Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-24
Municipal Reform.

A subject that is beginning to attract a
good deal of attention is municipal re-
form. The debts of cities are becoming
so enormous. and the burden so heavy to
bear. that a way to prevent an increase OF
indebtedness is being earnestly sought.
Two remarkable articles treating of diff
ferent branches OF this subject have lately
appeared in two of the leading periodicals
of the country. One was by ex-Mayor
Grace, of New York, and dealt with the
government Of cities in the State OF New
York. II appeared in the last number Oh
H0rOer's Magazine. He pointed out that
in that State the cities were not gov
erned by the people Of the NUM-
cipalities. but by commissions
created bv the Legislature. To this kind
of Government he attributed many Of the
evils with which the cities Of New York
are afflicted. The other article was writ
ten by Congressman John A. Kasson, of
Iowa. and was published in the last num-
Der Of the North american ReUiete. Mr..
Kasson has evidently given the subject
Of municipal reform very careful
study. and as he is man OF
ability and enjoys a wide reputation as
legislator. his views are entitled to, and
will no doubt receive, marked attention.
Nr.Kasson takes the last census and shows
that the debts Of cities in each state III
the North and West are far greater than
the debt Of the state. For instance, IN
New York. the State debt. compared to
the debts Of the cities in that state,
i As to 2l7: in Missouri, as
rs is to PSI; in Iowa, as is
to 4. and so on through the whole
list Of states. But putting the facts in
another shape. OF the combined state and
municipal debts in the New England
states, the towns, in their municipal ca
pacity. have created "A per cent; in the
Middle states about 90 per cent; in the
southern states. IS per cent, and in the
Western states - per cent. From this 1t
will be seen that in the South
the municipal debts are less than the
state debts. Mr.. KassOn says the reason
that there is so much more fraud and eX-
trayagamce in municipal than in Federal
and state governments, is that IN state
and Federal affairs parties watch each
other closely and expose every attempt at
extravaganza and wrOng-dOing- In city
affairs there is no particular struggle for
party ascendency, and party leaders are
too often in league to impose additional
burdens upon the municipality. Mr..
KassOn saws: Vigilance is reduced to
minimum. suspicion goes abroad with
open eyes. but sleeps at home. Shabby
work Is done in the absence of authorita-
tive inspection. The voter grumbles at the
state tax Of two and One-half mills, as in
Iowa. while the wastefulness and eN-
travagance Of the officials of his own
municipality load him with local taxa
ton Of thirty. forty and even fifty mills
ON the dollar" How is the evil to he
remedied: Mr.. Kasson says by limiting
suffrage To those who pay taxes.
This is an unpopular remedy, of
course. and could not he
readily applied. Mr.. Kasson's argument
is that there should he universal suffrage
i'm national and State affairs, because they
are political governments, but city Is
mera creature OF the lava corporation
like a bank or manufacturing company. IL
is mere business organization, and
ln0-t interested III IL ilt lll'oN " ttb Wv ~
the property in the corporate limits. They
ought. Mr.. kasson thinks, have entire
control of its affairs. just as the stock
holders Of an insurance corporation have
the entire management of its affairs. 1t
is doubtful if Mr.. kassOn's views will
meet with general acceptance. 1t is true
that i'm many instances municipal debts are
directly the result of corrupt combinations
in politics. but such is not always the
| case. Property-holders frequently favor
the issuing of bonds in aid of railways or
other Improvements. with the expectation
that the increased value of their property
will more than compensate them for in
| creased taxation. Those who do not pay
taxes have rights in cities as well as those
whOdo. They have a right to good drain
age. good sanitary regulations, good order
and in fact to everything that makes life
i'm city desirable. 1t might be they could
not get these things if deprived of voice
in municipal affairs. Mr.. KassOn's views,
whether sound or not, Will excite discus
sion.