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

f, w, po IA p4sltion 10 sec that II prop.
greater part of the money Is furnished by thS
comparatively few, and the voting power ia in
the hands OF the many, 1t Is oDvious that we can
no longer trust to the same principles to furnish
US with good government as in the case of pri.
meets lis In the discussion OF tho question of
municipal government, and 1t is difficulty that
p e ootrudes Itself 1t is regarded by
ocratic form OF government. 1t is claimed that
II ts impracticablo to give the voting power to
IL Ii undcmocratic.
The commission appointed in the State of Now
York for the purpose OF preparing q new chartcr
for the city OF New York made, among other sur
ge!ions the then novel suggestion (and the one
which excited the most hostile criticism) OF cie-
ating council elected by voters, having tax
paying or rent-paying qualification This plan
has never been tried In any OF large cities al
1 read again from the article referred to by An
drew d. White in the Forum of December 1890
page 369 and page 80:
al would still leave in existence the theory that
the city Is political body, regards the election
OF the mayor and common council. l would elect
tue mayor by the votes OF the majority OF all the
citizens as at present; would elect the common
council by majority OF all The votes of all the
the wards as Mt prcscnt-so that wards largely
controlled by thieves and robbers can send thieves
and robbers, and so that men who can carry their
ward can control the city-1 would elect the board
OF aldermen on general ticket, Just as the mayor
Is elected now, thus requiring candidates for the
hoard to have city reputation. So much for re
tanning the idea OF the city as n political body.
In addition TO this, In consideration of the fact
tha, the city Is corporation, would have those
owning property in 1t properly recognized l
would leave to them, and to them alone, the cleo.
tion OF board OF CONTROL without whose per
expenditure should he made. A theory resulting
in system virtually like this, has made tho
puolics, what they are. and has made II an honor
In many foreign countries for the foremost citi.
zens to serve in the common councils of their
1t must be admitted, however, q hat as n general
thing this solution OF the question has been re-
Eardcd as impracticable and the problem
government that will be conducted u JON business
princinlss, bearing in mind the fact that practi-
caIy universal suffrage exits.
: before pointing out what suggestions have been
made In this line. 1t may be well to consider for
standpoint. Our national government owes its
existence to the Constitution or the United
States; our State Governments represent tao en-
tre sovereignty OF tho people. except in so far as
mat sovereignty hns been parted with to the Nm.
tional Government or Is restrained by State con
Our city governments have no such scparato
existence. In one or two instances long stand
ing custom OF local SELF government has been
ment. But 1t IL almost universally true In this
country that our cities arc the mere creatures OF
legislatures have been restrained in their power
over cities by the state constitutions. This de-
pendencc OF the city upon the State has led 10
many abuses and Is regarded by some az the CHIEF
cause why our cities have not been able TO
develop efficient local government. 1t is now
provided, however, In the constitutions OF many
States that cities shall be org tniZcd under rcn-
cral laws. The fact that State Legislature NAV.
elmer oy passing general law where this is re-
CURED or by special enactment, change tho form
of city government renders 1t much easier To nro
cure an alteration in tho fundamental law under
tho government OF a city depended upon a con.
stitution which could he amended only in such
cumbersome ways as State constitutions must
AS general rule think it must be true that n
state legislature will, where 1t h.s the right OF
by the wishes OF a city as expressed
through its representatives,, and IL this is
the case 1t Is important that due thought and con.
sideration should be given bv the local authori
ties and Others interested in the question to tho
p eparation OF the draft of an act 10 be submitted
TO the Legislature.
Of recent years the tendency in our cities has
been to give To the executive, generally the ma.
on the whole that 1t has been found that the ex-
pertinent of trusting largely to the honesty and
sasac,ty OF single man elected by popular vote
the cities OF New York, Philadelphia, Brookl,n
and Boston have been reformed, and / think no
one Is fo9md to urge return to the old stats OF
AFFAIRS The mayor II generally given the power
OF appointing the heads OF departments, whose
o n are not eeetive generally bnt not always
power OF appointment the power of removal
should 90 though this is not always the case
Ihe mayor Is also, in many instances, given the
right OF vctoing any ordinances OF council his
veto being overcome by a twOthirds vote
where and the views OF those who have had nrnc
tica experience on this subject, let me give n
nriel SYNOPSIS OF = recent paper, entitled 'lIow
contributed
! Ex-Mayor Hart, OF Boston, points ont tho, the
government OF large cities is distinctivcly nm
American problem. lie urges that orr cities nrc
10 inc state as the States arc to the national Gov
ernnient, and consequently our cities should be
governed as our St4res are governed inc three
functions OF government, executive, legislative
he thinks, should appoint, subject to the approval
OF the council, and shonld have power to remove
and an 1.-THE, the veto ct 4owe EN- lie should be required
affairs to the council. The Legislature OF the
city should consist of n board OF aldermen which
shouid he small and which should consent 10 ali
appointments and should be elected on n general
ticket, and OF larger body, called a common
Go, In which all aLpr3priations should origi
three to four YEAR,; the alderman for fonr years
one-f0urth annually or oIc-half biennially
that the mayor should have the absolute power
Of appointing and removing, being OF
ny the city legislature H. y mistake. The nrrairs
OF the city should be ,nducter upon business
principies, and that politics should have nothing
feel the obligation Of serving in the city govern
ment
Charles +. Bi.hop, mayor of Bafrulo. contends
that each city should form or itself its own char
ter and adopt and amend il; that the Legislature
should cons st OF large body elected by wards,
and or small body elected on a general ticket
that the executive shOnld consist or the MAYOR
and heads otthc departments; the heads of DC.
partmcnt not requiring special skill should be
elected, the other heads should he apl ointcd bv
the mayor, The mayor should have the power OF
removal where he appoints, but this power should
I'd. A Noonnn. mayor of st. Lohis contends
that the charter Of ST. Louis. upon which the gen.
era law OF the Stat" in regard 10 the incnrpora.
tion or cities has amended IL the hcsi in the
country. lie thinks that ii il defective only in
not providing Judiciary. In this charter the
lcgislatnre is made NJ, of large body and small
veto power can he ovcrrnled by n two.thr,s vote
OF the legislature. The comptroller. auditor and
treAsnrer all act in pavino ont the citr,a mnneys