New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-25
COVTR1ST or CITY GOVERNMENT

| 4 CONTRAST or CITY GOVERNAENT.
| I'm the June number Of "IIarpers Maya
zine" an article is printed which possesses for
the people of New-Yorll City peculiar in
tercst This fact must have been in the mind
of its author, Mr.. Julian Ralph, when he en-
titled il 1.-THE Best-Governed City in tho
World" Certainly, if there is any one thing
more than another concerning which New
Workers need information it is how the best
governed city in the world came to deserve its
distinction The story of the methods and prac-
tees that have rendered New-Yorlz notorious
as the worst governed city in the world are
| mournfully familiar. Concerning the social
evolutions from which have come the boss and
the booder we know too much already for
orr peace of mind What we want to get at
! is the remedy the scheme by which we can
accomplish our emancipation. In casting about
for this. it will be interesting and useful
10 know how the affairs of the best governed
| city are conducted.
Birmingham, England, town with about
a third as many people in il as New-York con-
tainS is the subject Of Mr.. Ra phs eulogieS and
descriptions. We know Mr.. Ralph as "A CON
Scieutious writer, and yet il must be said that
his story of Birmingham reads like fairy
tale. He says, for instance that there is not
single liquor dealer, lawbreaker or other dis
reputable character in the city government.
There are merchants. he says. and artisans,
lawyers, doctors printers and shopkccperS but
not Il single grOggery proprietor not n single
fence" no eX-prize fighters, no divckeepcrS
and no sports" He SAYS that the city is
kept well paved and thoroughly clean, all
refuse being removed the instant il touches the
grocld He says that tho sewage system is
perfect. all fluid refuse being conducted 10
farm some miles out of town where II Is thor
oughry filtered. the water escaping and the
sludgc remaining 10 be dug into the land. The
Health Department of birmingham is effective.
,he Public Works Department progressive but
| economical, the Police Department equal TO all
emergencies, the prisons and charitable instl-
buttons managed with every regard for the
| health and the moral improvement of their
| inmates, and actually il is represented that the
| officials do their duty without brides and in
spite of brides.
It does not appear that the government OF
Birmingham has any novel feature. rs head
| is Mayor, but his functions are rather orna-
mental than administrative. Two popular
bodies-a Board of Police Justices. composed
! Of fifty eminent citizens, who arc appointed
| practically by the Town Council and who serve
| for life without pay, and the Town Council It.
self. composed OF forty eight Councilmen and
sixteen Aldermen, the Councilmen being elect
ed by the people and the Aldermen by the
Councl-arc the real governing authorities.
The Police Judges administer the law and
grant licenses. The Council exercises, through
select committees. all executive and legislative
power This system, it will at once be seen,
| is as different from that which prevails in
| New-YorIl as our Federal Government differs
| from that exercised by the sultan OF Turkey.
| In birmingham power is distributed as much
as possible. III NeU-York it is confined as
much as possible. In Birmingham the Mayor
| is a figurchcad. In Ncw-York he is an auto
GRAFT In Birmingham the Town Council IS the
depository of all authority, portion OF which
proceeds from il to a second large body. In
New-York the Common Council is group OF
nonentities from whom all real power has been
| taken. In birmingham the departments OF
| government arc conducted by groups Of men
in New York by individuals. In birmingham
there is lively popular desire to scatter re-
sponsibility and honor as far as they can 90,
upon the theory that the best citizens love TO
serve the city and the city is only too glad
ia secure the benefit Of their service. In New
York there is IN acute popular distrust OF dI-
vided responsibility, painful effort on the
part of the public tn fix duty firmly upon in
dlvidual officials, and grimly to hold them to
the performance Of it, upon the theory that
politicians are mostly knavcs, and that he who
seeks office needs 10 be sharply watched
These are vast differences, but their reason
is easy 10 perceive In Birmingham the peo-
pie love and prize their city They delight III
its beauty its schools its streets and all its In
stitutions. Thcy are animated at the polls and
in every public proceeding by fine healthy
active public spirit. In Ncw-Yorll the greater
body of the voters are here to make money, and
beyond that they have no ambitions Their
thoughts are wholly selfish and personal They
"haye no time for politics." and they leave
the city 10 the mercy of politica! harpics who
are Organized for the notorious purpose of loot
inc the public treasury. The "boss" is not
possible in birmingham. In New-York he is
as natural as weeds.