Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-10
KERN RESIGNS;
BLOW is DEALT
MAYORS CAUSE
VICTORY FOR RECALL Is CON-
SlDERED CERTAIN
SERIOUS BLUNDER AscRlBED TO
HARPER
Effect of Retirement of Member of
Board of Public Works Who Has
Been Under Fire Is Boom
for Alexander


CONTINUED from Page One,
futile, George Rice, John Tophan, w.
r. Burke, A. M. Dunn, Frank j. Hart,
p. w. Croake, George Couison. Her
man Silver, DR.. s. S. Salisbury, Lee
A. Mcconnell, Meyer Lissner, Marsnali
Stimson, r. ID. Wade, DR.. ID. l.. Tas-
ker, Willard Arnott, w. 8. Taylor.
Il. w. Murphy, A. M. Norton. p M
Johnson, M. T. Collins, r. II. Norton,
Erastus ]. Stanton, G. A. Rockwell,
Hugh w. Adams. Jr., Gilbert >.
Wright, C. II. Randall, M. +. Betkou-
ski. j. II. Mullin, Richmond Plant, w.
]. Washburn, ]. o. Koepfl.
Astonishment at City Hall
Like a thunderbolt, as something
absolutely astounding, the resignation
Of Kern from the board of works was
received by the city council and other
city officials. No premonitory warning
Of this shock was given the council
until about two minutes BEFORE the
members assembled for the regular
weekly meeting, and when they heard
of IL they were so dazed they could not
attend to the regular order OF busi-
ness.
The news was contained in a mes
sage appointing w. M. Humphreys, a
member of the park commission, TO
the board of public works vice Ed
ward Kern, resigned.
AS soon as the message was reao
councilmen gathered in little groups IN
the council chamber to discuss the
momentous matter. All business
stopped completely, and they prob
ably would have been talking about IL
yet had not Minute Clerk Carroll
called them to a sense of their duty
by mildly asking
"What will you do with the mayors
message, gentlemen"
81 move the appointment or Mr..
Humphreys be confirmed" said Coun-
Gilman Lyon. This was quickly sec
onded by Healy, but before the roll
could be called Councilman wallace,
weak and pale from his long illness,
Jumped to his feet and pleaded Tor
delay.
Wallace Asks Delay
"You all know that Mr.. Humphreys
was one of the men l advocated Tor
the board of public works in the first
place." he said. 81 do not believe
the mayor could have chosen better
man for the place than Mr.. Hum
phreys. But nothing will be served by
haste. The council has as great re-
sponsibility in the confirmation OF TINS
appointment as the mayor has In max
ing it, There is no other position in
the city in which the public at large
is so deeply interested. and we should
give the public time to express Its
opinion before rushing into this.
weeks delay can do no harm. 1t does
not reflect on the man named for the
place, it does not hinder the work In
which the board of public works Is en-
gagged. When the mayor appointed Ma
thews and Norton to the water board
we considered it best to consider the
y. CO
should we consider this appointment!
Think carefully of the matter gentle
men, before you act"
Healy said he believed Kern was the
best man for the place, but as long as
he had seen fit to resign he could see
no reason for delaying the confirmation
of Mr.. Humphreys, and insisted on his
motion.
Wallace Immediately moved a sub
stitute that It be laid over a week.
which Councilman Wren" seconded, and
then Councilman Dromgold offered
compromise to lay the matter over
until the afternoon session, which was
carried.
HeaIy In Haste
At the afternoon session it was evil
dent the appointment of Mr.. Hum
phreys would be confirmed. Healy
moved the confirmation and Wallace
poned week. Wren was with wallace
again, and a parliamentary wrangle
ensued. Each councilman except Blan-
chard and Yonkin gave his reasons for
confirming the appointment at once.
They all agreed Humphreys was
good man. Clampitt declaring he was
a neighbor and he could not bring him
self to vote for any one else under any
circumstances.
al 10 d.
ing for delay. He pointed out that the
whole country was watching Los An
geles just now and the council would
get credit for elaboration if nothing
else by postponing actions He limited
there might be serious complications
for some of the elected officials If
snap judgment was taken and eau
toned his colleagues against further
inflaming the public mind.
Wallace's amendment for a weeks
delay was finally voted on and lost.
only Wallace and Wren voting in fa-
vor of the weeks postponementA
On Healy's original motion Wren
declared he did not want to be put in
the position of opposing Mr.. Humph-
reys, and he voted for the confirma-
ton. But, while expressing the high
est opinion of the appointee and dep
recating the position of opposition in
which it placed him, Mr.. Wallace de-
clared he would have to be consistent,
and he voted against the confirmation.
The other eight members of the coun-
ell voted for Humphreys.
AS Parthian shot Healy exclaimed:
They forced Ed Kern to resign, and
now we give them one of their own
bunch and they amt satisfied"
kern's Letter
In his formal resignation and also in
personal letter to the mayor Kern
gave his reasons for his step. The
resignation follows:
"To the Mayor and City Council of
Los Angeles:
"Gentlemen-As unwarranted at
tacks on my previous public service
ora baioo ororlnua6 bU nertaiY, iptap-