Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-05-15

4 n large town; a town or collective body
Of inhabitants, Incorporated and gov
erned hy particular officers. asa Mayor
and kldermen.'-N0ah Webster.
Many people seem to have very
crude notion that the city form OF gov
ernnent. M il 10 used in tins county is
on.y suited 10 a collective body of in
habitants," occupying small territory,
densely p copied that there is something
about i, also that is anti-republican /;
that at all events il is wholly unfitted for
large territory and sparse popula-
ton.
The Chairman Of the Committee OH
Towns, in his report on the Roxbury
case, says: 'She will, therefore, be
lett with a territory large and conve-
nient for city &c. Now We should
like to have the Hon. Chairman tell us
how much territory is required for u
city and why the city form OF govern
ment is not as we'll adapted to a large
town as a small one. Webster says,
"a city is large town"-not great
number Of people in small space, but
a large town incorporated and gov
erned by particular officers, as Mayor
and Aldermen" According to this
definition, all the large towns in Massa-
chusetts are cities, for every one Of
them is "incorp,raled and governed by
particular officers"
We have long been Of opinion that
what We call the city form Of govern
men,, is better adapted to any town OF
respectable size and numbers than what
we call the town form, for reasons
which we shall presently give. There
is no difference whatever in principle,
except that in city form everything is
dsne by representatives, and in town
form Legislation is, theoretically, but sell
dom practically. performed by the peo-
pie, and the corporation officers are
merely executive. And this dlfierei ce
10 theoretical, because in nine cases out
of ten, in towns containing 500 voters
or more, the business meetings are not
attended by one-tlth OF the number
AS a general rule it is left TO the man.
agement Of sell-elec,ed delegates, who,
again, as general rule, are neither
the most intelligent nor the best quail
fed men in the corporation.
We consider the city form Of govern
ment the best, for the following rea-
sons:
|. Because it is least expensive. The
pay Of city officers is not so much as
the pay Of town officers, where the same
amount OF work is performed.
=. Becarse II is more convenient to
the people-and This convenience is in
creased in proportion TO the extent OF
territory SO governed. That is, the
larger the territory, the greater the con-
venience for the reason that ordinarily
the people under this form of govorn-
ment are called together but once
year, then only | ny enough to deposll
ballot and by the usual division into
several districts, all are within n short
distance OF the ballot box. Whereas,
under the town form, many meetings
may be, and usually are, held in IA year
the people from all the extremes must
travel to one common centre and as
they are, when thus assembled, legis-
latlve body, they must all wait hll the
business in hand il debated, considered
and completed, or delegate their power
TO those rho hare their interests tD serre,
and therefore will stay till the end.
3. Because the financial and other az
fairs OF the town are more carefully
looked after, and more prudentIy and
economically administered by two de-
Lucrative bodies, each having a mega
tive upon the other whose reputation
is at stake as well as their interest
then by tumultuous assembly who
have but little knowledge beforehand of
the subjects proposed for consideration,
but little time for reflection when assem-
bIed, and who are generally guided by
the pre-iormed opinions Of very few
leading persons, who in all probability
have tleir own ends to serve in whatey-
er they recommend
4. Because the Councils are often in
session, and thus an opportunity is ac
iorded not only for the presentation of
all complaints, requests, &c, but for a
careful consideration and reasonable de-
cision upon every case, which can sell
dom be had from town meeting.
There .s nothing more absurd than
the idea that expenses are increased by
the adoption oil a city form of govern.
ment. The actual expense OF the gov
ernment itself is lessened, and if any
increase takes place, il is because the
CITY governments attend to wants of the
people which in the other case were
neglected, or because an increase Of
population naturally draws after il lar
ger expenditures.
If there is anything TO be said in Gp-
position 10 the ground we have taken,
we have yet to hear it. All the argu-