Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-07-28

! ~ OAJEL excitement WAS ulSDldytu III
~ the council chamber yesterday
~ during the reading of the first an
nual message of Mayor George Alexan-
/ der. Councilman Lyon wished to regis
ter his objections to some of the pas
sages before the reading was COM
! pleted declaring, This is a knock on
the council" but did not insist upon
! the privilege when the chair ruled
against him.
Councilman Healy, however, could not
contain himself, and angrily demanded
/ that he be allowed to criticise during
the course of the reading, and for
two or three minutes refused to be
1 quieted, though Councilman Wallace
raised a point of order against him, ana
the reading of the message continued
in spite of the disturbance. Finally the
angered councilman subsidized, seeming
/ ly because of lack of words with winch
to express his feelings.
The explosion came upon the reading
of the passage dealing with franchises
and other privileges granted the street
railway companies, both without the
form of law and by specific act of the
/ council.
Councilman Dromgold contented him
self with a few critical remarks from
his seat, without seeking the floor, and
with the general comment on the mes
/ sage, at the conclusion of the reading:
DromgoId Is Critical
There's nothing new in it. It's all
old sores!"
! Then, when the fitting opportunity of
! the wrathful ones to take exception to
! the terms and substance of the mayors
! message came, at the conclusion OF the
reading, their excitement had died
down into mere sullenness, and the
points of the message were discussed
on their merits without further refer
ence to their bearing on any action or
inaction of the city council.
Councilman Wallace, speaking OF the
need of new city hall, suggested that
the present site be sold by the city
and a cheaper location, on Hill street.
be secured. If the old site is to be
used, he said there should be erected a
ten-story office building for the city
hall.
Councilman Dromgold supported this
suggestion, declaring the present build
ing to be more fit for a sc4recrow than
for the purpose for which it was in
! tended. 1.-The new building should be
purely an office building" he said.
! The mayors message, while a model
of brevity, covers a wide range of sub
| jects and deals with them in direct
and comprehensive manner, with care
| full consideration of the special needs of
this particular city.
The massage was as follows:
Refers to City's Crisis
It is unnecessary at this time to
refer to the circumstances under
which 1 was installed into Office on
April /. 1909, for an unexpired term.
took Office in a crisis in our city's
affairs, with a profound conception
of the responsibilities imposed on
me by the citizens of Los Angeles,
and in the belief that during the
| remainder of the term, what the
people of the city desired was sta
! BILE, economical and honest admins
tration of the city's business. Such
a government I have tried to give
| and direct. My endeaVor has been
to increase efficiency and decrease
expense.
! believing good team work to be
one of the essentials of effective adj
minstration, l have tried to bring
the various departments closer to-
gether, that all might work in mar
| mony. | have endeaVored to I'M
press on every city employe, wheth-
err the head of a department or
day laborer, that the city is emil
tied to a square deal ana TO DOL
lars worth for every dollar eX-
! pended.
The next few years in the history
| of Los Angeles will be epoch max
ing. The city probably never again
! will have to carry out as important
- enterprises as the Owens river
ID aoueduct and the development of
san Pedro harbor in accordance
with the plan agreed upon by the
| consolidation committee represent
ing the civic bodies and the repre-
| sentative organizations of San Pc
dro and Wilmington
New Steps Fundamental
While these are stupendous under
| takings for a city the size of Los
| Angeles, still they are fundament-
| al. if the natural and wonderful
growth of our city is to be contln-
ned and stimulated instead of being
checked. Los Angeles is big enough
! and strong enough to carry these
great enterprises to a successful
| consummation if the vast sums of
! public moneys to be spent are non
estly disbursed, if politics are kept
out of our city's affairs, and the
efficient administration OF the aque-
duct so far developed is main
tanned.
Believes Consolidation Certain
The consolidation with San Pedro
| and Wilmington, which undoubted-
lv will be effected at the elections
in August, is only the forerunner
of other consultations with the
CITY. The time is not far distant
when our cherished dream of one
great and beautiful city from the
mountains to the sea will be real
lied. A consolidated city and coun-
tv government for Los Angeles is
business proposition that Will re-
| dound to the mutual advantage of
all parts of the proposed greater
city But we can hardly expect our
sister cities of coast and valley to
ioin hands with us unless we first
demonstrate our capacity for wise
and decent administration, free
from the faint of graft. Such
conduct of municipal business
fine majority of the citizens of Los
Angeles desire and should have.
do not feel called upon at this
time to submit a lengthy report.
AS the occasions may arise | shall
present special messages to your
honorable body regarding such mat
TORS as. in my opinion. may require
attention [ present herewith GER
tain recommendations, and ask the
cooperation of the city council.
New Charter
Los Angeles, one of the most rap
idly growing and progressive cities
in the world, is doing business un
der veritable patchwork charter.
| There is a crying need for a new,
modern, complete, harmonious char
ter. one that will fulfill every need
of a great metropolis. 1 recon-
mend that commission be appoint
| ed to frame a new charter to be
| submitted to a board of freeholders
| to be later elected, and thatA some
definite assurance be given the gem