New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-12
BAPr1sTs DISCUSS CITY GOVERNMENT.

OPENING OF THE CONGRESS TN NEW HAVEN
COLONEL BAOoN's PEssIMIsTIC VIEWS.
ew-Haven, Nov IL Special).-Thc ninth annual
meeting of the Baptist Congress opened this after
noon, in Calvary Baptist Church. Professor Francis
wayand called the gathering TO order and asked for
| the singing Of DR.. Leonard Bacon's famous hymn:
90 God, beneath Thy guiding hand
Our exiied fathers crossed the sea-
The Scripture was read by the Rev. John Mason, Of
the First Baptist Church. The Rev. Dr. s. D. Phelps,
Of this city, offered prayer. Professor wayand then
gave short address of greeting. The topic for the
afternoon was proposed Basis Of Christian Union"
The writers were the Rev. DR.. T. F. Eaton, Editor Of
"The Western Recorder Louisville, KY. the Rev. DR..
Charles Dewitt Brdgeman, pastor Of the Madison Ave-
nue. Baptist Church, New York; the Rev. E. T. Tom
linson, of Elizabeth, N. J.
The topic for consideration at tho evening session
was Municipal Government In the course Of an
address of twenty minutes the Rev. Francis Bellamy.
Of Boston, said that democratic government Is not
failure, even in cities. The only trouble with munc-
ipal government occasioned by the inferior men
who occupied the offices. Political rings and trained
oceseekers managed municipalities for the spois The
system of appointing non-partsan commissions to
control governmental machinery had the effect Of
making evasion Of responsibility possible and easy.
Tho true idea Of government to place the
responsibility of conducting the offices upon responsible
men. II these men failed to discharge the duties as
signed satisfactorily the people relegated them to
Official oblivion at the next election. The danger TO
the government Of municipalities came not so much
from the Irish voters from foreign voters as from
the stay homes who had grown disguised with the
methods of the government that contained all sorts
Of schemes TO divide the responsibility Of conducting
municipal affairs. Mayors of cities should have power
appoint all commissioners. The speaker urged that
cities should and control all means Of gas supply
aid general Illuminating and public transit. ic
charged that the population of the cities paying
annual dividends of 10 per cent fictitious CAPT.
tai alleged to be invested In stock OF gas companies
and amounting to s15OOOO OOO and this In addition to
dividends OF 10 per cent on the honestly invested
capital. The true policy Of government was TO so
egslate as to prevent such stealing from the people
Colonel a. S. Bacon, Of New-York, followed with
paper which created good deal OF q sensation. He
said "Until began the examination Of the problem
of self government had sufficient theory to convert
Sodom into Athens and Athens into New Haven The
ory most beautiful thing, and theories OF lifetime
have been kicked to death in one minute by stubborn
fact All theory is smoke The trouble is, all the
people are naturally bad. You dream OF an ideal
condition, but when you como to put those theories
into practice you will fall Fully 90 per cent OF the
voters OF NewYork do not speak English 10000 New
York voters would be DISTINGUISHED IL they were re-
quired to furnish evidence OF ownership OF properly
valued at $3.50, After reviewing the regns OF Tweed
and Croker Colonel Bacon said that, strange as 1t
might seem, New-York was not the worst sodom OF
America. In Brooklyn the Board OF Aldermen preyed
upon the taxpayers in most leechlike way. He be-
eved that tho greatest safety to municipalities lay In
allowing only of property to vote in municipal
elections, and in entirely divorcng municipal from
State and National elections lie did not believe In the
one-man idea of city government but thought tho
Interests of the people would be better cared for by
commissions chosen by the taxpayers. II was time
theory was eliminated from municipal affairs. p.,,...
Church New York said that he had never before tound
it necessary to disagree with Colonel Bacon ana the
him and he did not believe the statement In MS
opinion the life of ueducated factory Sir was lust
ar nrccous as that OF an educated lady: He dld not
believe that only those who had education ana prop
erty should be allowed to vote.