The alcalde had jurisdiction over the whole district, appointing the administrators of missions and owners of ranchos to serve as subordinates, or comisarios de policía. For three years only, 1835-7, the ayuntamientos were continued, and then the alcalde's place was filled by a juez de paz appointed by the governor each year in 1838-40. The change was made because the population was less than that required for a legal ayuntamiento; and from January 1838, San Diego was ordered to recognize Los Angeles as cabecera de partido. Details of municipal affairs, meagrely recorded, are more important as illustrating the system than as part of local annals; but I give a few items in a note.[1] From 1839 this district formed part of
- ↑ Many communications received by the alcalde from the govt and by
campo, Andrés Ibarra and Ignacio Lopez; juez de policía, Juan B. Corona (?); comisarios de policía, José Corona, Esculano Olivas, Juan B. Alvarado, Henry D. Fitch, and as substitutes, Fran. Ruiz, Andrés Ibarra, Matias Olivas, Ramon Osuna, and the administrators of missions and proprietors or overseers of all ranchos in the district. At the election of ayunt. Andrés Pico got 5 votes and Argüello 6. S. D. Arch., MS., 63; Hayes, Doc., MS., 34. The secretary's salary was still a matter of contention, but was not raised from $15. Mier y Teran served in the early part of the year, but was removed for various faults, and in return made charges against the alcalde, S. D. Arch., MS., 66. The 2d regidor was elected for two years, so that Marron held over. The alcalde found fault with the síndico as an unruly and dangerous man. Id., 98.
1837: alcalde, José Antonio Estudillo; regidores, Francisco M. Alvarado and Francisco Ruiz; síndico, José M. Mier y Teran; sec., Domingo Amao. No other officials named. Election of Dec. 18, 1836, in S. D. Arch., MS., 144. Machado should have held over as 1st regidor, but declined to serve on account of bad health.
1838: no ayuntamiento as per governor's order of Dec. 9, 1837. Id., 190. Juez de paz, José A. Estudillo; sec., José F. Álvarez. No election. Estudillo held the office at first temporarily as 'encargardo,' and then permanently by the governor's appointment. Fitch acted at E.'s request in June. Id., 300. Sec. Amao having run away, Governor Carrillo appointed Alvarez in March. Id., 195-6.
1839: juez de paz, Juan M. Osuna; 2d juez, or suplente, Juan M. Marron. No sec. named. Osuna was elected by the people on Jan. 1st to succeed Estudillo at the latter's request.
1840: jucz de paz, Juan M. Osuna; suplente, Juan M. Marron; treasurer (depositario de fondos propios), J. A. Estudillo to April, Francisco M. Alvarado from May. Fitch and J. M. Alvarado had been appointed justices of the peace by the prefect in Dec. 1839 for 1840; but in Jan. the gov. restored those of the preceding year. Hayes, Doc., MS., 102-20. The prefect had made the appointment on the nomination of the justices, as there was no sub-prefect to propose candidates. Perhaps the governor's act was founded on this irregularity: Fitch took the oath of office and began to act. Alvarado declined to take the oath because he could not write. S. D. Arch., MS., 249. The secretary's salary was now $10. Dept. St. Pap., Ang. Pref. y Juzg., MS., iii. 48.
