Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-31

A. c. Harper yesterday announced
the personnel of his official family.
With the announcement Of the pro-
posed appointments by the mayor-elect
comes the development that the incom-
ing chief executive already has made a
record for establishing precedents.
On the police commission there is not
a lawyer, a doctor, cigar dealer or a
man having saloon interests, which cam
not be said of any previous police COM
mission.
On the fire commission there is not
an insurance man, condition which
has not prevailed on that commission
since the first commission was named.
On the health board there is master
plumber. Heretofore the health board
has been composed almost entirely of
physicians, but Mr.. Harper thought that
the Importance of plumbing as relating
to the general sanitary condition of the
city required the advice of a man hav-
ing practical knowledge of the plumb
ing business.
Mr.. Harper also established prece-
dent by announcing his proposed ap-
pointments a week before the list will
be sent to the council, and another one
by declaring that the meetings of all
commissioners will be held in the day.
time.
Graft Must Come to Mayor
st have selected these men principally
by reason of their fitness and honesty"
said the mayor-elect yesterday. Il
wanted to make sure that there will be
no grating during my administration,
and 1 want it distinctly understood that
if it becomes necessary to do any graft
ing the mayor will do it," he added with
q laugh.
Mr.. Harper was at the city hall dur
ing a portion of the afternoon yester-
day, comforting witt advisers and sew
eral of the new councilmen, and he
breathed a deep sigh of relief as he
handed to the reporters present copies
of his proposed appointments.
Mr. Harper was averse to discussing
the appointments, but declared in a
general way that the selections were
made by reason of the fitness and in
tegrity of the men who will serve on
the various boards.
Speaking of the innovation of having
all board meetiI-.SS occur in the day
time, Mr.. Harper said that all the busi-
ness of the city should be done during
the daylight hours and that he pro-
posed to stay at home with his family
during the evenings.
Place for DR.. Edelman
DIR. d. w. Edelman, chairman of the
Democratic city central committee, will
become a member of the civil service
commission, of which body he formerly
was a member, upon the occurrence of
a vacancy in February. The terms of
Commissioners Miner and Thomas will
expire at that time, and DR.. Edelman
not only has been assured of being
named to fill one of the vacancies, but
that his recommendation as to who
shall be his associate will be followed.
Ed Kern will remain as chief of
police, but it is said that provision will
be made for James e. Craig, police
commissioner under Mayor Snyder.
What this position will be has not been
divulged, but 1t is said to nearly equal
in importance that of chief of police,
to which position Mr. Craig aspired.
John G. Morley will retain his position
as superintendent of parks While the
place is not filed by the mayor, an
understanding has been reached with
those who will compose the park board
that Mr. Morley's services are to be re-
| tanned owing to his eminent fitness for
the position.
Houghton to Be Provided For
The wish of Mayor Harper that DR..
Houghton be chosen superintendent of
the detention hospital viii be followed
by the incoming board Of health, which
also will retain the services of DR..
Powers, and Richard H. Mutually,
father-in-law of Mayor McAleer, will
be retained, for the present at least, as
secretary of the pal. commission.
! 1t Is expected that two very desirable
positions will be made vacant by resig-
nations within a short time. These are
the secretaryship OF the civil service
commission and position of superinten-
dent of buildings W. A. Spalding, who
has been secretary Of the civil service
commission since the body was created,
has expressed his intention OF going
into business, and 1t is said that ]. j,
Baekus, superintendent of buildings,
has received hatterlng offer from a
construction company. Should Mr..
Backus retire it is said that Fernand
| Parmentier, the well known architect
who win become member of the play
ground commission. will take the civil