Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-08
SERVICES OF
INAUGURAL
| ARE SIMPLE
Harper Delivers His
| Message to
Council
Thousands Pay Respect
After a Brief
Ceremony
Informal Reception Held All Day-Ap-
pointments Are Promptly Dis.
posed of When Presented
to the Council

Los Angeles has Democratic execu-
&ive.
Mayor Arthur c. Harper is at the
municipal helm, and though his advent
finto office was marked by rains they
fwere the rains of prosperity and plenty
for the land of sunshine.
Quietly, with none of the formalities
Except such as go between friends con-
graduating each other on a new honor
bestowed, marked the change, barring
the handing over of the golden key, a
brief symbolical ceremony.
Men representing all interests in Los
angeles fiocked to the city hall yester-
day to pay respects, to see the simple
transition from Republican to DEM
ocratic administration and to note the
advent of the non partisan element in
he city council
y 1t was gala day for Democracy and
non-partisanship in municipal politics.
Glad Hand to All
Mayor Harper had a glad hand for
Everybody. He fitted about unassum-
6ngly with a ready smile and hearty
thandshake for everyone. An unruff1ed
Iserenity-the poise of the successful
business man-is one of the character
istics of the new executive, and many
who until yesterday knew him only
through newspaper pictures were agree
ably surprised by Mr.. Harper's winning
personality and easy manners.
The city hall was a Mecca for hum
kdreds in the morning hours and thou
Bands during the day. Inauguration
day was an epoch in municipal events
land everyone was eager to show a civic
Interest in the proceedings.
Some had expected to witness morn
Ing session of the retiring council, but
II such a session was planned 1t was
abandoned.
Into the mayors office visitors
swarmed all day long. The transformed
suite Of rooms with it's newly painted
and frescoed walls, the new furniture
and rugs and the many vases of cut
howers seemed to beam welcome
10 all.
Secretary Herbert D. Kennedy was
kept on the jump answering telephone
calls, debating letters and tightening
the burdens of his chief.
Early in the day there was a pre-
tsentation to the retiring mayor of a
Tease of silver, being given to him by
his friends.
When Mayor and Mrs. McAleer en-
ling they were followed by the MEM
bers of the official family with John
NG. Morley, superintendent of parks
carrying IL huge chest of silver which
4he deposited on the mayors desk. He
then made the presentation speech, to
(which the mayor and Mrs. McAleer
Responded.
The mayors eyes filed with tears
fduring the presentation.
M The chest ie Of Y1oa booanu apd oN,
tains dozen of each of the pieces of
liable silver. The plate attached to the
vase bears among others the names of
Edward Kern, Walter Lips, J. j.
Backus, Edward Pelts r. Fl. Mullally
Francis Frankhouser. John G. Morley
&C. e. McKeag and DIR. T. M. Powers.
Bestows Golden Key
Soon afterward the ceremony of be-
Istowing the golden key took place. the
5symbolical act being brief. The key
bears silver plates showing the names
fand dates of installation of all the
mayors since 1893. Mayor McAleer
handed 1t over to his successor who
put 1t in it's honored place in a COR
ner of the sanctum.
Mayors Brother Helps
Rev. Edward Harper, pastor of Knox
| Presbyterian church, was one of the
/ early calierS. lie Is the mayor 3
brother. and assisted in keeping open
house"
Most OF the new councilmen paid
several visits to the office and some
of the old regime did, too. There had
been some talk of possible rejection of
a few OF the nominees. but this all
died out after noon.
One of the surprises of the day was
the announcement that former Sheriff
VIII White had at the last minute de-
cided to turn down his appointment
as police commissioner. 1t was given
out that he had just accepted the
managership of the Southwest Pack
ing company, In which Mayor Harper
Is Interested, which would take him
out of the city frequently. ii. B.
Woodill was named instead.
"Ex- Sheriff White was well posted
ON police business" said Chief Kern.
on hearing OF the change.
Capt George Cake also declined the
place on the fire board. In his stead
(COntinued ON PAGE Four.)