The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-09-22

Albuquerque, N. NJ, Sept. 81, 1917.
Editor Evening Herald:
Dear Sir note the publication in Friday morning Journal of a letter
from Nh. Grant relating to the commission form of government.
Whatever was the purpose in printing this letter, the effect upon the
public mind is misleading.
The conclusion that would be drawn by the average man reading Mr..
Grants letter is that Los Angeles is under the commission form of gov
eminent and that the.numerous and expensive elections which he refers
to- arr the direct result of that form of city government.
Al a matter of fact. Los Angeles is under the government of a board
of nine counclmen elected from the city at large and a mayor who has
the appointing power, subject to the confirmation of a council, of quite
Works, having charge of streets, etc; the Fire Commission, the Police
Commission. All of these bodies are practically without power a their
activities ar subject to review OF the council which can nulhfy anything
the tax funds to carry out the things contemplated 1t is, in fact, the
same vicious system of city government that prevails in Albuquerque
city and the lack of information on the part of the public generally IS to
public affairs.
As to the recall, will say it has been exercised but twice in the history
of the city, the first time being the recall of the councilman from the old
sixth ward who wa accused Of being the tool of the Southern Pacific
Railroad Company, then quite active in politics. who "a recalled by the
voters for that and other reasons The second instance wa the recall of
a mayor. This mar a so blind to his duties. both as a official and as
aman, that he would have been recalled by an overwhelming vote, but tor
the fact that he resigned a day or two before the election. There have
been n other instances of a recall of public officials o a attempt ito e
call a public official in Los Angeles.
Mr.. Grants letter published at this time is misleading again o the
subject of special elections under the initiative features of the State law.
The elections regarding single tax, prohibition and other old subjects
have all come under the provisions of the State law and would have re
eminent or the provisions in the charter as to the initiative and referen-
dunn. It's manifest that bond elections, no matter how initiated, would
cost the people of los Angeles considerable money and that some cleo
tons have been held which were initiated in the interest of private corpor-
atoms but m which the people voted strongly in the negative.
1t should be evident to any observing person that the city of Los An
gees has made the most remarkable growth of any city in the United
States during the last thirty years, and that in that time some vicious and
unnecessary measures would be proposed and subjected to the vote of
the people but no one would say that the city has thereby been retarded
in it's growth.
an opportunity to express themselves upon the subject and should not be
msled by any interests either for or against the proposition. would
lived there for nearly thirty years and was active in civic and political life.
would prefer that my name should not be used in this matter unless
someone challenges the truth of these statements, in which case am per
fechy willing to come forward and father them.
Yours truly,
r n uAWEY