Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-06
REVISION OF THE CHARTER


OALIFORNIA cities are acting almost in
concert with the purpose of making their
system of government more democratic.
San Francisco has recently adopted amendments
in its charter that will probably redeem the town
from the rule of the corporation and the saloon.
Long Beach and others are after the commission
form of government Now Los Angeles charter
revision commission is ready with changes that
practically substitute for the present charter
AS it has been outlined, the proposed charter
will be one of the most advanced in its ideas any
where in the country. 1t embOdles the best tea
lures of charters in those cities that have de-
throned the boss, and follows the cardinal prlnc-
pie of the Galveston-Des Moines plan, namely, the
greater Capitalization of authority. The adoption
of the commission form OF government is probably
impractcable for a city as large as Los Angeles.
None has yet tried it, although it is highly sue
cessful in cities up to 100000.
The increase of authority proposed to be given
to mayor and council, the reduction IN the number
of elective officers and the concentration OF bu-
reau and commission duties into fewer hands is IN
line with the idea that the heavier and more tech
ncal the duties of each man the more likelihood
that an expert will be called upon to fill each place.
especially if the salary is made sufficient to attract
good ability On the other hand, public attention
will be more concentrated on few officers OF
great responsibility. The people will know whom
to praise or blame.
One of the wisest provisions of the charter re-
vision committee is that which proposes to give
largely increased powers to the mayor who, 1t IS
suggested, shall be man OF SoOOO size Inc chle1
executive has to bear the blame for much that he
cannot help at present. He ought to have the
powers of a general manager of great corpora
ton It is true that the grant OF great power 10
anv one man has inherent IN 1t certain dangers,
but they are not so serious now as under old-fash-
ioned charters with recall, nor yet so serious as
to have powers so scattered as to nave not much
Serior1S responsibility resting anywhere
Other features of the proposed charter that are
ant to meet with general approval are the ideas
embodied in the provisions for:
Appointment of city clerk, city treasurer ana
CITY tax collector by council - clerical offlclals
whose names should never burden ballot
Application of recall to apFoint1ve as well as
elective officials so needful to need no comment
Increase in petition percentage for initiative
and referendum, to prevent the ABUSE OF tloee
AGENCIES nv avowed enemies or unWlse friends.
Giving board of public utilities and harbor COM
mission control over utility corporations and mar
hor matters. with the right to issue orders that
shall have the effect of ordinances with only power
of review by council. Boards OF this KIND only
waste the time of their members II some authorlty
;s NOT vested in them. The more authority, the
more dignity; the more dignity the Dettei odilo0
men who will be secured.
Increasing citys power to engage III munclpal
ovynership of public utilities city ought 10 nave
the right to do anything its sovereign voters favor
Fixing date for primary elections ana PIoVlu-
ing against duplication of those and general cleo
tiOns.
Los Angeles was one of the first OF the larger
cities to give the world a lesson in the importance
of the recall and referendum i'll the local affairs OF
town approaching metropolitan size 1t was one
of the first to have a municipal public service com
mission. 1t would be fitting for this city, which
now has wide reputation for good government,
to take the lead in bringing municipal charters up
to the standards demanded by the people as eN-
pressed in the recent insurgent wave against ma
chine politics and corporation privilege in public
affairs.