Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-07

MAYOR NAMES
NEEDS OF NEW
LOS ANGELES
GREAT GROWTH MEANS GREAT
Err EXPENDITURES
RIvERsEpANp LICENSES SHOULD
BRING MORE REVENUE
Urges Erection of City Hall, Library,
Jail, School and Fire Buildings
In His Message to the
Council

day. defends the first year of the ad-
ministration, shows that the extraordi-
nary growth of Los Angeles has made
greater expenditures necessary and
suggests means for producing addt-
tional revenue as well as new needs
for expenditures.
The message urges the erection OF a
new city hall, public library, jail, high
school and public school buildings and
fire houses; the creation of river bed
revenue scheme, commission Tor pro-
viding new license measures to In
crease the city's income, urges more
boulevards, park sites, comfort stations
and has many other suggestions.
The message, which was read at
length yesterday to the council, is as
follows:
Today marks the close of the first year
of the term of office to which the pres
ent municipal officers were elected.
In beginning the second year l Will
not only comply with the charter pro-
vision by calling your attention to Inn
provements and changes 1 deem neces-
sary for the welfare of the city, Tut
will refer briefly to work done and en-
deavor TO enlighten taxpayers as to the
condition of municipal affairs
The year has been one Of unusual
activity In every branch OF the city gov
ernment Newly elected officials did not
wait until then had become accustomed
to their surroundings, but went to work
the day they were indicted into office,
as if they had always been there. That
spirit spread through all departments,
down to the laboring men, with the
result that there has not been moment
of idleness.
During the year there has been criti-
cism and assertions that officials were
indulging in municipal extravaganza.
These were so unjust and unsupported
Nv figures I attention
to them. At this time, however, l think
it. my duty to correct the false impress
sion which mars the good name of our
city.
Los Angeles has not INDUCED in mu-
nicipal extravaganza.
The rapid and unprecedented growth of
the city has demanded the expenditure
of vast sums of money, but its officers
have not been wasteful.
For every dollar expended the city has
a dollars worth of material or labor to
show.
City employees are the best to be got
ten for the salaries paid. They have
been faithful and free from suspicion of
graft. No city In the country can boast
OF a high standard than that which
Los Angeles maintains.
The people of Los Angeles have good
reason to feel proud of the general con-
dition of the municipality and its en-
ployes.
While other cities are houndering in
debt and suffering from grating officials
Los Angeles grows stronger financially
and has no cause to blush for its officials
Electricity and Phones Cheaper
Within a year the price of electricity
and telephones has been reduced. The
reduction means q saving of many thou
sand dollars yearly to the user. gas
ordinance, aimed to prevent gas fam
inc such as the city experienced last
year, has been adopted, and In the future
the people are assured a better quality
of gas and more satisfactory service.
Improved streets have grown many
miles, the big trunk sewer with an outlet
into the ocean has been completed; parks
and Fairgrounds have been enlarged and
improved, and the great owens river
project successfully launched and started
we'll on its way.
The year has shown remarkable
growth in population and increase in
business enterprises.
IL has been necessary for municipal
officers to Increase the city's working
force to keep up with the city's growth.
New departments have been created and
old ones enlarged, but this has been
done within the citys income and the
new employees have given value for value
received.
If there is any criticism due municipal
officers 1t seems to me 1t Is for trying
to manage big metropolis with work
ing force suitable only for city or
$4,000 population.
Corporations increase their working
forces as their business expands. What
applies to a corporation should apply
to municipality, for a municipality is
nothing more or less than corporation.
\ City Outarows Working Force
l when the present administration took
charge of the city's affairs it was ap-
parent to all that the city had outgrown
it's working force. For two years the
legislative body and chief executive had
not been working in harmony. What
one wanted the other opposed. The re-
suit was long list of needed improve
ments in waiting for the incoming adj
ministration.
Through this list of improvements mu-
nicipal officers have gone during the year
endeavoring to give them to the people
as fast as the funds would permit.
Through the various departments they
have also gone. strengthening the weak
places and bringing them up to the stan
dard the administration stands for and
will maintain.
The health department was found to
be the weakest and In need of the great
est repairing. Money spent there bene-
fits no individual. Every part of the city
having in charge the apportionment of the
city's money had neglected this depart
ment and 1t was found to have been out
grown. Its working force could not keep
up with the demands made upon 1t. In
a year there has been a marked improve
ment, but there is a great deal yet to
be DONE and my one regret is that the
funds will not permit the immediate ex-
penditure of money in charging this
department. The recent reduction In the
force was made at the request of the
board of health against its desire, be-
cause an insufficient appropriation was
allowed IT, AS soon as the city's funds
will permit will urge you to refill ,hese
positions.
Tho HeaIthiest City
Los Angeles p-tdes itself on being the
healthest city In the country, but with
physicians in all parts using II as a
dumping ground and a cure-all place for
every ailment 1t will not long remain
such with a crippled working force.
There never was a time In the history
of Los Angeles when the city was SO
clean This is due to the repair work
done in the health department and in
terest shown by physicians. At a time
when persons unfamiliar with health
conditions were criticising an increase
in the number of employees physicians In
an organized body were demanding the
appropriation of $4,000 for a general
cleanup. They knew whereof they spoke