The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-09
ON GOVERNMENT OF CITIES
DR.. Ross Compares the Several Systems
in Vogue in Europe and America.
Why the Municipalities of the Old World Are
Well Administered and Those in This
Country Are NOi-Influence of Party.

After describing the ancient and medieval
cities. DR.. Ross described the peculiar con.
ditions which make possible tho modern
industrial city. The great development of
machinery and processes permits a con-
stantly increasing percentage of the pOpu-
lation to pass from the extractIve indus
tries. such as agriculture and mining. 20
the elaborative industries, such as manu-.
featuring. This great mass of population
Is tending more and more toward the city.
The concentration of industries in great
cities is made possible by the steam rail-
road, which enables the factory to
draw its raw materials and the food
of its laborcrs from a WIDE territory and to
distribute its finished products to q widely
scattered body of consumers. Again. the
development of intramural transporta ton
In the form of street cars and l. roads
makes the modern big CITY a very different
thing from the agglomeration of houses
known as old Rome or modern PekiD. The
daily flow i'll TO the business portion and
out again TO The residence portion makes
the modern city true unit. single
organism. This organic nature OF the city
IS perfected by the perfect communication
secured by the telephone system.
Modern science has done much for the
modern city. 1t has shown citizens how
they may cooperate in supplying
themselves cheaply with light. water.
heat. power and sewerage. Moro and
more comes to prevail the principle
OF you press the button. We do the rest"
The economies of rehabilitation in a large
city were never so great as they are to-day,
and We are as yet merely at the beginning
of city life. The city is offering social as
well as economic inducements. More and
moro the city becomes the center for
churches. universities. theaters, libraries.
art galleries, museums, parks. baths. OF
intellectual, social and political life.
Everything points to the city as the ulti-
mate home for tho majority of mankind.
The recognition of this explains the great
interest taken at present in municipal
problems.
SUCCESS IN EUROPE.
In Europe city government has been
success. In America it has been the great
est failure of democracy. This is
shown by good tests. The best
city government is that which gives
it's citizens the greatest service for the least
cost. Hence efficiency is ascertained by
looking at three things: First, city debts;
second. taxes: third, the services received.
By oil these tests American cities fail.
New York's debt is now over S10o.0CO,0G0.
that of Boston about 25.000,OO0, and Chi
cago between S15,0O0.Oo0 and s20.0o0.00o.
creased S29.000.0C0, ChicagO's $4,000. 600. st.
Louis's S11.OOO.UO0. Pittsburg's Sl6.0C0.000.
Along with piling up of debt has almost
invariably gone an increase OF taxation.
From 1860 to 1875 population in fifteen large
cities increased 20 per cent. taxable valua-
ton 156 per cent. debt 270 per cent. and
taxation 3G3 per cent. This shows the fail
ure to keep down debt or taxes. How Is it
with tho services rendered. The manifold
complaint we hear on all sides testifies TO
the failure to render the citizens good
service. At the present moment. In both
New York and Chicago. private assOcia-
tiOns are trying to clean streets that cor
rupt city officials will not clean.
What are the reasons for this great fail
IRE OF municipal governments
The first cause seems TO be the recent
and rapid growth OF American cities. Bos-
ton was incorporated in 1872. In 1875
villages. In 1890 there were no cities or
over forty thousand inhabitants. In 1850
there were over thirty with above 100000
population. The rapid growth of
compress IN a few decades improve
ments that else whore have taken centuries.
The cutting. grading and paving of streets.
the building of bridges, viaducts abut-
ments, wharves embankments and herbOrs,
the erection of pnblic buildings. the put
ting down of sewers and railways, the sup
ply of gas and waterfall these. which in
Europe have occupied centuries. have with
US been crowded into decades. We have
been compelled to make lavish expendi-
lures under pressure for quick results.
Under these Conditions We have failed to
expend wisely or economically.
The American city ls younger than the
state and subordinate to 1t. In Europe, on
the other hand. the city preceded the state
and so enjoys much independence. Our
cities or municipal corporations
derive all powers from the
State Legislature and are subject at
,,..o nc
charter. Thus. the course of municipal
government Is constantly interfered with
by outsiders knowing nothing of the needs
OF the city. and the citizens are encouraged
10 resort TO the Legislature for their re-
forms rather than To rely upon their own
efforts In purifying city government.
DEBAsED CITY POPULATION.
The character Of our city population has
debased city government. Fore Rn immI-
grafton has assumed vast proportions in
recent years, and of this the worse part re-
mains In the cities while the better part
settles in the country. These immigrants,
ignorant of democracy and unused to politi-
cal power, are run through orr naturaliZa-
tion mil and in ected into the electoral body,
and 30 it becomes possible for aforelgn pop
ulation that knows nothing of the needs of
o large city and cares less To hold
the balance of power. From this result
plmps. thieves and g.sbOp-kecpers to
the City Council and the universal prev
alence of doodle"
Party spirit Is o cause OF our failure.
Party policy is blood before the public in
terest, and men perpetuate In Office O cor
rupt gang of scoundrels because they be-
lieye in tariff reform. State and city pol
itics are unnecessarily subordinated to
national politics. Partisan spirit rules
municipal elections. and city officers are
chosen for national issues. The whole sys-
tenn of supposed party loyalty and fealty
is used by cunning politicians to whip into
obedience the protesting OF doubling voter.
The phrases Lime up" stand by your
guns" rally round your flag" keep up
the organization" true To your party"
as well as the arts by which the politician
stirs ND prejudice. and spleen. and partisar
fury and bitterness are the stock in trade
of the political sharper. Not until local
elections are fought on local issues can city
government prosper with
Closely connected with party spirit is the
spols system. The dominance of this sys
tenn takes the city government from the
hands of the intelligent. better class. and
puts it IN tho hands OF low bosses and
henchmen. at present public life-especial-
ly public municipal lile-is so uDattractive
that no real ability can be induced to enter
it. Men of training. intelligence and am
bitlOn 90 into professional or business life.
Our railroad corporations get the good men.
while our great cities, with ten times as
much OF stake as railroad cor pOration,
put up with cheap and worthless service.
The governmental machinery of our
city has several weak points. Our coun-
cilOrs are elected fran wards. thus putting
the city int o the hands OF q lot of petty
local bosses. IL they were elected on .
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