fund for
the erection of school houses as fast
as need for them arises, are among
the recommendations made by Mayor
McAleer in his second annual message
to the council yesterday
Other leading suggestions. which
were made by the mayor in his mes
sage, were the erection of q suitable liz
brary building, bonds for which should
be voted on at the next bond election.
the paving of all the down town streets
with asphalt better fire protection for
the business district, more men in the
police department. and the building
either of an annex to the city Jail or
barracks for the care Of short term
prisoners.
1t was also suggested that all pos
sible steps toward municipal ownership
or public utilities be taken, and the
need of better transportation facilities
to be owned and operated by the mu-
nicipality was touched upon.
Text of Message
Following is the message in brief:
The police force of the city is. on
the whole, in a very satisfactory con-
dition in respect of personnel and eff
cheney and its work in enforcing the
laws and protecting the.lives and prop
erty Of the people is worthy of great
praise The chief of police has risen
from the ranks and his appointment
came as a well earned promotion after
long years of faithful service in the
department More officers and patrol
men are needed for the protection of
the community and 1t is to be hoped
that these will be provided as soon as
the funds of the city will permit.
zone of the most serious problems
in the police department is the care
of prisoners. The city Jail was designed
to accommodate less than hundred
prisoners while, at the present time,
about 250 are crowded within it's
walls. This condition is an offense
against humanity and steps should be
taken without delay to relieve it, either
by enlarging the present city Jail or
by providing barracks at some suit
able place in the city, where the pris-
oners can be housed and kept at work.
Buildings for the latter purpose could
be constructed by. the prisoners them
selves under the supervision of Off
GERS of the department at an expense
amounting to little more than the cost
of the materials and tools, thus avoid
ing any great outlay of money in the
acquisition of this much needed i'm
provement
Nee's of Fire Department
The fire force of the city is COM
posed almost entirely of experienced
men, the chief engineer has been q
member OF the department for more
than twelve years, having entered the
service as call boy and risen, by sue
cessive promotions, to his present po-
sition
1T seems to be the lot of firemen
everywhere to be criticised and our
force has not escaped, yet l am con-
Nlnced that in the matter Of efficiency
and fidelity to duty, no city is better
served by its fire department than our
own
Three new fire engine houses. with
equipment, can be put into service as
soon as the necessary men are OBJ
tanned, and these should be provided
for as soon is possible.
There should be careful revision
OF our ordinances relative to the use
of petroleum, gasoline and distillate for
fuel, with a view of reducing the dan
gers of fire-now too great-from these
substances.
Il would also recommend that fire
hydrants be placed in the middle of
each block in the business district of
the city and that the number of fy-
drants in the residence sections also be
increased.
Public Library
1--WE still neglect our duty to the Ii
brary department in failing to provide
it with suitable building. 1t has
done great work for the people of the,
city, and I believe there is a practi-
cally unanimous sentiment in the COM
munity that an adequate and appro-
PIRATE library building should be
erected without further delay. l would,
therefore, recommend that at the next
bond election held in this city a prop
osition to issue bonds for this purpose
be submitted to the people.
Street Railways
81 would recommend the adoption of
an ordinance requiring street railway
cars to be equipped with tenders and
guards of approved make to the end
that the dangers from such cars to the
travelling public may be reduced
Il regard it as my duty to the people
of this city to remind you again that
conditions in respect to the ownership
and operation of our street railway
lines are entirely favorable to the
adoption of system of universal
transfers, and steps should be taken
by your honorable body by negotia-
tlon or legislation. to secure this highly
desirable arrangement.
Public Utilities
'"The adoption of the charter amend.
ments limiting the term for which fran
chises may be granted to a period oi
q years, and broadening the powers of
the municipality in respect to the own
ership and operation of public utilities
was in line with a popular demand
throughout the country. We may now
look forward to the not far distant day
when this city shall own and operate
all. public agencies requiring the use
of the streets in serving the people.
"The congestion Of traffic on our
street railways in the down town dis
tricts suggests the necessity of pro-
viding additional modes of transporta-
tion within the city. This need will,
dnnhtless be met hy tha cnnstn.Ilction