The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-10-17
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL TICKET.



. Tic growth in number and size OF the
cities Of this country Is drawing tho atten-
ton Of thoughtful men to the subject Of
municipal government. There being SO
mitch governing OF this kind to do, it is
matter Of great Importance to determine
the best methods TO do 1t. That munich
/. pal government in this country is sadly
i defective IL obvious. Il
1t may be laid down rs an almost in.
variable rule that the larger the city the
worse the administration OF ailairs. New
York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago
and San Francisco arc cases in point. The
misgoyernment Of New York under Tweed
became SO fragrant that the people came
. to the front, for the time took command
. and drove the chief plundcrers into exile
through flight.
I :. According to the measure OF their OPP
portunities the professional politicians Of
Philadelphia followed in the footsteps OIL
their New York exemplars. The people
grappled with them and gained victory
But the old systems remained with the old
machinery, aud New York and Philadei
phia need reforming again. Chicago il
ruled BY II combination OF gamblers and
politicians; and the politicians are gam
blcrs, the gamblers politicians. In thai
splendid city the criminal classes have full
sway. i;''r.si,a
/ In the one city OF Philadelphia more
people live than in all IVES, Virginia. al
the height OF her protiigacy she had u debt
OF S70,OOO,00O now steadily decreasing
She laid last year a axoi Sl.s5 on ihcSl00
Z and this Is IN improvement. Practically
avery small part OF her people have any
voice in the government which comes
nearest to them. They allow u comparn
lively few politicians to run the ma
chine" ii State Government, or the
National Government, were conducted as
Tweed governed New York, the people
would rise, and if the ballot failed they
would try revolution. +
The glaring defect in MI municipal gov.
8 ernment in this country is a lack OF con.
centratcd power. This defect is found III
small cities as well us in great, in
Wheeling as in New York. The people
part with all tho power tint is necessary
to govern them well, but it goes to too
many repositories. The people are will.
{ ing to do the right thing, but they scatter.
This they are beginning to appreciate,
tsad this is the first CLEAN of3light. The
people OF Wheeling know that they do
Z not g. dollars worth OF good out Of
& every dollar spent, and there is a good
deal Of complaint. G5s
There are sanie who appreciate the real
trouble, whicliis not difficult to locate.
The trouble is spread all over the city
government. 1t Keeps company with the
4 distribution ofpower and responsibility.
We shall have better government when
VIC concentrate power and responsibility
little wholesome Capitalization" il YOU
please. We must make the Mayor in fact
the executive head, instead OF an exccu.
tive figure head who lays aside his execu.
tive functions to preside over the First
Branch OF Council. ..s1,
We shall not have the efficient govern.
mcnt We ought to have until we make the
Mayor the only elective city officer, and
give to him the power to appoint and re-.
move all other executive officers. This
puts the reins in the hands Of one man ;
and when sweeping change is desired
there is but one head to cut Off, and the
job is done. Tho Fights for the favor Of
Council, and tho animated campaigns to
determine who shall be City Sergeant and
who Wharf Master, stirup the community
without adequate return; and when these
officers have been chosen, to whom are
they responsible? &{.s2
4 To accomplish this reform will REQUIRE
the sanction Of the Legislature. There is
time enough before tho Legislature meets
to air the matter through discussion, ascer.
tain the popular will and prepare n char.
tor. Tile ISTElLIoEScEE will DO glad to
hear from all who huve views on this sub.
ject. :: 5s8.5 E l1,s