The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-02-19
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.

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MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS,
The rapid Increase of towns In th,
United States Of lNterycars Is bringing
into Importance the question of city
governmenis-thelr necessity, utility
and the best mode Of administering
them, that they may be blessing
rather than scourges on the people
The system TO the great mass o
southern aud Western people Is IN III
Infancy. All will agree that they mr.,
expensive necessities, thrusting thei
hands directly into the pockets of tn,
citizens. In so far as they can be mad,
to subservethe bjccts of their creation
with the least practical expense, il Is
the part of wisdom to so.
The chief necessities for these munlc-
ipal organizations are the preservation
of good ORDER the improvement OF
streets, the prevention Of fires, and
VIC Bolt'lluH w i'dl|ii' i'Ig olb
these there is no justihable necessity
for their burdens on municipal COM
mumities. Could these objects be ac-
compllshcd through other existing
agencies, rs for instance, the county
courts, town governments could be dis
pensed with. Under the present con-
stitution, laws and organizations this
cannot be accomplished, but II is pos
sible that the time may come under
reforms likely to take place ut no great
time in the future when this can be
effected, The subject is one worthy OF
serious investigation by men interested
in the general good Of all.
Municipal officers have to be paid
and there Is proneness to increase
their number. Taxes must be collect.
cd to meet all the expenses of the local
government and pay salaries. The
proportion of revenue actually devoted
to improvements is, therefore, relative.
~ small. In other words, municipal
modes of administration oro nooossari
~ costly necessities or luXuries, as the
case may he. Hence, we dcduce from
the premises the great Importance of
intelligent economy in appropriations
and disbursements, and constant
watchlulness, lest extravaganza
ana waste creep In. To pre-
side over such u town as Gal
weston, Houston or Dallas is no
sinecure, The chief magistrate of
such town demands, besides honesty
and industry, lirst-class business
man, with some knowledge of legal
principles. However well he may per-
form his functions, complaints will
arise, and he will daily realize that his
seat is not II bed of roses. He must
haveself-control, firmness, with justice,
economy without niggardliness, and
trust his vindication to the people
themselves.
The other officers of such towns have
their appropriate duties to perform and
bear the same responsibilities respec-
lively as their chief. The aldermen
are the lawmakers Of the town, and
only through them can the public rev.
enue he appropriated for any purpose
whatever. Their responsibilities,
though confined to the municipality,
are great, and should be discharged in
aspirit of equal justice to all citizens
and all parts of the town.
The town marshal, us the guardian
of the peace and good order of
the community, should be above
fear and above reproach, ever realislng
that while it is his duty to preserve the
peace and protect all, it is not his duty,
but crime, for him to insult abuse or
maltreat any beyond the absolute ne
cessity of discharging his duties. He
has n fine field in which to be bene-
factor, but frequent temptations to go
astray and become a petty tyrant. He
should, therefore, be true man.
These views naturally arise in view
of the election to come off in April.
We give them thus early, while there
Il.
is no excitement, as thoughts which
should commend themselves to all
good citizens, however much they may
differ politically.
Another thought should never be
cast away. The governments of towns
should be so administered as to give
the least possible annoyance to peace
full strangers and the farmers of the
country, on whom towns depend for
the necessaries both of life and trade.
Every facility should be secured to the
farmer to come in, buy and sell in
peace, enjoy protection from rogues
aud sharpers, and return home feeling
that he had been we'll treated This
will be a grand corner stone in the
Of any town.
gprInU m u0M J0UM II rnnUDhM