Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-27
LEAGUE THREATENS
TO OPPOSE BONDS
RAISES OBJECTION TO BOARD
APPOINTMENTS
Letter Is Sent to County Supervisors
Threatening Opposition Unless
Highway Commission Is
Reorganized

In a letter addressed to the board of SUI
pervisors and received by them yesterday
the Municipal league made positive and
strenuous objection to the personnel OF
the newly appointed highway commission.
The letter, which provoked considerable
controversy, is as follows:
LOS ANGELES, June 26.-Honorable
Board of County Observation-Disclosures
The Municipal league, an organization OF
over 600 taxpayers of Los Angeles, acting
through the executive committee IN meet
ing June 25, would respectfully request
that your honorable body reconsider the
nominations you make for the county high
way commission under the new law.
1.-The very large sums. which 1t Is pro
posed to expend for road construction, to-
gether with the great volume of patronage
involved, could easily be used for the
Strengthening Of political machines, and it
is therefore not sufficient that your ap-
pointees are men of recognized business
ability, but it Is extremely important that
| they should be free from all question as TO
their political affiliation and obligation.
"Our organization advocated the passage
of this law and desires enthusiastically to
support the bonds. 1t cannot support
| them on these nominations but, on the
contrary, must offer opposition. Yours
N' ~. o. KoEPFLI, President.
&C. D. WILLARD, Secretary"
Commenting, on the sentiment expressed
considerable surprise that the appoint
ments should have elected adverse crit
icism.
sons" said he, land without exception
they have been well pleased with our
selections.
PERSONALLY, 1 wont say that wouldn't
reconsider the matter. / might even re-
consider my vote, but l should have to
feel that the appointments as they stand
are Objectionable to great many people.
"Out of the list submitted by the Mer-
chant and Manufacturers association, the
league and chamber of commerce two
were withdrawn at the last moment. Mr..
Green sent his regrets through Mayor or
the members of the board that he could
not serve if the place were offered to him.
Patterson Defends Appointees
"Of Mr. Daggett l know nothing at all.
never even saw the gentleman, and |
don't think that any member of the board
appointed him solely on the recommends
tion of the Pasadena people, headed by
Mayor Farley, and from what | can learn
he Is well adapted for the place. IT,,
where could you get better man than
Mr.. Banning? He has had considerable
experience in the handling of large con-
tracts, and is in every way a most ac-
ceptable man. ''
''As to Mr.. Marsh, it has been said that
he was appointed for political reasons. but
that is absurd. He is contractor, and as
commission. | have been told the appoint
-ment of Mr.. Marsh will make many votes
for the bonds. All of the Catholic vote
will be solid in favor of them.
You can say 1t for me. and over my
signature, if you like. that the board of
supervisors didn't ask the Municipal
league, chamber of commerce or the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers association to
suggest any names for the places until
they had asked us to do So OF the names
they sent us only two or three were
thought strong enough by the board to be
even considered for appointment
'hTake Mr.. BiXDV. for instance. AS near
as / can find out he never attended a
single meeting when member of
former highway commission. We don't
want men like that who are too busy with
their own affairs to attend to county bust
ness, and so on down the list"
The matter will come up for considera
ton by the board next Monday at the
regular meeting, but from the attitude of
the several members seen yesterday it is
doubtful if the letter will accomplish it's
purpose.