The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-01-08

their constitutions, economical In their expcndi-
tures, in the main admirably governed, with
property In their councils, who deemed it an
honor, without compensation, to assist In
Their administration, and as the, pub
what were necessary. the temptations to
ayarlce and corruption were few; and peCulation
and fraud unknown. To-day It Is humiliating Ia
observe the cities of the United States expose our
intelligence and civilization to reproach and
compared with the malversation and misgov-
ernment of some of them, the maladministra-
tion of the English cities in 1895 seems respecta-
Bile. In the management of a few of them JUS
tice has simply been mocked, taxation meant
contiscation, and debts were accumulated with
such rapdity that the annual interest thereon IL
now greater than the whole tax levy for all corpor-
ate purposes fifteen years ago. The aggregate OF
the debts of the cities OF the United States accord
ing to competent authority, reaches the enormous
sum of $3.50 600 00O and this amount is believed
to be rather under than above the actual in
debtedness. Is 1t strange that the annual tax
levy, instead of being few mills, now averages
in our most important cities two and u half per
centum upon the assessed value of property? II
Is with reasonable apprehension, there
hdGTe that the people are are earnestly f6 d
causes of this evil, and the conviction Is becom-
ing widespread that some remedy must be pro-
vided that will go to Its very core and work a
A tendency to extravaganza began to manifest
itself In this country In 1867 and was exhibited
most conspicuously In the innumerable PROPOSE
able kind. Magnificent parks extensive water
works, splendid city buildings, wide streets, with
new and improved pavements, are some of the
projects upOn which lavish expenditures were
made. In the freduent and immense outlaws of
moneys thus authorized, numerous avenues for
fraud and peculation were opened, and officers
connected with the disbursement of these great
amounts, suddenly grew rich, and having, by
reason of their control of these expenditures,
scores of adherents, they soon became the arbi-
tiers of the taxation of these cities. Irrespons-
f1o.r Nn
of irresponsible men to city councils, that their
corrupt practices might have the forms of law,
and emboldened by impunity and the supineness
of respectable citizens, they endeavored to con-
troll, and IL Is alleged In some NUM-
cipalitics did corrupt the channels of Justice
and shaped its decrees to suit their nefarious
ends.
Our cities formerly had but few wants; their
charters were simple in their provisions, easily
understood, and conferred ali the powers ncces-
sary for local government Within the last few
years, however, every depar tment of local gov.
ernment from the great city to the small school
district, has been constantly applying TO the
state legislature for extensions OF authority. The
rights of taxation and appropriating private
property for public use, are extraordinary pow
ers that no government should delegate, except
in cases of absolute public need, and the use of
the power should be limited by the necessity
that invokes its exercise and vet the legislatures
of the various states, in the last few years, have
scattered these extraordinary powers broadcast
over The land, and in the hands of tnconsiderate
anu irresponsible men tney nave Decn Tnaue
der the specious plea of public improvements,
the engines of oppression and robbery. Many of
the burdens our people have to bear, have been
created by the vicious habit of Issuing bonds at
high rates of interest for contemplated improve
ments. Multitudinous NATIONAL state, city,
county, ward and school bonds have been issued !,
the smaller initiating the larger local interests
in making these drafts on pOsterty at rates of in
terest ranging from four and a half to ten per
centum per annum, and the payment of the in
terest on these bonds, and of the bonds them
taxation that is oppressive, and constant drain
upon industry and enterprise. The contrast af-
fOrded by a comparison OF the government of the
commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the govern
ment of her cities is curious and instructive.
Twenty-Five years ago a like spirit of eXtrava-
gance and mania for public improvements pre-
vailed throughout the state, and her policy was
marked by tremendous outlays In behalf of ca
mails and other public works, and was the parent
of % debt of $40, 900 600, and of the corrup-
tions and evil practices that aroused the people
to the extraordinary effort which resulted In the
constitutional amendment prohibiting an in
crease of the public debt and providing q sink
ing fund TOR the payment of the interest, and all
annual ANNA reduction OF the principal. How diff
With u yearly income scarcely exceeding
Fix millions of dollars, and II state with
four millions Of inhabitants, the taxes have
recently been decreased and annually large
portion of the debt paid of, so that now the in
debtedness amounts to but 1913 100000. OF
the revenues for some years past, 81 500 900
and the reduction of the public debt, leaving
three millions and q half to be devoted TO the
payment of the expenses of the government,
which include provision for our magnificent sys-
TEN of charities and schools, upon the latter of
which alone, common and soldiers orphans,
81 800 900 are expended each year. The debts of
our municipalities, on the contrary, havo been
increasing enormously, and apart froD. the pub
lie improvements for which a large bonded in
debtedness has been created, the expenses OF our
cities and towns have been growing annually
their Mt cessities. One source of this additional
expense is the increased number of officials.
The powers of government are too diversified,
and require too much machinery, That
mechanism is the best which contains the fewest
parts, and governments are not exempt from
this law.
The deplorable condition of some cities that
are overburdened with debt and with public i'm
provements unfinished, that must be completed,
Is the result largely of undue and strained as
sistance accorded to these municipalities by the
state governments. Legislatures voted them the
largest possible grants of power, executives ap-
proved them, and the judiciary in some of the
states have sustained every grant or power to
tax, where the amount to be raised was TO be
dedicated 10 public improvement, even II the
benefit was remote and contingent, as In the
construction of railways at a distance from
city to divert trade to its marts, and other like
projects. A well known and able writer asserts,
that our cities are the prey of iobbers, and the
curse and puzzle of our civilization, and that
this is more the result of the system than the
fault of the city officials. Honest men cannot be
made by legislation, but to the power for evil of
those who are dishonest or careless a limit can
and should be fixed. The principal source of
abuse is not In the disposition TO do wrong hut
in the license to pecuiate and plunder. It is the
power to do that which Is done and not those
who doit wherein we must find tho evil. Dis
place those in the present local Legislatures, and
others will take their positions who will soon be
given to like practices.
We must not forget that there Is grave diff
ference between the conscience Of the individual
and the public conscience. A man will hesitate,
unless he is thoroughly dishonest, before he
takes advantage Of ais neighbOr, but the same
man will not scruple q moment when his ap-
proyal is asked for a project, which, under the
guise of public improvement, Is to despoil the
whole community of part of its property.
Again, it Is an admitted fact that every public