Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-03-02

THE CAUSE AND THE REMEDY.

A San Francisco journal, commenting
yesterday upon the failure of self-govern-
ment in cities in this country, attributes it
10 the fact that in American cities the re-
wards of political success are greater than
elsewhere. In a review of the "boss y
evil few days ago, the REcoRD-UNIoN
expressed the same thought. There can
he no question concerning the .soundness of
the statement. The secret OF bossism in
municipalities is to be found in the direct
rewards that inure to the victors. When
the two correspondents who few DAYS
ago moaned so loudly in these columns
over the degeneracy and listiessness of the
voter, and with one voice declared that il
he would do his duty, the rule of the boss
would come to an end, We pointed out that
their remedy was of no value. If every
voter attended every primary and caucus
OF party, and voted on election day, the
reform resultant from such activity would
be but temporary. But brief time would
elapse before the spoils system would de-
velop new bosses born of self-interest and
human greed, and then the reform would
of necessity have to be worked over
again. So we would have a
succession of municipal political revo-
lutions. The true remedy for the
failures in municipal governments is
the enforcement of such governments
from politics. Cities are but groups of cit
liens, who, for mutual protection and COM
fort, need good streets, lighted highways.
police regulations, health rules, and sys-
TEN of local courts and the clerical officers
needed for city bookkeeping, collection of
revenue and its disbursement for local
needs. When the administrators of such
system are accountable to influences that
serve self-interest instead of the common
good, the community must suffer. When
they are accountable to political influences
that place party dominance before mu-
nIcipal economy, the community takes
harm. Says the San Francisco Chronicle :
But all this would amount to little if the
inhabitants Of cities as faithfully dis
charged their duty Of registering and
voting as men do in the country" This is
fallacious. The most exact and unremit-
ting diligence win accomplish no reform
SO long as the politicians are permitted to
choose their candidates When the people
take that preliminary away from party
management, and select candidates with
an.eye single to fitness and honesty, candi-
dates who have neither to pay tribute to
party or its bosses, nor to use their Offices
to further political ends, we shall have in
dependent municipal administrators, and
not until then. The Chronicle touches the
quick of the question when it SAYS:
The stronghold of the bosses is the party sys-
tenn Men are run for Mayor, or Aldermen or
supervisors, not because they are honest men.
skilled IN municipal affairs, but because they
are prominent Democrats or prominent Repub-
acans OF course, mans views on the tariff.
or on PRESIDENTIAL appointments, or on the Fit
Sonn forter case, or ON any of the controverted
questions at washington are no criterion of his
illness 10 deal with questions of water rates and
gas rates and street cleaning and drainage and
licenses; out we have fallen into the habit OF
running our municipal elections on the lines al
redeIal campaigns, and this is where the bosses
This statement of fact carries with it the
suggestion of remedy; enforcement of pol
itics from municipal government, and the
only tribunal to enter the decree is that OF
the people who reside within municipal
bounds. When they have the courage to
cut loose from party and select the execu-
tors of their will as the business man
selects his clerks and agents, bossism will
die Until then party caucsses and party
primaries In cities viii continue to be the
screaming farces they now are.