The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-05
MUNICIPAL


MUNICIPAL. REFORMS.
The citizens of Helena are in harmony
with the spirit of the times in agitating
questions Of city government. All over
the country, from New York to San
Francisco, problems of municipal reform
are being studied and worked out by
earnest. thoughtful men as never before.
The newspapers and magazines and re-
views are filed with contributions to
the discussion from pens of eminent
writer's, and,i in several cities associations
OF leading citizens have been formed
with the purpose OF forcing some of the
proposed reforms to an issue in munich
pal contests. In a paper in the Cosmo-
politan magazine for March, Oliver
Sumner Teale, secretary of the Peoples
Municipal league, of New York, gives us
some reflections based on his own ex-
perience as a reformer of municipal
abuses. He starts out with the propo-
sition, to which everybody will assent,
that to obtain the best city government
we must first find out what we want,
and second, find out how we can get
what we want. This is his terse way of
putting it:
What do we want?
We want good laws honestly admins
tered; we want equal justice for rich and
poor; we want protection for the helpless
aud protection from tine strong; we want
clean streets, rapid transit and everything
that goes to make up a we'll governed city,
and we want all these things with the least
possible expenditure of time and money by
the individual citizen.
How can we get them?
In only one way, through good laws
honestly administered by honest civic
officers.
How can we get good laws and honest
civic oficers2
BY applying to our political work the COM
mon sense rules that we use in other walks
of life; by treating the politician in our
politics as we would treat the same man in
our business; by first finding out what we
want and then taking into consideration
the nature of the man and the influences we
can bring to bear Upon him. The men who
represent us Will always be the index of
our OWE political morality; for if we do our
duty, they will do theirs; if we guard and
protect them, they will guard and protect
the city; but if we care not, they will care
still less; if we are weak, they will be dis
honest.
Mr.. Teale is not a visionary reformer.
He has seen the failure Of too many
citizens tickets and third party move
ments to have much faith in them, and
recognizes the stability of existing party
organizations. He recognizes that self
interest is thoroughly ingrained in all
our political activity and in an appeal to
enlightened %self-interest he sees the pos
sibility OF attaining the reformer's hope.
THE only political organization that
amounts to anything to-day IN the city
of New York" he says, sis held together
by self-interests; and it will be impossi-
bic to effect any lasting reform in NUM-
cipal affairs except through the self
interest of the men who are to admins
ter our city government. Let us make
it for the self-interest Of our civic off
GERS to give us good government and
they will very soon do SO. Many men
in public life are anxious to do right and
ambitious for good names and lasting
regulations, but the public at large does
not know the adverse and weighty in
t1uences that are brought to Deal upon
the men who as public officials simply
strive to do their duty. 1t is 50 easy tc
rumors in regard to his personal char
acter, his mental attributes and every
thing that he should take pride in. L
nothing dishonest can be found agains'
such a man, stories are started tina
make him ridiculous and falsely repre-
sent him in all ways. and it is impossible
for him to protect himself" Mr.. Teale
in conclusion, would accomplish the re
forms he is after by compelling existing
organizations to nominate capable an
honest men for Office. He suggests HIS
means to this end a scheme like The
following:
That a committee of 100 Representative,
citizens be formed, which committee shall
have no executive power, but whose func
tions shall be simply advisory. After tn
regular organizations have made their nom
nations then this committee of 100 shall
convene, examine the records and the titnes
of the candidates of the different parties
and indorse the best nominations Their
should be no demand, no power, nothini
but a request for votes for such and sue
men who would best serve the city's inter
ests and be best calculated to make homes
city officials.
Every party and every candidate woul
strive for the endorsement of such a com
mittee and greatly fear the effect upon tn
public of it's adverse Judgment.
Mr.. Teale Celebrates the regulation
and safeguards under which the com
mittee should operate:
The committee should be permanent an
composed of fifty republicans and fit
democrats. BY having a committee equal
divided between the republicans and ii
democrats there could be no question ,
party advantage to be gained. In case
resignation or death the republicans c
the committee should fill the vacancy
their ranks and the democrats III their
No men of doubtful'political feeling shouI
be upon the COMMITTEES: no men who coul
possibly have any personal interests
serve, and no men who had not the cont
dence of the public. Every man on IL
,,o,rtaa chonII nIodua bfr,calf that I