, 1875-11-28

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.
Nothing strikes the observing American
who visits other countries more forcibly
than the efficacy, integrity, and economy ct
the municipal governments of European
cities, as compared with those in the United
States. There are governments in cities in
Europe which are older than the govern
ments Of the Kingdoms Of which they are e
part These City Governments have con-
tinued year after year, century after century,
surgi ing the fall and succession Of dynas-
ties !; continuing unchanged through revo-
1utions and counter revolutions and, during
the whole period, preserving their identity,
their distinct financial credit and political
autonomy, and performing MI their functions
as @ government with eminent success, econ
omy, and purity.
How is it in the United States There is
not City Government thirty years old, hav-
ing within its jurisdiction 0,000 inhabitants,
which is not habitually misgorerned, whose
taxation is not disproportionate, whose rev.
enue is not more or less wasted, whose e1-
penditures are not excessive, which has not q
surplus OF officers at unnecessary high sal
aries, and to which there is not gang Of
spectators and jobbers forever looking for
some opportunity to make money without
giving an honest consideration therefor. But
this does not tell the whole story. The
history Of the governments of the larger
cities OF the United States is an Utmost
unbroken record Of mal-administration, e1-
travagance, plumber, corruption, and incom-
potency. Our municipal monuments all tell
the same story of reckless, wiilful waste,
and Of deliberate dishonesty. An honest
government Of large city is now considered
an impossibiGty, and in all estimates Of
city expenditures there is now q large mar
gin of cost assigned to satisfying those
who deliberately exact heavy percentage
as plumber. The universally Of this corrup-
ton in municipal governments has made
our elective system such an abomination that
thousands, and unfortunately Of the most
deeply interested classes, absolutely refrain
from any participation in our elections. 4
result is that the elections for local govern
ments fall generally into the hands Of those
corrupt governments,-t other class refus-
ing to participate in struggle at the polls
with the mob Of repeaters, ballot-bo1 suffers,
and recipients Of the spoi1s of Office. An
other evil is, that the choice Of local officers
being thus committed exclusively to those
interested in dishonest government, q class of
men become candidates and obtain elections
who, under another and better system, would
never be heard of in that connection.
Many and various have been the measures
suggested for reform. It has been proposed
to limit suffrage by property qualifca-
ton, mud to limit oficeholding to freeholders.
But these reforms are not practicable, espe-
cially in 1nrge cities, where every man is to
some extent a taxpayer, and where man
may be made freeholder at nominal cost.
But the evil Of nisgovernment In American
cities is q consequence; it is the result of q
producing cause /; and the removal Of that
cause may be, and unquestionably is, the
true remedial measure. 4 glance at the con-
dition Of European cities viii probably show
wherein the cause of our misgovernment con-
sists. In the United States al our City Gov
ernments are elective almost in all their
branches We elect in Chicago Mayor,
Common Council, Treasurer, Attorney, and
it is now proposed to add to the list Police
and Fire Marshal, Corporation Counsel,
and Comptroller. Practically We elect all our
State, county, and municipal oficers.-ex-
ecutive, ministerial, Legislative, end judicial,
and as consequence have no RESPONSE
bility. In European cities, and especially in
those of Great Britain and Germany, the
only officers elected are the Legislative de-
partments. The people elect the iaw-maEers
of the cities, and upon them place the
not only foz the control and
direction Of the government, but for the a5-
Of the municipal affairs by a]l its
officers We have more ballot-boxing and
worse governments; they have fewer cleo
tons, better officers, and honester and more
efficient governments. The affairs Of the
City Of London, with its $500, 600 of in
habitants, its police, its public works, its
thorough and efficient public service,-its en-
tire administration is carried on yenr after
year and century after century without
shilling Of revenue being s9uandered, wasted.
or stolen, Of my suspicion ot dishonesty
being attached to enf branch Of The prhIio