The Helena independent., 1894-12-01
The WEATHER,
ONE OF OUR FAIL URes.

ONE OF OUR FAIL UReS.
Every year al Thanksgiving time. or
on the Fourth OF July. Americans give
themselves up TO self-glorihcation. 20
the exaltaton Of the vnstness and
grandeur Of their country and the bene-
ncence of IT'S form of government. Yet
the surprising fact remains that the
cities or the United States which VIII
soon contain more than one-half OF our
entire population. are the worst gov
orned, worst paved, worst lighted.
wors, managed municipalities in any
civilized country ON earth And the
reasons for this are on the surface; they
are 80 plain that a wayfariug man can
not mistake them. The affairs OF our
cities are mismanaged because we insist
that they shall be placed in the hands
OF politicians instead OF being directed
by business men. As people we have
gone mad politically. We carry poll
tics into fields where they do not belong
and insist upon making ourselves mis-
cradle S64 days in year in order that
on the S65th somebody may enjoy a
partisan triumph.
Why is II that with the example OF
our English. French and German neigh
bors before us, we can not ave a resto-
ration to common sense in this matter?
why can we not draw the line in poll
ties at our municipalities and say, I'm
the government OF these, in the paving
Of our streets. in the matter OF our light
and water supply, in our police and san
itary regulations, politics shall not en-
ter. we propose TO employ the best men
for the work that is to be done, and we
propose to continue them in our service
so long as they perform their duties
faithfully"
The interesting series of papers on
municipal reform In Germany. recently
published in the Century by DIR. Albert
Shaw, make one almost ashamed that
he is an American citizen. When we
read that "it is the first business OF the
German municipality to promote In
every feasible way its own wei
fare and the welfare Of its citi-
zens," and contrast this condition
OF things with that existing In any
American city we feel like hanging our
heads in shame. We cannot here out
line the framework of the municipal
governments IN Germany as described
by DR.. Shaw, but it Is a most interest
ing study for all who have the cause OF
municipal reform at heart. But the re-
suits that have followed from dlvorclng
municipal management from politics.
such as the permanent tenure Of office
for competent officers, improved sanl-
tary conditions. the carryin on OF sys-
tens ~ improvements through years,
are sufficient to demonstrate the ad-
yaatag.s Of the German idea.
Two-thlrds ~ the larger German cit
les own and operate their gas works
with an efficacy Bnd Oheapncss Of sor-
vice that arc astonishing Electric
light systems aye now being put in by
many municipalities. and whore cltlos
20 not oWn The systems thr clear
headed buslnesH men IN charge u their
affairs have made contracts that would
make an American boord Of aldermen
blush for shame. The contracts made
between the city authorities ~ Berlin
au1 ihc private company which SUD.
plic5 IL with electric ught lg. uccordIne
81 D. shaw the perfection OF burln,s,
luciQity and Intelligence. IL froulrre
ualor heavy penalties. that the sfoa ir
which IL mas oprlat. ho nll, provtIsl