New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-12
4 SERIOUS BUSINESS.

The government Of cities on business prn
cpcs implies both economy ana efficiency. TIL"
marked reduction Of The tax rate in Brooklyn
during Mayor Schcrcn's first year Is prac
teal proof that the taxpayer derives personal
benefit from administrative reform. The TAX
rate has been lowered as the direct consequence
Of rctrcnchmcnt in every branch Of the admin
istraiion. At the same time there has been
marked Improvement iii the efficiency Of local
government. Prospect Park never has been
kept in better order than during the present
year. yet the working force has been heavily
reduced by Commissioner SQucr and the "N-
pcnscs of the department have been cut down
Commissioner White is doing more and better
work for less money than any Of h.> prclcccS
sorS have accomplished In every other branch
If municipal service there is the same record
Of increased efficiency and reduced expense ~
the result Of government on business principles.
The experiment is one which can be repeated
under Mayor Strong with astonishing effects
upon the tax rate in Ncw-lorl
The cost Of local government in London per
capita s ST ~: in Berlin. Sll -. AMI in New
York for 1898 expenditures for assessments
cvciudcdl. 81 81. Twice as much T. paid in
this town ~ in either II those European centres
Of population. ana with only fraction Of the
cficioncv IN one or The other Comparisons
with London are perhaps misleading. because
the POPULATION there Is three times n great n
in Ncw-York: but Berlin. with lis enumeration
of 49, .ou0 docs not differ materially from this
town I'm that RESPECT What contrast Is n
fcrcd between Berlin and Ncw-York in MI prac-
teal d., Ills Of administration The streets are
cleaned there as thoroughly rs The work j. done
Ilrr, .f.
there are rs scientifically constructed rs ihcy
are here honcycombcd with johbcry and fraud:
So 500 600 a year is expended there the pub
lie schools with larger educational results than
accompany the SiJOO 600 which j. appropriated
here; and there is hardly a branch If the munic
ipal service Of Berlin which Is not superior in
efficiency 10 the corresponding department II
government in Ncw-Yorl Similar comparisons
might be made between The government Of
Birmingham or 81 Glasgow and the municipal
administration Of Ncwlork.
Why is It that American cities are not wcll
governed? II is because public work II all
kinds is not conducted on business principles.
but for The benefit of politicians. Every de
parimcnt OF The municipal administration is
oycroiliccr,l and ovcr-mlnnod Every appoint
mont has political motive behind il. and every
oficc-hodcr aims To distribute much patron
age ~ possible. \ force larger than was need
cd in Prospect Park neglected work year ago
because the department WIS conducted on po-
lilical principles. \ force hardly more than
half as large now does all the work efficiently
because business methods prevail and every
man Is forced 10 furnish an equivalent In labor
for his wages Commissioner White conducts
public works of all kinds ~ matters Of mlnic
ipal business without farming them ont to poll
tcians with gangs Of the boys behind them
Let the local administration In this town he
taken wholly ont If politics during the next
three years and the same results will follow
The government OF the town will be- immensely
improved, and ii will cost very much less. as
citizens viii find ont from their tax rates
The first principle Of municipal REFORM
whether in Brooklyn or New York. Is govern
mcnt OH business principles without reference
to the pckings and slcalings of politicians and
the fortunes of party organizations. If Rcpub-
Leans in either town aim To make Use Of any
and every branch Of the local government mere
" as Il means Of rcwdr,ling partisans, building
zip the party organization and retaining posses
sion Of municipal offices, they will fail disas-
trollsly. The Democracy is thoroughly idcnti-
fled with that kind OF government. and also
with the improvidcnt disposal of franchises To
individuals and corporations without compcnsa-
ton or public safeguards II the Republicans
cannot do more than 10 issue a new edition Of
misgovcrnmcnt in every branch Of the public
service for the benefit Of politicians represent
ing an accidental anti-Tammany coalition. their
career as rcform'rs will he short and in
glorious one Local government has been for n
generation Democratic game OF corruption
plumber and blackmal. Reform il a serious
n-part san business.