The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-07-26
REORGANIZAT OF CITY
GOVRRSlIESTs.

oDe col..-..i - % - =. ~ . - -
CONTAMINATION OF CITY
GOVERNMENTS.
A writer in the FrolrLi2E, contem-
plating straits to which cities have
been brought through their govern
mental organizations goes extensively
into their history, and especially that ,
OF New York, and propoaeo TO apply a |
remedy for the evils OF taxation and |
Indebtedness by raising the .tandards OF !
city councils. All States, and with !
Texas it is peculiarly so, have Jungle
Of laws regarding municipal govern
ment, the result more of local
ring pressure than of Legislative
consideration, and hence in most Of
our cities fraud and corruption have
Gun riot, while the toolS for schemes,
the municipal officers, are appropriately
chosen upon the requisites Of either
imbecility or ignorance, and too often
OF venality. The writer above referred
to, taking similar view to the STATES.
MAN upon the general subject OF city
government, traces the cause Of munic-
ipal failures in all instances to the
''rottenness and corruption" control,
ing city councils. A city's financial
downfall alwly6 originates in its
board OF aldermen, and the reason
given is that ''aldsrmaniC representa-
ton is no representation at all"
We lave given tins question much
consideration, hoping 10 see clear
ly through it for the benefit Of
our tax -burdened communities, and
have JEged upon buDgling cousti-
tuition makers the necessity Of 50
amenuing the code as to place power
alone IN the hands rs those who III ain
tain civil communities. The root OF
the evil can only be reached through
such means, hut while waiting for
tins, which will he attiined in the
course Of time, we might add to it
other safeguards, such rs are suggested
by the writer referred to. He de-
clarcs that aldermanic representation is
founded peither upon population, di
verse interests, size of territory, taxa
blc value of property, nor any other
tangible or appreciable thing or rea-
son. 1t is simply a survival, and hay
ing survived its usefulness, like all or
ganic growths, it has become a parasite.
He would remove this rubbish, and
establish in its stead local lcgis-
lature, real representative body of
the city, which should be large, re-
gardless of constituency. Athens was
wisely governed, and history tells us
every citizen was component part
of its legislative assembly; and TO
meet the objection to large assem-
blies it is only necessary to call
attention to the House Of Commons
ana our national House of Representa-
tives, both large bodies transacting
business with ease, and generally to
the satisfaction OF constituency. Our
thcorist gives number of requisites
for creating such legislative body,
substantially as follows That a city :
varied interests. though it covers but
square mile or so of land, demands
variety OF mind and information to
shape its legislation, the principle OF
representation requiring that the larger
the extent of country and the more
numerous the constituency, the smaller
may he, in proportion, the representa-
tive body. For national purposes,
every conner and petty interest does
not need watching and representation
hut for local purposes they are the
very elements OF the representative
constituencies. BY 'arse represents
he contends we may get rid OF
tide dictaiion aud manipulation. L
proverbially hard to bride oil
troll a large body, though s
IL one is easily managed. BY i
would destroy the supremacy of the
.-shop, which is due almost solely
he large size Of the aldermanic d S
Is. BY 1t we would obtain a rea
esentation of taxpayers, and mer
assessed of honesty and intelligence
would be sent to the municipal cham
Der, and would have decided
majority within cit. Wealth anC
intelligence would no longer b'
entirely ignored; nor, on the othe
hand, is the scheme open TO the charge
OF discriminating against poverty
The plan proposed, besides authorizing
large representation, would take il
representation from stock aud produces
exchanges, chambers of commerce
bar associations, medical societies
schools and learned societies. Such
body, even in q city like Austin, nigh
DO composed of sixty members
ono-third of whom should be elected
every year, making the body q per
manently active one. The writer think
such body should have supreme con
troll over all local affairs, should choOs
mayor, and either approve the ap
pointment Of or name heads of depart
ments, and should be clothed will
every power for the proper discharg
of its duties. The theory has maa,
good features, and the SrATEsNfAl
gives view Of il, hoping that wis
dom may sometime prevail in city gov
ernmen,s, saving cities from the fat
Of New York aad of Houston.
TRE RAILROAD STRIk EHS
RESULTS THAT MAY BE CON
TEMPLATED.
News as to the elimination Of to
great strike on the RAltimoro and Obi