New-York tribune., 1894-10-29
AMERICAN CITIES.
GOOD SENSE AND POOR SATIRE.

pieton & Co. -,
THE RGSs AZ ANEcAl EHhEc Ef9T crE5 N BH M Henry
Champernowne. 16mo PIP 40 "eo'Se H. ''"
mOnd Co
J The authcrs % these two volumes while haFhe
a common purpose the promotion Of the inter
ests OF good government in municipal affairs
emn,oy methods essentially unlike. one aims 70
write a primer Of the science of city government
In the light of common sense that will set citi-
,ens IN thinking and enable them to act more
intelligently In municipal politics. The other fur-
nishes a satire on the government OF Aher'c""
cities based upon Machia, ellis famous treause'
1.-THE Prince" As the primer is written with
Iucdity OF style. keen intelligence and accurate
knowledge, It is educational WORK OF great
merit. which may be used by men Of all parties
as a practical manual of municipal reform. AS
the satire is so clumsily done as to be a ravesty
without bumor and to excite irritation and re-
sentiment among men Of all parties. 1t VIII NOT
accomplish any useful result If American cities
are badly governed, /, is not from lack OF caustc
criticism. cynical rdicule and acrid satire. All
these weapons are employed in the press and
on the stump year after year, and there is no
annreciable Improvement either in the methods
and efficiency OF municipal administration or in
the tone Of public morality. Perhaps Americans
would be disposed 10 take more serious views OF
the misgovernment Of their cities II there were
fewer qups and cranks. and more sober ana
practical discussion
Mr.. Conkling's little book be commended
as an honest impartial and wel-informed
treatise on a branch of political science uni
versally neglected in American schools and COL
leges 1t would be safe TO say that not one man
ont Of a hundred educated in high schools and
colleges ever hears a word about munlclpal gov
ernment OF early American history he VIII
of no q Federal
stitution he will hear more. and Of the theories
of nolitical economy he will have enough and
70 snare: but the practica, questions connected
with the administration and government Of cities
are never discussed in the schools. These mat
ters are contemptuousy dismissed by educators
as local politics" which cannot be comprehen-
sively studied. In consequence OF this neglect
there are few educated men who have thousht
deeply on the subject. and who know now
cities ought TO be governed. As the author
Justly remarks in his preface: This omission
does not wholly account for the faults OF city
government in the United States; but II inteIl-
gent men had studied in textbooks the science
Of city government as they learn the principles
Of political economy in high schools and col
Ieges. It is not too much to say that our cities
would be better ruled
Whenever an American travels in Europe he
discovers that whatever may be said about
standing armies monarchica institutions and
parliamentary functions, the cities are better
governed than those home. London
Rirm.ngham Glasgow Paris. Berlin and Vienna
are vastly superior in their methods Of municipal
administration to any six American cities which
may be named This is a fact which no intelli-
gent traveller will think of disputing, and the
inference from it is that Americans need TO
profit by the experience of Europe in governing
cities They expend large portion or
their civic and political energies in warfare upon
or defence of governing classes, who do not un-
derstand any municipal business except the poll
tician's trade When the bosses, rings and
gangs triumph, misgovernment is licensed and
the evils are increased. When the reformers
carry an election. there is no permanent i'm
movement in local government. but only par
tial suspension of bad methods This is be-
cause reform campaigns are essentially de-
c]amatory. War is waged upon bad men, Ihe
results are meagre and often disappointing. De
cause there is lack Of constructive aolnty on
the part Of the reform administrations. and this
proceeds from want Of knowledge and training IN
local government Americans need 10 go 10
school in all matters pertaining TO municipal ad-
ministration. and to adopt many improvements
and methods which are now successfully en-
ployed in European cities.
ing an instructive and entertaining book on this
neglected subject. and one which we hope VIII
become popular and have large circulation.
lie has received and made excellent use OF a
great body Of information and statistics sup
piled by officials in American cities and members
OF the consular service abroad. His chapter
on public parks points out the dehclencies OF
American cities in this respect In comparison
with European cities, and enforces the moral
that improvements Of this kind not only
essential to public health, but also good invest
ments owing to the increase in valuation OF ad-
Joining property. He easily demonstrates that
the fire service IN American cities is more eff
c,ent than in Europe as it needs to be. in conse
ouence Of the large number Of frame and poorly
constructed buildings. One Of his best chapters
relates to the police in which European ana
American methods are forciby contrasted and
tho Cincinnati plan commended. with the reser-
walton that the system Of making the police
force department of the municipality is wrong.
The true remedy for the existing evils OF the
police boards of cities, in the authors judgment,
is to remove the department from politics ana
to make it a branch of the state government
under the control of one official, the Governor
anpointing commissi oners throughout the state.
He also finds no field Of municipal reform so
promising as that of the police courts In the
large cities. The excise system IS lhteIigehtiy
discussed In the light Of European experience
and the conclusion reached that the true soiu-
t,on OF the liquor problem is perhaps 10 abolish
the system Of licensing, with the discretionary
n,wer it allows to the granors, and to substitute
ror Il taxation Of liquor. by which there is no
chance Of favoritism
A luminous chapter is devoted to water gas
and electricity, and fifty pages are occupied with
discussion OF street franchises. street cleaning
navements and public works. Strong emphasis Is
laid upon the fact that the streets belong to the
nubic and that they should not be taken posses
sion of by a corporation without just compensa-