Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-09-20
TEg ADMINISTRATION OF CITY Of
YtIRa-aUNIoIPAL RgFoRM.

~ AG = SAGAA VI PAO=ANS9 "AASAt SAbaHSAo
awake TO the necessity of an active per.
sonal interest in the affairs of the munich
pality. Generally the business man and
non. politician, when appealed TO to Inter.
est himself in local elections and govern-
mental administration, replies, "I am no
politician. attend TO my business. 1
have no time to attend TO these things"
Such deserve TO suffer in town with the
worst possible administration, the highest
rate of taxation and the lowest degree of
prosperity. Another replies to the appeal
to work for the general good, "Yes, be-
lieve that is right. We should all go to
the polls and work. always do but 1
never have anything TO do With clubs and
primaries and conventions" This latter is
but little better than the frat. The replies
given are actual, and are typical of two
large olasses of people. The first is wholly
and meanly selfish; the second is short
sighted, inasmuch ss it fails to see that
unless it exerts itself ia the matter of pro-
ducing proper candidates it's labor at the
polls is amply IN the direction that ward
managers, political bosses and primary ma
nipulators direet. These latter care very
little indeed for "work at the polls" 60
long as they are left undisturbe5 10 their
arrangement OF all ths details precedent
to the opening of the ballot box.
Municipal government is mare matter
of convenience. It is intended to secure
the comfort, health. safety, business and
industrial prosperity and intellectual ad.
vsncemeut of people grouped within mar.
row limits. To attain these it Is obvious
that there should be given to municipal
government the same careful attention that
the good citizen gives TO bis private affairs.
In defsuls of this, vicious politics will take
charge, and the government bo "run for
the money spoils and the political rewards,
and to enhance the power Of the ward
potentstss. Hence, if municipal affairs are
70 be conducted with view to the highest
attainments, they must be divorced from
party politics.
We have already shown that municipal
indebtedness in the United States exceeds
the total of State indebtedness by the
enormous sum Of $500, 100000. It is no.
torious that men are often chosen to the
discharge Of municipal trusts and the ad.
ministration of municipal financial affairs
who are wholly untitled by education, ex-
perience and intelligence. The most
grievous Of all governmental burdens, says
Mr.. Kssson, are those imposed in munici.
palities, and the most vicious dominaering
and ruthless political rule is that expert
enced in citiea. If then our
cities generally do not receive The
ordinary business attention that citizen
of ordinary intelligence gives to his own af-
fEirs, there must be applied remedy. How
shall our towns and cities be rescued from
she grip of the "riugs" aud the "boasss2'
Mr.. Kasson replies, "By having the
suffrage controlled by community of inter-
est and liability" To this we would add,
that community OF interest should
be measured, not only by property
possession in the municipality, but
but by intelligent comprehension of
the needs of a city aud sincere desire for
its beat, irrespective of political triumphs
It is simply shameful to propose, exclude
the intelligent poor man from community
counsels in favor of the mere property
owner. In seven cases out OF ten the in
terest of the former is quite as deep, sim
cere and energetic in behalf of the home of
his choice as is that inspired by ownership
of town lots.
Ex-Mayor Grace, of New York, in al
e8ort to solve the problem for that city, in
recent article arrives at the conclusion |
that municipal reform will best develop by !
setting cities apart, by constitutional
guarantees, independent of legislative in.
terTerence, SO that State politics cannot
seize upon them. Mr.. Grace discovers the
sans evil sflliotihg cities that Mr.. Kasson
points out, and that Mr.. Gzoschen of EGG.
land declares exists in that country. Mr..
K as,on's remedy is better than Mr..
Graos's. but both might well be applied.
ConstisutioDallY divorce cities from State
politics, and the divorcement of municipal
management from 'boss control will