The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-14
4itllu,olla nispatth.
Fprp,Y SEPTEMBER II, 1877.
Government Of Cities.

naturally excited the poHtlclanS With Sci
ardent desires to get their fingers into the
municipal pie. Years ago they began Sc
ries OF s,rateSies with regard to city gov
eminent which looked to subtecting cltles
to party control and diverting the wea',"
md power OF cities as much as possible 70
the sdvantagc OF parties and their ieaueis.
The first marked case Of success In tnis soi'
OF trickerv was the placing over Nc" lo' !"
a commission which directed lis "ep"' :,
ments and disposed OF its patroh"se an"
norvcr short time only was require" W
d.,,e,o, the great evil Of that measure.
New York has been the Vicuh VI ''''o.
experiments; but New York mas grea'
,ower. and cannot be trifed with WIN
impunity.
The Legislature OF Pennsylvania, inspired
With desire to tamper with PmlaoeiPh'a
for n corrupt purpose, appointed commls'
sion OF citizens Of the State to prepare Il
form OF government for cities, to be submit
ted 20 the Legislature. Their report has
been prepared. 1t IS stated that It aboilshes
the existing departments OF city govern
men, and places the administration under
the sole control OF board Of public safety,
consisting Of the mayor OF the city and four
frecholders to be selected by him. These
ireeholdcrs are to be persons OF repute In
the community. This board Is to manage
the affairs OF the city, "arrange regulations
..for the conduct OF subordinate bureaus Oh
..ro)icc, fire. buildings, taxation, water
supply, financial collections and dlsDurse-
..mcntS. &C.. responsible TO the pubhc
Through regular reports to the suggested
board of chosen frceholders, which is TO
.:serve in lieu of city councils
This sort OF government will hardly be
approved by the Legislature. 1t would
Mace great CITY III the hands OF i've per-
sons. Those five would have the direction
OF a larger amount OF population and great
or wealth and mere important interests
than are found iii some States. The trust
ing Of so much public welfare, so much
wealth and power, in the hands OF so few
persons, would be 4 monstrous wrong,
whose incompatibilitv with free instltll-
tons. not to speak Of the impractlcaoll1ty
Of the measure. should place 1t out OF the
question.
Cities should have as much freedom and
he rs much the rulers OF their local interests
as other divisions OF the State. The officers
Of their administration should be citizens,
and should be selected by the inhabitants OF
the cities themselves. 1t is indispensable to
right and freedom that this should be SO. 1t
is indeed true that many abuses and much
corruption have been discovered in the adj
ministration OF public affairs OF cities. But
will the municipal administration he I'M
proved by bringing rulers from the rural
districts, or appointing rhem by the State
Executive, to look after their affairs! Not
at ALL Such rulers would be sure to eXer-
else their authority and improve their OPP
portunity by directing the public admins
tration for personal or party advantages.
They will never fail to fall under the temp
tation Of the riches entrusted to their care;
and while they are studying how to employ
them the public administration deteriorates
and the public discomfort increases. The
schemes Of the State politicians only pro-
mote corruption and breed sWarmS OF evils
which become uncomfortable.
Cities under proper laws, which put the
departments under proper checks and BAL
ances, and establish wise measures for 9TH
cial accountability, may be we'll governed,
and the citizens OF the city are better suited
to administer the laws and take care OF the
welfare OF the town than others can be.
a., L., ,y< I'D hut no
are best understood and may be best COM
batted by the jewellers therein. These are
the people to be put into office and to be en-
trusted with the management OF public uf-
fairs. 1t is no more proper that the people
of the counties should be brought in to
govern cities than it is that inhabitants OF
the city should be chosen to govern the
counties and rural districts.
Cities the world over are noted for the
comparative enlightenment and liberaIity
that exist amongst their populations. They
were the earliest advocates OF liberty, and
were in early ages the places OF refuge for
the outraged and oppressed Of the feudal
laws. They will be among the last to yield
to arbitrary power. 1t is strange that they
should be annoyed by the schemes OF scurvy
politicians, designed for corrupt ends, that
can only succeed by itnpairing liberty and
justice. '....- Il.
The war Of the politicians waged for get
ting hold OF the wealth and good things OF
cities will show itself in different places at
different times. Even in this small city
there has been one sigma mere sign. Last
winter the Legislature gave US Police
Board. 1t is very small matter; but then
it was step towards impairing the force OF
the right line OF city government, in which
the Mayor is the proper head OF the police,
the city rule resembling somewhat military
authority.
However, we have little doubt that the
cities will be able to take care Of them
selves. Now aud then the designing politi-
clans, skirmishing for position and profits,
will veN their governments little; but
they have power, and sagacity too, and in
the long run will preserve their own gov
ernments intact. H...
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Unquestionably there Is some alarm occa-
stoned among certain class OF politicians
as to the prospects OF heMoFFETT register.
Clearly, the possible increase OF revenue