Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-11
LEAGUE REVIEWS
YEARS WORK
ELECTS J. 0. KoEPFLl HEAD
AND PLANS CAMPAIGN
Body With Membership Of ss5 Tells
Of Economies and Reforms Influ-
enced-keeps Eyes on
OFFICIALS

middle of it's fifth year of work and on
a permanent foundation apparently,
held It's annual meeting Thursday aft
ernoon at the Chamber Of Commerce.
The following officers were elected
for the ensuing year: President, j. ..
Koephi; first vice president, r. w.
Burnham; second vice president, DR..
r. B. Kellogg; treasurer. H. c. Wit
mer
Additional members of the executive
committee: Eugene German. A. P.f
Tliening. j. M. Schneider, William ].
Hunsaker, H. r. Calender, w. II.
Booth, NJ. Lissner, Herbert ]. Goudge,
Frank Simpson, G. G. Desmond, DR..
Milbank Johnson.
A report was rendered from the
executive committee to the member
ship showing that the membership
has increased from 555 year ago to
6s5 at the present time. This is gain
of 100, or 20 per cent.
The finances of the league during
the year are as follows: Balance on
hand May /, 1905, $1759; receipts May
1, 1905 to May /, 1906. s6203. Total,
s7s62.
Supported by Dues
Summarized the annual report is as
follows:
"The league has collected no funds
by subscription in the course of the
year, but has been supported entirely
by the membership dues. The organiza-
tion IL now sufficiently large and en-
joys income enough to take care of
routine expense.
1.-THE present year. however is a
campaign year, and If the league Is
to undertake publicity work on any
considerable scale with a view of in
fuencing votes, funds must be secured
by subscription for that purpose. Our
past experience in this line has demon
strated that business men and property
owners are ready to give the organiza-
tion substantial aid whenever the need
is presented.
"The relations between the league
and the city officials have been for the
most part agreeable, although we have
been compelled to take issue with some
of them on various questions. The
most serious difference to be chronicled
was that occasioned by the course of
the mayor with respect to the board
of public works.
after asking the commercial bodies
and the league for nominations he
ignored them in his selection of names,
which led to a formal charge of bad
faith against him by these organiza-
stions. A deadlock between the mayor
and In the final outcome a board was
named by a citizens committee made
iup of members of the three bodies, al
though not formally appointed by
them.
THE board chosen was Of the very
highest order and has done excellent
work. AS time passes the value of a
permanent board instead of a council
committee to direct this work will be-
come evident to every one, and the
present board will in course of time
give us order and economy where
there was formally chaos and waste.
prior to the selection of the board
the league had made some study of
street problems and decided that a
primary necessity was an increase of
the paved area.
More Paved Streets
Men were employed to secure sig
natures until the entire hill region i'm
mediately west of the city was COW
cred from Temple to Pico and from
Olive to Figueroa.
This would increase the twenty
miles of paved streets to thirty, and
with other paving under way would
nearly double the whole. The league
also prepared complete statement of
all the paving thus far done in the
citys history, with a description of
its present state of repair. Also a
general inspection was made of an
public work under way.
'The league assisted to head off a
reckless increase in the pay of laborers
in the street department, which would
have advanced the expense of that de-
partment over $4,000 a year, and would
have utterly crippled it's finances. We
have made an effort to secure the en-
ployment of none but able-b bodied men
in street work. Although conditions
in this department are not up to the
highest Imaginable standard by any
means, 1t is at least not being used
as a political machine, as 1t has been
used in the past.
Garbage and Incinerator
"The collection Of garbage has beer
taken from contractors and is now
being DONE and done well, by the city
The new incinerator destroys the gar
bage completely, and without smell
The expense is as yet very large, al
though not larger than in other cities
of our size that attempt sanitary
handling Of garbage The league has
assisted in the reorganization OF this
utility.
"The league made careful inves
tigation and report into the matter o.
a municipal electric lighting plant, bu
all action was deferred until the Owens
river project was disposed of.
THE league Joined with the CONNER
cial bodies in sending a committee Il
investigate the Owens river project
and the report rendered undoubtedl,
exercised a considerable influence OF
the extremely favorable vote given t,
the bond issue.
Check on councIImen
The league some months ago en-
tered formal protest against the lacl
OF promptness of members of tn,
council assembling to the meetings
and the result was a reformation tina
saved good deal of time TO the public
The council now holds but one session
week, lasting only two or thre
hours, the great volume of it's mos
difficult and trying work having beer
taken over by the board OF publi
works.
"The executive committee has con
ferred with members Of the counci
with regard to the makeup of tn
budget and probability Of deficit a
the end of the year. careful inves
tigation made in October showed
probable shortage of 5000 900 A yer,