Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-07

new OtIy Jdti
The inhuman treatment of prisoners
in our city jail compels me to again urge
the Immediate building of a workhouse
OF jail A year ago l called your atten-
ton to the inadequate accommodations
for our prisoners and had hope the ely
council would set apart money to AFFORD
relief to the suffering unfortunates.
When cold weather approached and con-
ditions became even worse / again
brought the matter to the attention of
your body In a special message. There
was talk of an immediate change, but
nothing has been done.
II superintendent of a Jail by de-
sign dealt out the inhuman treatment
such as conditions force the officers of
our Jail to accord prisoners he would no
doubt be indicted by the grand pury.
Deaths have occurred in our Jail and in
vestigation might prove these deaths to
the inhuman treatment the chief of police
has been powerless to avoid.
Conditions in our jail are such that
municipal officers should hide their faces
in shame.
At times there are 300 prisoners confined
in Jail built to accommodate 1875. This
overcrowding has resulted in insanitary
conditions which border on cruelty. At
times prisoners have had to be released
because there was no place for them to
sleep.
To attempt to rearrange the present
building, the chief OF police says. wilr
result only In a waste of time. An archi-
tect was employed for this purpose and
his report showed the utter impracti.
cability of attempting to do anything
better with the building. The council
recently rented rooms to accommodate
Judge Austin at an expense Of 500 a
month, but the jail was left undlsturbed.
The immediate necessity for action to
relieve the crowded condition cannot be
put strongly enough. Lack of funds ap-
pears to be no answer. because the coun-
Gil has been repeatedly informed as to
conditions and before the last tax levy
was fixed. The allowance which the coun-
Gil made the police department will not
admit of anything being done; In fact.
| the department is now economizing so 1t
will get through the year within it's APP
preparation.
Schools
The school problem increases in diff.
Guilty from year to year. The annual in
crease In school population is not only
| large, but regular Yet there Is no regu
lar provision for taking care of the army
of newcomers. Building must be going
on all the time If the people keep coming
/ III ohNli ali lllc lllitSs
To that end 1t seems imperative that
an annual building fund should be
created When a new charter is framed
provision. should by all means be made
for this necessity. The charter should
also contain a provision for the election
of a part of the board of education at
one time and the remainder at another
time. There Is no certainty of continuity
and cumulative growth of policy as the
charter now stands, but with the proper
sort of modification q wholly new board
of education, unused to school work and
unfamiliar with the detailed and heavy
duties of the Office would be impossible.
Los Angeles must build a new high school
Immediately. Her two large schools are
already filled beyond capacity. How any
more pupils can be crowded into either
of them Is q mystery. Yet the young
people are demanding an education in
even larger numbers. And they should
have it, but to give 1t to them Los An
geles mus. build another high school.
The work of the school department. as a
whole, is in a satisfactory and progressive
condition.
Public Library
| The public library continues to grow in
its utility to the public 1t is used by
more people than ever before, and by
cutting ou of red tape 1t Is easier for
| people to use 1t. The institution ranks
very high among the public libraries of
the United States In proportion to popu-
lation, In its use by the public, in the
number of volumes per capita, In it's cir
culation, in its internal use by readers
and students and In many other activities.
| 1t is recognized In the profession as one
of the most progressive libraries in the
country. both as to literary standards and
to businesslike methods.
The library is still in rented quarters
Iaf 90 &c lao
runs for another year. After that time
the rental will be $110O per month for the
main building. The 10000 square feet of
inside space now occupied (besides the
5000 square feet of roof garden) are already
beginning to feel seriously the tax of the
great patronage of more than 5000 per-
sons per diem.
The recommendation made in my in
augural message still seems sensible. The
entails for this main library would pay
| 1 per cent interest on a bond issue which
| would build a public library In Central
| park sufficient for the needs of the city
for long as the present lease shall
run; upon a plan to which additions could
be made for all future time without los
ing the character this building should
have as one of the most graceful of public
monuments in architecture while 1t at
the same time houses one of the foremost
educational factors In this community.
The use of a small portion of the park
for this purpose has been voted by the
people; their will has been held valid by
the supreme court, and a first class
modern fireproof business structure &C.
cupying one-thirteenth or less ground
area of this park upon a foundation suf-
ficient to support any number of stories
that may ever be required would solve
this problem. repeat the suggestion
made in that message:
"A bond issue of $350000 would lay the
foundation on a plan sufficient for sew
eral years; that is, would erect library
quarters on a plan good for the future,
I'd Immediately fulfilling present needs
for several years. If the library board
would pay the interest on these bonds q
sinking fund of about 10000 a year. to
be provided by the council, would redeem
them at maturity"
City Forester
The department of tree planting and
care Of trees has been In operation eight
months under direction of the city fores-
ter. The time is altogether too short for
the accomplishment of large results in
the way of beautifying our streets. but a
start has been made and much accom-
plished.
The forester has conducted campaign
of education by addressing various Inn
provement associations, civic clubs, study
circles and other bodies. This has re-
tions and is giving the people better
understanding of the worth of the tree to
city life and hints on the care and pro-