Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-01-26

HN HESE are some OIL lne DonlpSnSilS
President Works sprung in his
Il opening remarks to the council :
Yesterday morning. His charges con-
cerning the street. department are to
be- investigated by the committee on
streets and bodlevards, and this prom
ises to give this committee rs much TO
think about as has the committee on
legislation which is probing the
charges against the police department.
made by President Works two weeks
ago.
If President Works, who is a former
Justice of the supreme court OF Calllof-
mia. correctly interprets the city char
ter, street railway franchises may be
in danger and the street railways may
he at the mercy of the city. Because
the consideration of granting passes
to certain officials and employees OF the
city in payment of these franchises Is
a void consideration under the charter,
Judge Works holds the franchises
Themselves are void. But President.
Works, in effect. suggests that the
holders of these passes return them TO
fhe railway companies issuing them,
and in return the city VIII demand OIL
the railway companies that they pay
a substantial sum into the city treas
ury.
Andrews Demands Opinion
In discussing Ine SuDJeCL Ol CITY yin
ciaIs accepting passes, Judge Works
stirred up Councilman Andrews to
some extent. Mr.. Andrews declared
that as the railway franchises made
it incumbent for the railways to fur-
nish transportation to city officials, ne
considered it as part of his compensa-
tion as a city official and accepted 1t
as such. but not in the nature of a
bribe. The city attorney was asked to
yive an opinion on the matter of
In order that his opinion on these
subjects might be fully understood.
President Works had his remarks
taken in shorthand by Frank q. Hen
derson, secretary to the mayor. He
said -.
Gentlemen, there are some matters
that 7 would like to bring to the at
tention of the council for Its consider
alton. I understand that we are not
elected simply to sit here and pass
ordinances and act upon bills and the
like; but that the general welfare OF the
eitv is in our hands, and / don't un-
derstand that | was selected as presi-
dent of the council simply to sit here
and preside over your deliberations.
The president is made an advisory
member of all OF the committees and
any matter that comes to my attention
that 1 think should receive considera-
ton at the hands of the council, shall
feel at liberty to call to your atten-
tion from time to time.
Corruption on Streets
"Now, charges have been coming to
me affecting the street department, in
dicating that matters are not as they
should be; that there is extravaganza,
political corruption and various other
things that need to be investigated.
Whether these charges are true or not
should, l think, be investigated by the
council. If they are not true, It should
he known in Justice to the department
itself. If they are true it should be
known for the benefit of this council
and the people of this city
we all know L think, by our own observa-
finn that n great many incompetent men are
being employed on the street work think
we can see for ourselves that tne WORK -
beine done in a way that Is extravagants
and THERE Is INFORMATION 1NDlCAT-
ING THAT THE FOREMEN AID BOSSES
N THE STREET DEPARTMENT ARE
SIMPLY POLITICAL HAoks, AZ Wnv I.1.,,, AsSn M
ING MEN FOR political PURPOSES.
Ann THAT THEY ARE BEING USED FOR
THOSE PURPOSES.
"Now, those are matters that ought
to be inquired into, and If any such
evil as that exists, the duty rests upon
us of seeing that they are, as far as
possible, removed.
Cleaning Up Suggested
at want to say that we have board
of public works made up on excellent
gentlemen. That is very true. But I
am afraid that, with the multitude of
work they have to do, many of these
things are left to subordinates. and
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