The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-17
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
nuxrons MOST BE M0SARcHs OF
ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY"
fatsrview with Ex-Assembiyman Coh"-
ling, who Has Just Returned from '""-
vontlon of Municipal Reform Clubs
New York. June is, 1895.

Now lNik, yuitN ~
LAWYER Alfred r. Conkling, OF l'V
broadway, who IS the nephew ana o'-
ograf her Of Roscoe Conkling' haVihs 'e-
turned from study OF European NJ
n.cipal government, is preparing "h"' ~
declares TO be the only popular WORN -,
the subject Of municipal science P''"'N
In the English language -,
Air. Conklng served as aidei man u IL,
Seventh district of New YORK ID 1871 "'''
ISIS. lie was also assemoiyman Ioi .ns
seventh district lI 1857 anu rs nov q. 81
Vce-prcslueat OF thc nOOu Wv" ~, 80 Ia
glun NO. "I" whose rooms are a. ga
Kudsaa street. New YORK cily' ..
fn order. 10 make a comparison between
tb. INV go,crumeuts OF Europe ana
tr,.r.rl sr. O0nknns has visited all the
principal cites ln the thitea states re
has hold lengthy CONVERSIONS WIN Guy
onirials throughout the land, and mas
obtained ,le latest annual reports OF al
The municipal governments.
When abroad MT. COnkling spent sew
eral days ll conversation with members
OF the London County Council; also, with
fhe Partisan Conseh Municipal. and with
f.. town councillors OF Berlin, Vienna,
birmingham. Glasgow. Geneva, Berne
aal other important cities, having made
lor mis- subsequent reference TRANSACTIONS
ol some of the annual reports OF the city
govern nents above mentioned.
lt is from the conversations, interviews,
reports. suggestions OF foreign municipal
officers, and more particularly from MS
own close observations. that Alr Conking
ll- drawn the deductions contained in MS
i.r,ncoming book, which VIII not be pun
lsled until September
Upon his return from the convention
20 Albany last week Mr.. Conklng sald;
I'm my opinion the best governed cues
are London, Glasgow. birmingham vienna
and Geneva. Probably the worst gov
-Iued cities in the civilized world are IN
america and ! also thiak that the worst
~ these arc Albany. Philadelphia, balu-
more. New ork, Brooklyn, New orleans
and Chicago, although the last-nomeu cry
ls far better governed to-day IMAM IL "aS
"a few years agO. owing TO enormous pow
ers vested IN the Mayor The Mayor Qi
a large city should be king. and nave an
s0lute power In appointing ana removing
an heads OF departments without ue itu
tape of confirmation by the hoaIu %
Aldermen. a good charter does not A.
ways bring good government ! REFER par
ficularly 10 the municipal reVolulloh IA
Brooklyn last fall I shall also treat upVh
the income tax, and especially upon l"T
state collateral inheritance tax, TOT
fully believe that IN the latter case 'he
moneys should 30 TO the city instead oi
the State. ...,.,
Il believe in proportional representa- ION.
For example In the New York Board ol
Aldermen there should be nineteen Deilo'
Gratis. ten Republicans and one moe pen
dent. representing, say, me p', >i9-,
pr0hibitiOnists or Peoples parry 49,
as matter Of fact. the present tnlIty
aldermen are an Tammany men ai'iousi
there IS in the city Of New YORK an aA'
Tamnany majority Of 5000. ;, u-,.o,
New York is gerrymandered Nna'
we need Is better men TO enforce eAlsll"s
laws. -., to,,o.
FOR New York. Ike 81. Louis. Iheoie III
callv the idea OF a dual form Of legisla-
ture is good 1t IS so in the national ano
State governments. but until boss RUE i
abolished and a better class or hth a. g.
1ectea to govern cities II Wouln haIus
be wise 10 establish TWO prancnes " -.
civ Council 10 take orders from a DOS,
Who holds tile position for the object o.
making money out Of the taxpayers New
VIZ euffera from pocket rule rathel
than lack Of home rule. In many Vi tn'
large cities the aldermen are Simply PIp
nets OF the boss, who, II not a -,
~ The criminal class. Is n sympa 'il%Vl
,,ttb the violators Of law. Under suci
oondttions a second chamber OF q NiH
Co,,rcu merely provides for the eApehu.
tura Of many thousands OF dollars "Hl0i
would he worse than wasted. ..,.o,
s'Hfv book viii deal Win D'"N ~.
cities besides New York. and Is likely
10 proye Of interest TO people who ar
studying questions OF municipal govern
mont else where. make seNeIal I ISlSI
nncee "a CHICAGO. Cleveland. San Fran
cisco 81 Louis. Kansas city. Boston
Newport. r. l.; Memphis. and some o
The smaller cities in the western state
which now enjoy home rule, ana who's
charters contain some pecuilar pro
visions" , -.
Nr ronpling. who was graduated iron
yaie in $50 and from the University o
Perrin in 1873 and the Columbia Lay
school in 1879 has made a special stud
Va '''0 J. +. H.