The record-union., 1891-11-09
THE OPINIONS OF FOUR MAYORS.

The OPINIONS OF FOUR MAYORS.
The Mayors of Baltimore, Buffalo and
ST. Louis and an. ex- Mayor of Boston, in
the North A@ae,fcan ReUteag, give their
views Of improvement in municipal gov
ernment and the needs of the day in
charter-making to effect reforms.
1t is noteworthy that neither of these
gentlemen deny or make any excuses for
present municipal governments in their
retrogression and non-representative
character one frankly admits that
most of our cities are uneconomically
and badly administered in the several
departments, and the st. Louis repre-
sentative alone excepting his own city.
Ex-Mayor Hart of Boston thinks the
evils Of which cities complain are mainly
due to lack Of independence on the part
of municipalities, due to restrictions put
upon them by State Legislatures. q He
asks pertinently how States could be
run" on the plan upon which cities are
conducted? Self-government is a help.
and its absence a hindrance, for self
government is the stimulant for self
helpfulness. So long as the State can de-
stroy the city at will, the latter must be
subject to State political manipulation.
This, however, does not apply in full
ness to California, where certain cities
may create charters that need only leg
islative approval, and cannot be altered
or amended by the State. 1t does apply,
however, to those classes of cities which
come under the operation of the general
laws for the government of municipal
corporations. 1.-The true model" says
Mr.. Stone, land the best precedent for
the constitution of an American city,
venture to think, is to be found in our
National and State Constitutions. They
all draw the right line between legislative,
judicial and executive work. This dis
trlbution of public power appears to be
of fundamental Importance. 1t is prob
ably safe to think that the main reason
why so many of our city governments
fail to give satisfaction is to be found in
the exercise of legislative and executive
power by the same municipal officer or
body"
That is what we have been doing since
1862 in Sacramento, and we have been in
clined to believe it to be an excellent
method. The heads of the two depart
ments of streets and water, and a Mayor,
constitute the legislative body, with the
chairman as the executive, but wholly
dependent for the exercise of his func-
tions upon the consent of the full body.
Mr.. Stone would keep the Mayor out
Of legislative work, but give him the veto
power and make him truly an executive.
That is the San Francisco method. But
ifit is to carry with it the erection of a
single Board of Aldermen there will be
no gain, since such Aldermen from wards
and precincts inject into city government,
ss rule. all that is low, vicious and un-
economic in ward party politics, and
make the patronage of the city the
reward Tor political service.
Mr.. Stone believes in City Council of
two branches. Others thinking much as
he does have been disposed to consider a
preferable plan is one calling for small
legislative board, with Mayor having
the veto power, and a Board of Public
Works as check upon the legislative
branch. Let the legislative branch, say
these advocates, devise and order, and the
Board of Public Works have full iuris-
diction of expenditure, but with no
power to create obligations.
Mayor Davidson of Baltimore charges
all municipal ills due to maladministra-
ton, to the apathy of the better class of
citizens regarding their government, the
narrow limits of municipal freedom
under legislative grants, and lastly the
failure to give to Mayors the absolute
power to appoint and remove their sub
ordinates.
he would put upon the Mayor the
sole responsibility for the manner in
which the business of the city is con-
Quoted. BY that means the people would
be assured, reasonably, that public affairs
would be placed upon business basis,
efficiency retained and incompetency
rejected. Of course, Mr.. Davidson's pro-
position proceeds upon the theory that
the Mayor being responsibleto to the people
only, the latter viii be quickened into in
terest the very opposite Of apathy, that il
will result in the choosing of men trust
worthy, able and courageous. Mr.. David
son holds that cities of certain grades
should bear to the State the identical rela.
ton the State bears to the General Govern.
ment.
He makes no suggestion as to the char,