Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-03
URGES MAYOR
TO REFUSE KERN
APPOINTMENT
DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE PRO-
TESTS AGAINST CHOICE
CITES CHIEFS RECORD WHILE
HE WAS COUNCILMAN
In Communication to Harper, Political
Organization Makes Vigorous
Appeal for Selection
of Another

The Democratic league has joined in
the protest that is being made to
Mayor Harper against the appointment
of Edward Kern to the board of public
works.
In a communication to the mayor the
league cites Mr.. KernS record while he
was a member of the city council, de-
claring that in many instances he
showed persistent devotion to the will
of vested corporations and contracting
interests in the city. The league holds
that his record proves him totally un-
fitted for the important position on the
board of works.
Especial stress is laid on Mr.. Kern S
vote on the river bed franchise, his ac-
ton on the Jackson street franchise,
garbage incinerator project, smallpox
hospital, and in other instances werein,
it is alleged, he did not conserve the
public's interests.
Following is the letter:
Hon. A. c. Harper, Mayor, City of
Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Cal:
Dear Sir: AT a meeting of the board
of directors of the Democratic league,
held upon Saturday, January 2, 1909, a
resolution was introduced and unani-
mously adopted protesting against the
appointment of Edward Kern as a
member of the board of public works,
to fill the vacancy caused by the ex-
piration Of the term of D. K. Edwards.
Time will not permit to detail his
numerous deficiencies, not to use
stronger words, let alone his persist
ent devotion to the will of the vested
corporations and contracting interests
of the city of Los Angeles.
His record as a member of the city
council shows that he is totally unified
to hold the position to which it is now
proposed to appoint him. While a
member of that body he twice voted to
give away, without a cent of compensa-
ton, a franchise for a railroad over the
bed of the Los Angeles river.
"Subservient to Interests"
He showed his subserviency to the
railroad interests by voting to give a
franchise for a spur track on Jackson
street to the Southern Pacific Railroad
company, when almost all the property
owners in that street petitioned the city
council that the franchise be given the
Santa Fe Railroad company, and as
chairman of the committee on public
works of that council he recommended
that the Southern Pacific Railroad
company be given that franchise.
He showed how utterly unfit he was
to properly look after the city's inter
ests when as a member of the building
committee he assisted in wasting $55 900
of the city's money in the construction
of a smallpox hospital, which it is now
impossible for the city to use for any
purpose.
''As a member of the building COM
mittee he also assisted in wasting $40,-
600 of the citys money in the construc-
ton of a garbage incinerator, which in
Generator cost the city $4,000, and a
duplicate Of which cost the city of At
1anta, Ca, $4,000.
GAS chairman of the sewer commit
tee of the city of Los Angeles he was
in great part responsible for allowing
the contractors for the outfall sewer to
overdraw their account $180,000, after
which oVerdraWal the contractors re
fused to proceed further with their
contract, and abandoned their work.
This amount Of money. it is feared, is
lost to the city forever.
while occupying the same position
he approved the payment of Sic, 900 for
a change in the right of way for the
outfall sewer, six feet below the sur
face, through the lands of the Ingle-
wood Land and Water company, when
the same was not worth more than
$15e0.
"Since the establishment of the board
of public works legislation of this
character becomes part of the duties Of
that board. The above actions are ex-
arlples of how he would act as a mem
Der of that board.
CAS- your honor we'll knows a mem
Orable contest was waged over the es-
tablishment Of the first board Of public
works. The public service corporations
and contracting firms joined together
in using every effort to have a board
subservient to their interests You also
know the happy solution of that affair,
when a non-partisan board was ap-
pointed that stood without a peer in
the history of the United States for it's
dow to-, H.
Is it not to the interests of all the peo-
pie of Los Angeles that such a board
and the policy pursued by them be
continued?
I'VE submit that these things cannot
be accomplished by the appointment of
such g. man as Mr.. Kern.
Every respectfully yours, (Signed)
Democratic League.
IN. G. YOAKUM, Secretary"