The morning call., 1894-10-21
RECENT PUBLICATIONS

CITY GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED
STATEs.-The present movement all over
the United States for better municipal
government makes the appearance of this
book most timely. Furthermore it is writ
ten by man who has had experience,
who has seen both sides OF the picture
which he paints. Alfred r. Conkling is
nephew of New York's eminent Senator,
Roscoe Conkling. He was formerly a
member of the Board of Aldermen of the
city of New York and also of the State
Assembly. He knows whereof he speaks !;
he was In the best position for studying
the evils of our present system. Mr. Conk-
ling calls his work "a Primer on the
Science of City Government" 1t will
effect what primers do not often effect
make people think-foT, in brief he draws
attention to every evil that affiicts city
government in our country, points out the
remedies and strengthens his positions by
references to city government improve
ments in other portions of the world. The
first chapter is devoted to the defects of
municipal government, the causes and
remedies. incidentally dealing with the
high salaries of officials and the corruption
of legislators. Comparison is made be-
tween the cost Of government in this
country and in Europe with striking results.
Boston and Birmingham are cities Of about
are manufacturing towns. The amount of
Boston's bill for municipal government is
S10,194, 900, while that of Birmingham is
81, ,665, 900. In this chapter and all through
the book it is taken as needing no proof
that the government OF city has othing
to do with politics: ii is business mat
ter and should be done in business way.
Only men blinded by the passion of greed
or minions to curry favor would maintain
that politics ought to influence the selec-
ton of city officials. In a newspaper
notice a thorough analysis is out Of the
question; on that account the titles of the
chapters are given: The Mayor, Board of
Aldermen, Public Parks, The Fire De-
partment The Police Department, Police
Courts, Excise, Water. Gas and Eiec-
tricity, Streets, Street Cleaning. Street
Pavsments. Public Works, Charitable ID-
stitutons. Public Schools and Trade
Schools, Finance and Taxation. Muuiciral-
iZation, Elections and Remedies. The
method is similar in all. Mr.. Conkling
states the position in New York
and the chief towns in the East !;
he then makes comparison with the same
department in European cities. always
choosing the best to emphasize the differ
ence between what is and should be. and
then gives his conclusion on the subject.
The chapters on streets will prove instruc-
tive reading to the Merchants Association
OF our city, and like all the rest OF the book
they are very lUb6IeSbIbs' 1u AOouiuR VI
the various evil conditions OF the cities in
fine East the reader will be constantly
reminded of San Francisco. There are few
statements made about those cities that
will not find a parallel here. There could
he no better conclusion TO this notice than
an extract from Andrew ID. Whites article
in the s'Forum" for December. 1890: "Ihe
CITY halls of these larger towns are the ac-
knowIedped centers of the yllest cor rup-
tion. AS a rule the men who SIT IN the
councils of our larger cities dispensing
comfort or discomfor justice or lnJustice,
beauty or deformity, health or disease TO
this and to future generations. are ihen
who in DO other country would tnlnk Oh
astiring to such positions. Some ol theiD,
Indeed, would think themselves lucky IN
keeping outside the prisons. rev have s,.
gained their positions by fitness or pubic
service; many have gained them by
scoundreIsm some by crime. me whoie
of this article as we'll as Mr. ConKllne
book would prove valuable reading now
when our citizens have resolved to Durs5
their bonds, be freemen once again ana
carry on their backs no old man of the sea
in the shape of Boss Burns or Boss
Buckley. New York: ID. Appleton 81 Co.
For sale by the Bancroft Company.I
LINcoLN's GRAvE.-All true lovers OF
poesv will welcome with delight this little
collection of poems by Maurice Thomp-
SOD, for they bear ON them in unmistak-
able characters the Hail mark OF lnspira-
ton. Mr.. Thompson undoubtedly pos
sesses a large portion OF that dlvine
spirit" which informs genuine poetry.
He has the faculty of taking the common
things of life. its actions, feelings anu