Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-09-27
CITY GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS.

President Andrew D. Whites paper be-
fore the American Social Science Associa-
ton at its recent meeting at Saratoga, has
awakened great deal of interest through
out the whole country. One of his posi-
lions is, that in the government of American
cities national political policy does not at
all enter in, and therefore municipal gov
eminent should be set up regardless of
party politics. Throughout Europe, said
Professor White, all the well ordered and
economically governed cities proceed upon
the principle that municipalities are bust
ness corporations and are not concerned in
national or State politics.
That this is the sound doctrine cannot
be gainsaid. All the arguments adduced
to the contrary beg the question In
brief, this is the line of such arguments.
The city or town is part Of the State and
national government. Its administration,
by rejecting the political will of the resi-
dents Of the municipality, exercises direct
and appreciable influence upon party
activity in State and national affairs. 1t
is therefore of the highest Importance
that party organization should be pre-
served along the whole line of battle, as
well in companies and battalions as in
brigades and divisions. To abandon party
in the city is to weaken the party hold
upon the voter, and to cultivate in him
indifference concerning party success In
other directions. Moreover, there is no
reason whatever why a party cannot
select from its ranks as strong, wise and
experienced administrators as can a body
of citizens acting regardless of party af-
fliation.
But these arguments will not bear
analysis The declarations of party con-
yentions in cities are never considered
when the superior bodies meet in State or
national councils They are never held
to ic binding upon the State or national
part., and no instance can be cited in
which they have cut any figure in plat
form making by State or national conven-
tions Nor does our political history show
that party triumphs in cities are considered
a, indicative of the probable outcome OF
Sta;e and national party contests. 1t is
invariably explained that the city election
is affected seriously by local issues and
personal preferences, and that 1t is not to
be received as a test of party strength one
way or the another. Again, there is no
instance On record in which non-partisan
action in selecting the administrators OF
municipal trusts has operated TO the dis
advantage of party in the State or the
nation. Where these administrators are
selected regardless of political faith, and
on purely business basis, all political
parties are left in precisely the position
they were prior to such selection.
But the completest answer to the plea
for partisan politics is the recitation of the
fact that where city officers are chosen
upon political lines the patronage OF the
CITY is disbursed to party servitors, and
not with an eye single to securing the best
government and the best public servants.
No matter how upright and public spirited
the public officer, he feels bound to recog-
nize the claims of the party that elevated
him to power; he can no more deny him.
self to the leaders and bosses of the party
than he can fly. 1t becomes, then, the
party and the party autocrats that rule
the city, and not the people as whole.
The municipal affairs under political con-
troll are administered with view to giving
advantage to the party, Of strengthening
It's hold upon municipal government, and
of rewarding party servitors. That this Is
a truism no man in this day Of enlight-
ment will for one moment seriously at
tempt to deny.
Mr.. White, to return to the essayist, con-
tends for election of the City Council ire
spective of politics, and upon business
basis, but in public works affecting taxa
ton he would have Board of Control
selected by properly owners alone, and
without its consent no expenditure for
public improvements would be allowed.
But in this he is in error. All the in
habitants are alike shareholders in the
corporation; all its advantages are enjoyed
in equal measure by all the people. The
taxes they pay, as has been well said by
the Boston Herald, are not paid in expec-
tation of favors to be returned in proper
ton TO the tax. The rich man pays
heavy tax, the poor man small one, but
the latter contributes his full share by his
labor to the material basis upon which the
wealth of the city is builded.
It is sometimes contended that the large
property-owner, the heavy taxpayer,
should have more OF voice and weight in
the city government, since it is assumed