Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-20
Municipal Affairs
CRITIC|SEs RED TAPE
OF PARK DEPARTMENT
Commissioner Lippincott De-
cIares Present Methods Cur
tail Efficiency of Board

official red tape has so tied the hands
of the park commission that the results
1t would like to accomplish are almost
out of the question. So keenly has this
been felt by ]. B. Lippincott, a men,
ber of the commission, that he made g
strong protest against the methods OF
securing labor and supplies in written
report he submitted to the park COM
mission Yesterday. He was especially
displeased that the salary of G. T. Her
bert. secretary of the park commission
had not been increased by the council
although when Mr. Herbert was APP
pointed he took the position only on the
understanding that he would receive
more money.
AS the method of routine outlined
by Mr. Lippincott is characteristic OF
every department in the city and
illustrates the difficulty of getting the
simplest things, a portion of 1t is re-
produced:
With the exception of the super
intendent and secretary Of parks,
the commission has no power to Sc
lect it's employees, even the laborers,
or to discharge employees except
Iaborers, secretary and superin-
tendents. All this is done by the
civil service commission. 1t has
not the power to fix the rate of pay,
to create a position or to abolsh a
position. All this is done by the
council It has not the power TO
purchase anything whatsoever. In
other words, your commission as
organized under the ordinances and
charter of the city of Los Angeles
is practically an impotent figure
head, and it is still expected to be
responsible for the administration
of about 1000 acres of parks and
an annual expenditure of $4,000.
AS indicative of these conditions,
two fawns were born at Eastlake
park of a rare East Indian antelope
The keeper reported that 1t would
be necessary to feed a certain quail
ity of bran to those faWns lm1ne-
diately. Requisitions were promptly
made, but the fawns were six weeks
old before the necessary bran was
delivered.
The formality of purchasing any
article is as follows: Your commits
sion originates and approves a
reouisition. This requisition then
goes to the supply committee. The
supply committee posts notice on
the city bulletin board inviting bids.
These bids are referred to the sup
ply committee. The supply commit
then recommends an award to the
council. After this approval the
purchase order is signed by the
committee. 1t is then referred to
the city clerk, and the city clerk
is required to approve 1t. 1t is then
returned to the supply committee,
and the supply committee mails the
oider to the successful bidder. The
goods are then delivered. The pay
&c
laborious a matter as their pur-
chase. With reasonable diligence
on the part of all parties, 1t requires
from a month to six weeks to pur-
chase the simplest articles. With
such a delay and inconvenience in
paying for it, our business is not
considered a desirable one by the
merchants of the town.
I submit that 1t is unfair to the
park commission to expect any eff
iciency from our administration
when we are incumbered with such
impediments. The only adequate
relief can be obtained by amending
the charter. Committees have been
appointed to revise the charter and
I believe that before efficiency can
be obtained the same latitude must
be given to the park commission as
is enjoyed by the board of public
works. the water department and
the library commission in the ad-
ministration of their affairs.
The aqueduct is saving s166o
month in cash discounts for the
prompt payment Of bills.
/ wish to recommend that the
council again be urged to validate
our obligations to our new secre-
tary, and that the charter revision
committee be requested to con-
slider our necessities.