The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-06
CREAM OF THE PRESS.
Current Topics Culled From the Leading
Papers of the Country.

ATLANTA CONSTITUTIONS
The Mckinley Tariff bill is stirring mp tine
crockery dealers.
We showed, the other day. how Tins IT,
markable bill proposes 10 increase the dulles
from the present f0rty-fiyc per cent. on stu
dent chimneys opal shades and tumblers TO
from seYenty-two per cent. 10 40 per cent.
There are other articles, also. that should Dee
mentioned. ON pr>ms. silver vases. cold
decorated vases and alabaster vases the
duty j. increased 10 from seventy -four to 'ai4
per cent. Bi-que figures will jump from
sixty 10 seyenty-onc per cent. and TOY teal
sets from thirty-iivc 10 ninety per cent.
If tins enormous increase is made the
crockcrv dealers will have 10 make their
prices correspond in order To take care cd
their profits. and they know that the general
public will not stand it, The pottery and
glassware men. therefore, with the cXceu-
ton of "a few favored manufacturers, are a
unit against the bill.
The bull i'm the china shops lives again in
the person of Statesman Mckinley.
why Cities Are Badly Governed.
Chicago News
State senator Fa,sctt, Of New \ ork. hat
an able article i'm the current North Aineri-
can Review. i'm which ne explains NV hy
Cities Are Badly Governed At least he
set~ out 10 explain that interesting matter
bur he doesn't do it. He doesn't even APP
prehend the difficulty. much less point lhc
way out of 1t.
1le thinks bad government i'm cities econ
sists generally in wrons uses of money, and
shows itself i'm the expense account, tine
motive for faulty administration being that
Of plumber lctthis is the very least Of
the evils which affect American municipl-
ties. and il j. a mere incident. II follows
naturally and inevitably on the application
of false principles in the conduct of public
affairs.
The root of the evil lies, not in the wrong
Uses of money. but i'm the abdicatiOn OF SOW
ereignty. the granting of special privilege.
the Mobilization of monOpOiics welding SOW
creign powers. which are compelled 10y 'H
the circumstances of their existence 10 go
into politics and stay in at whatever cost
of money and morals.
Cities are badly governed because they
are irresponsibly governed. The people
! have granted away their social functions 10
private citizens and to corporations, which
| lind themselves under the stern necessity of
corruption in order 10 protect ihemsell,-.
Men get office, not 10 serve the public but
to guard and preserve the privileges OF The
street railway, the gas, the electric light,
| the telephone. and the railroad interests.
These. each for itself, have been forced Ia
pat forth candidates. manipulate primaries
and conventions. and put money where %
would do the most good.
If Mr.. Nerkes and Mr.. Holmes were not
depending for the immunity of their mo
nOpolies on the control Of the Council, what
motive could they have for electing Alder
men of their own? Why do not the milk
men and the ice-dealers seek 10 control city
politics: Why don't the painters and brick
| iaVers employ political bosses and ward
hcclers to take care of their interests: SIM
ply because they have no special interests
| 10 be subseved. They are common citizens,
and all they ask is protection in their com
mon rights. There is absolutely mo. motive
for their mixing in politics save as indi-
yiduas.