Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-16
WOOLLACOTT TO
AIDGOOD ROADS
WILL ASSIST THE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
SAYS HE WILL FIGHT GRATING
IF ELECTED
Supervisoral Candidate Tells Views
on Reforming Los Angeles County
Affairs to Sixth Ward
Bryanltes

Supervisorial candidate H. J. Wool
lacott last night made public his an
swer to the letter of the advisory COM
mittee of the good roads movement
He gave out his views at the meet
ing of the Sixth Ward Democratic club
at San Pedro and Twenty-ninth streets.
zone of the most important projects" ="
said Mr.. Woollacott, ''next to the
owens river aqueduct, is the construc-
tion of the extensive highway system
commonly known as the good roads
project
You all remember the recent bond
election, which resulted in the approval
of a bond issue to the amount of $780,
000 This is a good deal of money, and
its honest expenditure Is imperatively
demanded.
1.-THE taxpayers should get value re-
ceiyed for every dollar of this vast fund
that is expended.
Why Voters Approved
'It is a fact that the voters of this
county would never have approved
those bonds had they not been assured
in advance of the advice and super
vision of the advisory committee.
This was the only argument that
resulted in the approval of the bonds
by the voters.
al have just received letter from Mr..
committee, asking me what my atti-
tude will be, If elected, in reference to
the duties and cooperation of his COM
mittee in the letting of contracts and
the expenditure of the taxpayers
money / have replied to that letter as
follows:
Your esteemed favor of the 18th referring
to good roads matters, and containing copy
of resolutions passed by the present board
of supervisors regarding the appointment
of your honorable body as an advisory COM
mittee is before us. You ask:
will you as a member of the board
of supervisors If elected, support the
advisory committee appointed as above
stated, and by your acts and deeds
stand by the terms and conditions OF
the resolution passed by the board OF
supervisors as above stated, and fur
ther, confer with the advisory COM
mittee in regard to all important mat
ters pertaining to the sale and issu-
ance OF bonds?"
Before replying to your very proper
payers of this county upon the appointment
of your committee, the unselfish interest
shown. and the very valuable service your
committee has already rendered the tax
payers, in connection with the recent at
tempted sale of the bonds.
In common with the taxpayers OF this
county who provide the funds I have great
faith in your committee, l also believe In
business, to the end that the taxpayers may
know show and why their money is ex-
pended No good purpose can ever be
served by secrecy in public affairs. On the
contrary, much good and will be ac-
complished by public officials inviting the
confidence of the people, and dischargine
their duties squarely and above beard
openly not behind closed doors.
1 have already publicly stated that the
expenditure of my neighbors money is a
grave responsibility and that to do 1t
wisely and economically is to achieve a
high honor. If elected want that honor
to be mine, and l shall spare no effort to
achieve it.
1 take pleasure in saying to you without
reservation that the resolution quoted In
your letter has my hearty approval The
act of the supervisors in adopting the reso-
lution was a wise one, and l consider that
the supervisors of the county should at all
times be governed by its provisions in re-
lation to the matters covered by the reso-
luton.
If elected 1 shall always be glad to con-
fer with your committee, and l shall con-
slider myself extremely fortunate In having
their advice and valuable cooperation.
feel that can properly do this without II
any sense surrendering or evading the
strict accountability and direct responsi
bility that every public officer owes to hi'
constituents
that in my judgment the taxpayers of thi
county would not have approved the gooC
roads bonds-which as you properly stat'
are a mortgage upon their homestead no
the advice of your committee been assured
and pledged In advance.
The disregard of this pledge is regarded
by the Taxpayers and justly so, as gross
breach of trust.
Important to Posterity
Continuing, Mr.. Woollacott said:
ST am very much in earnest about
this matter. It is a very important un-
dertaking. 1t is important not only tC
us of this generation, but it Is of still
greater importance to our posterity. TIC
our children and our childrens children
"I am determined, if elected, that
there shall be no taint or suspicion oil
graft in connection with the construc-
tion of our good roads, and / am fur
ther determined that If there is any
evidence of combination among the
contractors who may bid upon the
work, all the bids shall be rejected
and the work done directly by the
county, without the Intervention of any
middleman
I'VE have brains enough and busi-
ness ability enough to build these
roads, or build anything else-to build
up the great county of Los Angeles.
'I want no voter to misunderstand
me. l am determined that no voter
shall misunderstood me. l have made
no pledge to any interest, or to any
living man, in connection with county
affairs, nor shall 1 make any such
pledges except those contained in my
letter to the advisory committee. l am
going into the Office of supervisor with
clean hands, and 1 shall lay down the
duties of the office with clean hands
and a clear conscience"