Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-09
Municipal Encouragement.


Henry George, the workingmen's CALI
didate for Mayor of New York, says that
! he has some ideas about the government
Of that city which he wants to see
adopted. He says: ~ favor a change in
the method OF governing New York. The
present way is radically wrong. There is
a division Responsibility that makes il
impossible for the people TO ind out Just
WHO Ia responsible, and to bring face to
face with public opinion the man who
abuses his trust. There are too many
hydra-headed commissions, and it may
be matter Of notoriety that most fragrant
abuses exist, yet 1t is impossible TO say
TO any one: y on are the man. 1t is your
fault"
Mr.. George sees what great many see
in nearly all the cities OF the country,
viz, a large amount OF money annually
spent without satisfactory results. Much
is wasted through incompetent and ex-
travagant management, and great
deal is virtually stolen in ways
which make il impossible to reach the
thieves. A statement was published a
few days ago that New York owes more
money than thirty cities of England, in
Guiding London. There Is hardly a city
in this country that is not carrying a
heavy municipal debt, and there are very
few which are not managed by class OF
men who have no idea OF business, and
whose main purpose Is TO provide for their
friends and take care OF GLASS OF men at
the city's expense, who are chiefly yalua-
BILE at election times.
Col. s. Colyar, In the last issue OF the
Southern Bivouac. points out the way
which Nashville suffered from the ward
politicians and how she got rid of them.
The city had a sort of double-barrel
Council, and the Counoilmen were elected
in their respective wards. The ward
politicians, therefore, controlled the city,
and these politicians were, as a rule, the
owners OF saloons. The city was con-
stantly In debt, city bonds were below
par, and, although heavy taxes were paid,
there were no visible improvements.
The tar payers and those who wanted
better condition OF things organized and
applied to the Legislature for charter
that provided for only one set OF Council
men, required these to be elected by the
whole city, and authorized the appoint
ment OF three business men, with good
salaries, to manage the affairs OF the city.
Good results began to be observed at once.
Responsible men became Councilmen, the
three managers spent the revenues to
good advantage, bonds rose quickly to
par and even to premium, streets were
nth IL
and the police became much more
efficient at much less cost.
Nashville is now well and economically
governed. People pay their taxes prompt
ly and willingly because they know
their money will be spent for the city's
good.
A heavy burden that most American
cities have to carry is the hundreds OF
men carried on the pay rolls who
render little or no service. They get good
wages which they do not earn. Three OF
them hardly do the work OF one. Nobody
finds fault with them, because it appears
to be nObody's business to do so.
Another heavy burden is that contracts
are made with the object of benefiting
friends rather than protecting the city's
interests, and contract work is accepted
that is far below the requirements. There
are many other burdens, and if Mr..
George is elected Mayor of New York and
succeeds in lifting some of them from the
people Of that city many of those who are
now opposing him will join in assisting to
| give him a second term. His chances OF
succeeding. however, will be greatly i'm.
proved II his supporters will weed out
the ward politicians from among the
Aldermen and fill their places with thor.
| oughgoing, honest business men.