, 1877-03-18

vera proposed, but which for causes emu
merated they decided not to adopt. LII
first remedy proposed 81 is a carefully-pre
pared system of laws for the punishment
neglect or unfaithfulness in municipal of
fcers," and the objection is, that while thi
may be easy enough, yet the present state O
| affairs is such as to cause lack Of ability t
enforce even those which do exist. This i
9eplorable in the extreme, and yet is fact.
| Another proposed remedy is t'legislativ'
interference" which has been commented
On previously.
| Another remedy suggested is "The with
drawa1 Of power from local governments, o.
the limitation Of it BY positive enactnaents
thereby arresting the increase Of debt an5
taxation beyond certain sum-" This, how
ever, simply limits the amount subject te
depreciation by bad men beyond certain
sum, and causes the removal Of no evil, and
may put forth measures whose effect would
| be simply to 1enre. the public necessities
! without adequate provision.
And in this connection the same rule applies
to the idea OF preventing The Legislature
entirely and absolutely from, having anything
to do with city affairs, as emergencies may
| arise, as they have in New York City, where
| occasional legislative enactments are positive
necessity to the wcll-being Of the city.
The remedy suggested by many Of icon
ferring upon the Mayor: extensivee u if not
| extraordinary, powers" is regarded as bad,
| because tho trust conferred, and the duties
imposed and required, would be too great
for the powers Of any one man to handle,
and no one with. honest intentions would
accept place where he had entire control of
the disbursement of $50, 0,000, 900 annually Of
city funds.
Civil-Service Reform " has been CON-
mended as Il cure for the ills OF the body
polite. 1t sounds well, but it is fact that
the time is not yet when competitive exam
nations may be introduced into municipal
service. Something more is needed. Civil
Service can come in rs an adjunct or helper,
but personal integrity and capabi@ity are the
great things needed This, in fact, is the
highest form Of Ciyil-Service Reform. Good
men already in the employ of 4 City Gov
ernulent should certainly be promoted for
faithful service, but Civil Service is too
ethereal for the present emergency.
Other remedies ara mentioned, such as
increasing the public interest in city cleo
tions," etc.; but all these are theoretical,
not practical, aud so are all dismissed for
something which in the opinion Of the Conf
mission is neither impracticablo nor theoreti-
cal, and which in few words is this: q Tie
c1oice Of The local guardians and TRUSTEES Of the
financial concerns Of cites s1onlI be zogak IT,
t.re!y 10Th tie taxpayers" To admit to q
general participation in such choice those
who make no contribution to the funds to be
administered on is not in conformity with
the principles On which human affairs are
conducted.
In the above conclusions We have the re-
suit Of the work OF the Commission, and it is
certainly worthy Of thought and careful con-
sideration BY al property holders in Chicago
as we'll as New York City.
It is believed that in ali matters pertaining
to general legislation, executive and judicial,
all should participate but in matters per-
tanning to the levy and raising Of tar, aud
to the disbursement Of such money, only
those should participate who pay tho taxes.
This mode Of government, it is thought, |
would result in the choice of those to hold /
Office who themselves are interested in the |
practice Of economy in local expenditures. |
The real fact in the case as it exists at pres
ent is, that the proposed change is in reality
no change at all. Prior to 1S47 all the char
ters to towns aud villages Of New York con-
tanned just such provision as is now pro-
posed, but gradually aud accidentally the
power Of appropriating money for local pur-
poses passed into the hands Of the Legisla-
ttre, which, being already overnurtlened with
business, created new local boards aud shift
passed into the hands Of all voters, whether
taxpayers or not The bumnaers soon got
control, and proceeded to rob and mortgage
:he communities. That this was never
Intended is shown by the history Of
the change, and was the result Of accident,
concerning which we have not how the
pace to go into detail, rs raiated by the
Commission. The report expresses the
opinion that all that is necessary is to |
!waken the interest of the taxpayers aud to
learly present the subject, which, if done,
annot help bringing about the desired
hange- To the taxpayers possessed Of fair
must come the conviction that the | ]
proposed change is only fair and reasonable
The present manner Of city government | !
; like TINT Of rnilroad which should elect !
s its Directors not only from among the I
umber Of its stockholders, but also from its {
ngineers, brakemen, switchmen, and pas-
engers, ANY one, in fact, who is benefited
y it, whether having any financial interest |
l its management or not. a
After going over all the ground in great i
etail, the Commission present definite I
Ian, and also the form for law to bring J
bout the change proposed; and we have
My space to present few prominent feat
res of both. j.
The Board Of Aldermen shall be continued i,
} be elected by al voters. A new Board q
lau be created, to be called Board Of t
inance, to be elected BY the taxpayers. The r.
'rmer to exercise all legislative powers is
we such rs relate to taxation and expendi- a
Ire. Tie latter to have all power con- {
srning financial matters, taxation, and the | Il