The record-union., 1894-01-03
THE NEW CITY GOVERNMENT.

THE NEW CITY GOVERNMENT.
The City of Sacramento is about to en-
ter upon a municipal experiment. In
few days it will inaugurate wholly new
system of city government, one more
truly representative than any that has
preceded it, and one guarded by more and
stricter checks and balances.
But it also invests few officials, and
notably the executive officer, with extra
ordinary powers, the idea being that re-
sponsibihty is more wisely placed when
concentrated than when distributed
among many officials and departments
That this idea proceeds upon correct
principle is undoubted. 1t is intended to
bring government nearer to the people,
and in a way to enable them to fix re-
sponsibility definitely and easily, and to
hold to accountability sharply.
1t is a fundamental purpose of the
scheme also to largely take municipal
government out of politics, as politics is
related to partisapship and party man
agement. For that purpose it is provided
that number of officers who have here
tofore been elected shall be appointed,
fitness and good behavior being consid-
cred better tests for position than po-
htical ambition. Under this system. as
each administration is desirous of win
ming commentator, it is supposed that it
will strive to deserve applause of the
people rather than of political parties.
1t was no evidence that because "A" or
''B'' aspired to, or either was elected to
the Office of Street Superintendent for
instance, that he was therefore qualified
for the trust. On the contrary, fitness by
reason Of technical knowledge or of
experience rarely entered into the ques-
ton in the past, men going into the
Office more because of political favors,
availability or personal ambition,
than of capacity and special qualifica-
ton. But under the new system, if
Street Superintendent, chosen presum-
ably because of fitness, proves incapable,
he may be dismissed, and he will not
have the distribution of patronage
wholly at his own command to further
political ambitions, nor will he have
a voice. as heretofore, in the legislation of
the city relating to his department.
So, too, it is with regard to the police
and other departments of the govern
ment: the theory regarding them is to
secure for the people the best and most
economical service, rather than to pro-
secure permanency. and thus make the
rewards of the Office less liable to be OBJ
jects of political assessment.
In short, the whole scheme of the new
form of government is to encourage pub
lie servants to look to the people rather
than to partisan leaders for the security
that will keep them in place and the re-
ward they will receive for duty faithfully
performed.
The duty of our people in the premises
is to further to the fullest extent this pur-
pose of the new system. Instead of
throwing obstacles in the way of the in
coming officials and their appointees and
embarrassing them; instead of captious
criticism and over-indulgence in COM
ment upon official action, let US give the
osa inv hi 10
itself-to adjust its working parts, to get
the new machinery in smooth running
order-before we enter upon judgment
of it, or the criticism that it invites and
expects.
1t is not in the nature of things that the
new order of government is to be in
augursted without some jarring. There
will be. of necessity. considerable friction
until the parts, like those of new and
complicated machine, wear a little, and
until the several departments adjust
themselves harmoniously by thorough
understanding of the duties and obliga-
tions of each and the relations of each to
all the others.
1t is no small task to inaugurate this
change, and to setsup "a new and untried
system, and there is therefore due to the
new officials and their appointees
charity of criticism and wise forbearance
until fair time has been given for mat
ters to settle down into smooth working
ways.