The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-13

principle duties OF city governments:
!. Collection of municipal and State taxes
J. Public schools.
8. Administration of justice.
1. Police supervision.
3. Fire department.
q. Care OF streets.
z. Street gas and electric lighting.
s. Sewerage.
q. Water supply.
~. Public parks.
II. Sanitation and public health.
II. Prisons.
IL. Suppression OF liquor traffic.
IL. Regulation OF street railways.
=. Is. Making and enforcing building rcgula-
Ii. Supervision of charities, hospitals, asy-
lums, etc.
This enumeration though possibly incomplete.
is sufficient to give an idcn all events of tho
various subjects with which city government
must have to do.
In this country, open to rcproach that
while we take great interest in our national and
and pay almost no attention, to the problem OF
city government. lf this rcproach IL Just, does
not our action seem almost criminal: What can
be more important or come nearer home than
those questions that concern every day life and
help to make up the comfort and happiness OF
NIL citizens: at is an i'll bird that fouIs is own
nest" and in order that our nests may not be-
come foul we must ourselves keep them clean.
l have said that 1t is n national reproach that
the Indictment in the words of another, himself
an eminent citizen of this country. WILL with
article entitled "rhe Government OF American
Cities" by Andrew ID. White. (See Forum OF
December, 1S'0 page 3o1 and top part OF page
without the slightest cxaggcration we may
assert that with very few exceptions, the city
governments OF the United States arc the worst
in Christendom-thc most extensive, the most
inefficient and the most corrupt. No one who
has any considerable knowledge OF our own
country aud OF other countries can deny this
Among our greater municipalities. we nat
urally look first ut New York and Philadelphia
ing ground with water on both eides; each Is
happy In position, In climate, in all advantages
TO ne desired by o great metropolis. In each.
done and sometimes splcndidly done; and in cIch,
what Is due from the corporate authorities, in
matters the most essential to proper city gov
ernment, is either wretchcdly done or left utterly
undoneH One has but to walk along the streets
OF these and other great American cities, to no.
Everywhere are wrctched wharvcs foul docks.
In adequate streets and inefficient systems OF
s sewer paving and lighting payements
been taken up and replaced with utter careless
ness, and have been prematnrcly worn out or
ruined. The stranger, seeking to find his way in
the first OF these great citic., is guided by few
sigDa giving the names OF streets; in the most
frequcnted quarters there are generally none at
Gli. Obstacles or all foris are allowed; tangled
networks OF wires frequently exi let in such masses
overhead as 10 prevent access to buildings in
case of fire. and almost to cut on the rays of the
sun. Here and there cnrporat oDs or private
persons have been allowed to use the streets In
snch manner as 10 close them to the general pub
lic In wet weather many OF the most important
thorouRhfares are covered with reeking mud; in
dry weather this mud, reduced to an impalpable
dust containing the germs OF almopt every dis
ense. is blown into the houses and into the nos
tria OF its citizens"
Foreigners visiting this country are accus-
toned to admire our institutions; they find that
our citizens are content ard satisfied with their
form of government, and that their government,
Ike well-made suit of clothes, fits them we'll
But IL the expressions have read are true, our
city governments can hardly meet with like
praise. The simple fact Is that for nation of
our commercial Importance we have the worst
governed cities III the world. There a'c, how
ever, the hest grounds for hope. The good gov
eminent OF the cities OF the 0,d world. which we
must acknowledge anu should attempt to emu
late, is not OF many years standing, and II Is
hardly to he expected OF n country that ere
ate Ko .noSe in nine years that il will show in
all Its cities streets ~ well paved and cleaned,
with as adequate g stems for sewerage, ns ere
found In the cities that number their years by the
hundreds.
We should not use the fact OF the rapid growth
or our cities ia an excuse, bnt rather as stimu-
lns to new ,exertions TO solve the cver-prescnt
problems or local government. These questions
have been much discussed during the pat few
Years, and have reached the C nsderation OF the
most thoughtful minds. The conclusion is al
most universally reached that our difficulty IL
that we do hot look upon the govern mcnt OF our
cities rs business matter: that we regard our
cities III the same light Hs we regard our national
and State legislatures and not rs VIC should in
the light In which we wond look upon any pri
vatc corporation IN which we were interested. IL
Is clear that ninc-icnths Of the questions that
come up in the government OF u city arc purely
husinc 81 questions, and this being 70. how If IL
Amrric i6s nrc certainly not open tn the
proach that they cannot In bodies mnnagc bust
ness undertakings. No country In the wurltLis
80 prolific In private corporation >. carrying on
almost every cuss OF business. and ,hinK may
VENTURE 10 SKY. in no country IL The businc,s
sense more keen buriness affairs more
efficiently conducted. IL. then. thc govern
mcnr uf city If purely business nirair
and rh"ult be managed like nny other business,
why do VIC not model oar city government after
the form or government usual In The case o. pri-
waite corporations. This form +. simple. almost
uniform throughout the country and effective.
elected, or appointed. and the her Officers nc
for the most pnrt hctt rmInrd by The president
aud directors. and the entirc ~ sicm al managing
the hnrine-s l. In the h nd. I the president and
bonrd OF directors. There Il one imporfn,t par
tcnlar, however In wn:ch oar analogy VIII not
hold In the city government There H. huhN!y
corrn- pon'ing To the stockholders la private
cori Grafton. In rriva'c corporal ionr The voting
power IL In The bauds OF those that furnish the
money. and IL proportionatr to the amount OF
money furnished II in our cities each man