The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-16
THE ELECTION AND THE CHARTER.
The Fort Wayne Gazette. in an editorial
on the recent election In this city, says:


Perhaps the most potent agency that con-
tributed to the downfall of Democracy
was the new charter OF the city. Like the
new one under which Fort Wayne is soon
to be operated, the Indianapolis charter was
forced through Democratic Legislature
and the power and control of the citys
delegated to two or three individaas This
opportunity was not lost by such designing
political tricksters as Sim Coy, Tom Tag
CART and John z. Frenze and they were
not slow in formulating plans to place
their tools in office. They were successful,
and the Sullivan administration has been
noted for its diSgracefulneSs. The
evils fostered by this model charter were
not confined TO the Department Of Public
Safety, but permeated every branch OF the
municipal government The story was re-
peated In the health, f1re and public i'm
provement departments to an equal extent
In the last named the most unjust meas
as under the provisions OF the model they
have no recourse, they were compelled TO
heartily tired of this kind of government.
and II is not surprising that they resolved
to administer a reoake 10 tna party re.
their determination is seen in the election
returns.
Among the many attempts to analyze the
causes that led to the Democratic defeat
this, we think is widest of the mark. 1t
would be an additional argument in favor
of the new city charter Il it operated to
keep the Democratic party out of power,
or If in any way 1t made it easier to defeat
a ring. but such is not the case. The only
way in which 1t can be said to contribute
to that end is by making the Mayor and
his executive subordinates directly RESPONSE
BILE for the proper administration Of the city
government and concentrating public atten-
ton upon them, so that If they fail to per-
form their duty the people know where to
place the responsibility and whom to pun
ish. In this sense only does the charter
contribute to the defeat OF a party that
abuses its power or fails to do its duty
No form Of government can be devised
that will absolutely insure good government
or prevent bad government. In all cases
that depends largely on the persons who
administer the government and the spirit in
which II Is administered. The familiar lines
of Pope fit the case. For forms of govern
ment," said the poet, 'let fools contest;
that which is best administered Is best"
No form Of city government could be much
worse than the old form Of councilmanic
government under which there was no re-
sponsible head. no real executive authority,
no responsibility, and not much Of anything
but ward politics. corrupt rings and log
rolling legislation in the Council. That has
been the experience in every city under
councimanic government, and will continue
to be. 1t is notorious that no cities in the
world are as badly governed as most Amer
lean cities, and the fact is largely due to the
miserable hodge-podge system which. for
want Of better name. we call councilmanio
government.
The new charter Is In every way q vast
Improvement on The old system. It sepa-
rates the powers Of the city government, AZ
thu powers OF all governments should be
separated. into legislative. executive and
| judicial. 1t puts a stop 70 the old council
manic practice OF farming out patronage