St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-25
A CITY GOVERNMENT.
Some of the Problems Dis
cussed by Rev. S. &.
Smith.
Danger Of Governing a City
Through Legislative
Clique.
Churches Should Teach Diff
ference Between Sin and
Crime.
Points for Voters TO Ponder
Before Casting Their Bal
lots.

Rev. 5. G. Smiths talk on local poll
ties at the Peoples church last evening
follows:
The problem of city government is
one OF the unsOlyed riddles o! ciViliZa-
ton. OGT own country has done more
than any other 10 clarity thought and
artion In national affairs. but hitherto
has fallen behind other nations in the
municipal! domain However. there
has never been a time when 50 many
conscientious students wcre in search
OF The facts IN order 10 build q right
Theory. and magazines, aud paEtlcH
4 iarly economic journals. are laden with
valuable discussion. some things are
becoming clear. One OF the most vital
Is that each city must work out its own
salvation. Long and varied experience
| proves that laws ought 10 originate
from those WHO are 10 i've under theM
| Nowhere does this apply more fore
IDLY than 10 the city problem. Cities
must rpie themselves " = have within
the last few years made great gains III
the protection OF the ballot. Il Will not be
long until the SAFETY OF the tailot will
be beyond dispute and one OF the
repr0acheS OF representative govern
neht Will have passed away. IL has
further been proposed that suffrage
shall be regarded hot ouiy As right
but also as a duty, and men shall bt
compelled 10 vote al eXery election or
pay a fine Tor failure. THIS would BE-
an excellent measure for the Seventh
ward. The plan Of home rule forblds
the government Of cities by legislature
One of the most dangerous methods or
city government is FOR few persons to
be able 10
Railroad Through a Legislature
under suspension OF the rules whatever
measures iOr the management OF great
community may strike them 9s wise or
safe. taiS Is supposed to be 5AilltuI
way of overcoming the ignorant and
vicious" masses of The city. But meau
wiiIle the ignorant and vicious
masses go OH increasing IN numbers,
and in short time the urban popula
lions will outyOte the rural dis
tricts. For that time soon 10 come we
need all the preliminary discipline OF
local responsibility that vii! result III
the education aad elevation of lie eiee-
t0rate Besides. country Legislators
have neither the experience nor the in
teresis to make them adapted 10 graphic
fact. we shift the responsibility OF gov
rrhmcht to few OF oHf own people not
always the wisast, and never chosen tor
the purpose. The method OF city gov
eminent ilFs this country has or late
years proposed larger concentration
of power in the hands of TIE mayor.
which. however 1t may fail OF being a
final soIuiion,is well enough for work
ing hypothesis OF government IN thai 1t
locates resp possibility, and with muAIc-
lpaI election separated from other cleo
tons gives the people chance To say
what they think OF his administration.
There is large amount Of ignorance
as 10 what city government
0ugbt so attempt
The collection of so many people i'll
narrow space brought about by social
ami commercial necessities with COLI
mon interests should lead To Il science
of government growing oat OF a collec-
ton Of all the facts, and a comparison
OF methods by different cities IN differ
ent countries. We are agreed here that
the city government shall undertake
public works, including streets, sewers
and the like 1t shall care for the pub
lie safety by police and ire protection
and By department of justice. Ii shall
also care for the health. for education
and for charity. These various func-
| tons of city government give rise to
municipal politics, which properly turn
| upon HE question of paterGalsm. How
| much shall the government undertake
! 10 do? In the matter OF education snail
! il seek to give every child the chance of
! all fields Of knowledge at the expense
of the public. or shall education be
| restricted 10 the requirements OF citi
| ZenshIp? How much shall be done in
/ the way OF parks, Libraries. public
| baths. and other institutions fOt the pub
! lie welfare? Shall water. gaS and street
! railways remain under the control of
| the city. or shall they De sablet to com
! panies who Will act for the people and
| give a revenue to the muaicipal.t ~? Or
| shall the city give away vast and yaiu-
able franchises to private individuals,
! who become enormously wealthy at the
expense OF the public? There will al
ways be room for two parties in munich
! pal atfairs-the one believing III the free
action OF the individual and the limited
activity of the state; the other holding
that the stale in its municipal torn shall
! do as much as possible. These que5-
| tons, and not free coinage or tariffs, are
the proper lines for political debate IN
cities.
a Business Side.
The city government has business
side as wen as a political. There are
vast sums or money to be expended, and
a small army OF employees 10 be main-
tanned. Now i'll many German cities
the heads OF the various departments OF
city business are secured from other
towns. where they have made record
Tor ability and skill. THINK of sending
TO Minneapolis for city engineer or
member Of the board of pubic works
And yet | suppose that NJ. Hill. or any
| ,.nil,nnM In,.narnr uunnLd hrinn an On