The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-01-12

i. safe, wise and bOuest course for ind
!. viduals and communities to pursue
to live within their means and pa
as they go.
! The exercise of local jurisdietio
: BY towns and cities bad its origin i
the remotest antiquity. The vestige
of this power can be traced in the e1
humed remains OF the ancient cite
! of PbGnicia and Egypt la tn,
municipalities at Greece politica
rights were clearly defined, and eacI
city was sovereign and acknowledg
ed no authority but that of its OWL
creation. Under the rule of Rom,
we discover our ideal of q modern
municipality, as described by a dis
tinguished historian: "a communi
ty of which the citizens are member
OF the whole nation, all possessing
the same rights and subject to th,
same burdens, but retaining their ad
ministration of law and government
in all local matters which concern
not the nation at large OF like
charactos were the immunities and
rights wres ed from Feudslism BY
the cities Of the middle ages There
cities of the past were the conservG-
tories Of science and art, the abodes
of industry and the nurseries of polit-
ical, moral and religious freedom, and
to them We are indebted for the prin-
ciples Of constitutional liberty aud a
knowledge of the practical methods
of government SO useful in the ad-
ministrslion Of our municipal affairs.
The cities of England obtained the
right of local self-government about
the beginning of the thirteenth CEN
tury, and their growth in population
and wealth kept pace with their in
dependence and freedom from the ex-
actions OF the Crown. Their polite
al importance likewise increased as
their political power was angumebt-
ed, and we find them graci0usly
favored by kings and parliaments, 10
the latter having a representation of
their own election With enlarged
privileges aud greater prosperity,
however, there grew up intolerabe
abuses, aud measures had 10 be taken
to restore them TO their original de-
sign as Institutions for local govern
ment to be controlled by those inter-
ested, and not by a favored few
whose ouly concern in their manage
ment was to accumulate fortune. 1t
was manifest that these corporations
had outlived their usefulness, and be-
came positive evil All their pow
ers were exceeded they arrogated to
themselves others never confe red ::
their counsels were self-elected and
chosen for life, and their legislation
bad no sympathy with and never re-
iiected the wishes of the citizens
whose rights and property it was to
affect Mal-administration was the
rule rather than tte exception in
their management; property was
wasted; money thoughtlessly and
extravagantly expended the officers
were the creatures OF their irrespon-
sible counsels, and looked to them
and not the people for continuance
Of favor, and every form of corrup-
ion, peculation and fraud were the |
product of a system which was
originally inspired by love of free
lem, a desire for equal and exact
ustice. and q conviction that this
ocal or home rule would best con-
serve the rights and property of citi-
lens. So fragrant had abuses become
n the administration of these cities
hat iu 1885 the English Government
appointed commission of inquiry
% investigate the condition of her
corporations, and upon the
eport of this commission, which was
! painful recital of mal-administra-
ion, extravaganza, misapplieation of
'evenues, corruption and favoritism.
law was enacted, under the provi-
lions of which these corporations
we're made to conform to certain uni
orm regulations, and their powers
estricted to the legitimate and useful
purposes for which they were created.
Jur cities, counties and towns are
imilar to the subdivisions that for
centuries have existed in England,
md form a system, which, in the Ian
,uage of learned American iurist,
seems part Of the very nature of
he race to which we belong y and
lpon this very point an eminent for
ign writer, having in view our Re-
'uhlic, significantly says: Local
assemblies of citizens constitute the
trength of free nations. Municipal
are to liberty what pri.
nary schools are to science they
ring it within peoples reach they
each men how to use and enjoy it; {
nation may establish a system Of
rec government, but without the
pirit of municipal institutions it can
lot have the spirit of liberty" 1t
the genius Of our institutions to
ring the agencies Of government as {
ear as possible TO the governed, and
corporations are the instru- |
nentallties by which this intention is i
lost ehectually v subserved. Our {
tiles, counties, towns, road and |
chool districts exercise powers of T
)cal control, and it is a favorite t e. .
ry OF our political System that those t
1ho are Immediately and directly (,
lterested will be more likely TO ad- I
linister their affairs with intelligence 7
nd economy than central govern d
lent at q distance, and upon this T
leery the States have been divested {
almost all authority over their |
municipalities, upon which latter 7
ave been conferred most Of the G
geneies by which the government @
b. ought into direct contact with q
le people. In the distribution of a
over these corporations having re- o
lived the potential share in regulat- d
g the concerns of large portion d
our people, and their health, CON- C
TT, enlightenment and prosperity II
ust depend, therefor, in great il
easure upon the wisdJm and justice d
this local rule. Il
Until recent period the munich b
llities of the country enjoyed and P
served the confidence and favor of "
lr people. They were simple in Il