Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-28
COUNCIL FOR
BIG SALARIES;
CALLS ELECTION
VOTE ON CHARTER CHANGES
FEBRUARY z
OF 2e PROPOSITIONS, 1s CONCERN
HIGHER PAY
City Legislators See No Chance to
Get Away from Suggestions
of the Municipal
League
MHE city council last night threshed

out the charter revision amend
- ments and called special cleo
ton to vote upon them for February 2,
1909 There are twenty-nine PROPOSE
tions, but twelve of these are on
the proposed increases in municipal
salaries.
Six members of the council-Clam-
pitt Dromgold. Healy, Lyon, Yonkin
and President Pease-were present, and
as the votes of all were necessary to
make the two-thirds required to include
any proposition the opposition of any
one meant defeat.
The council made a wry face over the
Municipal leagues propositions, but
saw no practical way of getting around
them At the last Clampitt hesitated
and intimated that he would defeat the
ordinance.
What would happen if he votes no2"
Councilman Lyon asked of the city at
torney. Would they mandamus us?"
City Attorney Hewitt, who says he
dreams charter revision when he has a
chance to sleep, made a gesture like q
man trying to brush away a bear.
I'D hate to think of it," he said
But Clampitt guessed that he might
as well have it over with, and the or
dinance was passed and will be printed
Monday morning. An automobile was
waiting to take it out for the mayors
signature, and Mayor Harper was at
home waiting for it, but the hour was
so late that it was decided to finish the
job this morning.
Council Wants More Pay
The only wrangle in which the coun-
Gil engaged was ON the way to make
an absolutely sure thing of the raise
in their own salaries. They have two
provisions one for an increase to 5000
month and another in connection
with the councils proposal to abolish
the park, fire and police commissions.
providing for an additional $50 month
for each councilman.
Council Dromgold thought that the
provision as presented by the city at
| torney was not in line with that agreed
upon by the council in secret confer
ence. The discussion over this oceu-
pied an hour and one-half and the
members of the council all left their
seats and walked about nervously as
they talked. After proposing a num-
Der of amendments and holding an ex-
tended conference as an aside to the
meeting they came back to the plan
originally read by the city attorney
and adopted it.
objected President Niles Pease, ''and
it will look so bad the people WON'T
vote for it,"
mo, you won't fool the people the
other way" said Councilman Drom-
gold. They'll find it out anyway"
I'm not so sure; we don't know
what we are doing ourselves" said Mr..
Pease, land it ought to be certain then
that the people can't know 1t.
I'VE had an agreement over there.
and l think we ought to stand to-
gether," said Clampitt.
In addition to the six proposals in
cluded in the initiative petition of the
Municipal league, those urged by the
harbor commission the library direc-
tors, the water commissioners and sew
eral suggested by the city attorney
were incorporated to the satisfaction
of the interests suggesting them.
other Salaries Raised
The increases in salaries are only for
head officials The council proposes
that each member shall have $2400 o
year, and in addition 5000 a year if
that body is given the work of the po-
lice, fire and park commission. Other
salaries changed are TO the following
amounts annually:
Mayor ..................... 10000
City clerk '.'...''''''''''''' SoVV
city auditor ..............'''..'. 4svO
City assessor ....-..'.'.s'.''.'. .'''. SouV
City treasurer ...................... SouV
City attorney ..............s..s. .s..ss's. i4oVV
Chief OF police '...'.- '''''''''''''' 100
Chief of fire department. nt......g.s..'.- 4ooo
Health officer ...--.,.-..-.s ...'...'. 4ovV
Tax and license collector. ....'.- SeoS
Member of board of public worksA.. 42OO
Superintendent of parks. ...-,......... So0V
1t is proposed to give library direc-
tors water commissioners, members OF
the boards of health and education and
the civil service commissioners each 80
for every meeting attended, with
stipulation that the maximum monthly
salary shall not exceed S25. PROPOSE
tions affecting salaries are made indie
pendent of each other and those which
may carry are to take effect following
the first Monday in January, 1910 9th
er propositions which may carry Will
go into effect Immediately after the
election.
Municipal Leagues Proposals
The six amendments proposed by the
Municipal league make the following
provisions:
DIV municipal power, heat and ilumi-
nation by acquiring plants already IN
operation or utilizing the Owens river
reject power. This includes the right
to supply other municipalities with
water, gas or electricity. 1t also gives
Los Angeles authority to acquire, bulld
| and operate railroads, public wharves
| and docks. both in the city and the
county, and restricts the opportunities
tor graft in connection with such utill-
| ties.
Provision for election of the council
men at large instead of by wards
Provision for construction OF the
owens river aqueduct by the board OF
public works and control after COM
pletion by the water commissioners.
Provision for primary nominating
| elections.
Giving the mayor authority to veto
city contracts involving the payment
of more than $780,
Allowing acceptance of bonds given
by surety companies for city officials.
The proposition suggested by the IL
brary directors is for the purpose OF
allowing a sinking fund which will Nsn-
able the use of the revenue for lpraE
purposes to be diverted toward tina
| erection of an adequate public library
(contlDusd ON Page Thres1