The morning call., 1891-04-16

POLITICAL MACHINES IN CITIES.

There is a good deal of quiet talk going
on among prominent men concerning The
government of American cities. This Is ad-
mitted to be the weak point in our republic
can system OF government European
cities are. as a rule, much better governed
than American cities. Why the republican
system should not work as well in cities as
in States and nations would perhaps be
difficult to explain. But the fact remains
that while our National Government has
always been above serious reprOach and our
State Governments have been generally re-
spectacle, the cities in all States have been
expensive, inefficient and corrupt. There
Is not much choice between parties iii this
respect The party that is in is only better
than the party that is out because of lack of
opportunity. The cause of the corrupt and
inefficient city government is the surrender
Of a business corporation to political meth
DDS. The national parties divide the cities
between them Elections are carried by
parties bearing the names of national par
ties, though there is not a vestige of party
o. Icy in the government of city. But
under the machine system offices are created
in municipalities for men whom the nation
aud State have failed to take care of.
Places are much more numerous than the
work TO be done calls for, and in most cases
the salary is large enough to dlvide-one
part going to the influence which secures
the places, the other to the person who does
the work. Under business principles the
city Of San Francisco might be better gov
erned with a tax rate Of 60 cents on
the 500 than it now is at 81. The
30 cents goes to keep the workers
Of the machine in working condition.
The remedy lies in the organization of a
municipal party independent of national
issues. Important questions would come
before such a party for consideration.
There would be improvement projects to be
discussed from a business point of view.
IN some cases such projects, if well de-
gned and carried out, would be advanta-
ee0us. 4 city may often invest money
judiciously in improving itself What the
taxpayers want to know is tnat the money
voted Will be economically expended. The
stubborn purpose often manifested in this
city TO limit works of improvement to cur
rent revenue has its basis in the apprehen-
sion that large part of any money that
may be raised will be wasted They COM
pare the money that is expended in the
School Department Of the city government
with the sum that would be amply sufficient
under a business government, and wisely
determine to intrust as little as possible to
the machine. Among the foremost adyo-
oates of the bond mill are found men
notorious for their faculty of getting their
hands into the public treasury. If San
Francisco could be put under a business
government the effect would be Immediately
felt in all departments of business. Ten
estate. Business would become more brisk
under lighter taxation. ALI public insttu-
lions would be put in better condition with.
out increased appropriations. The streets,
the schools, the Fire and Police depart
ments would share the benefit of system
which afforded no opening to the plum
derers who are now diyerting the peoples
money from the public treasury to their own
pockets.