The Helena independent., 1894-12-11
MODEL CITY, CHARTER
Abstract OF An Address by Or, James, OF the
Wharton School OF Finance and
Economy
BETTER CITY RULE is NEEDED.
Or. James Foreeiuly Points Out Some Of
the Ways 10 Secure Desired
Reforms,


Model City Charter. boy pr. Edmund D.
James, professor In the Wharton school
OF Finance and Economy, University of
PENNSYLVANIA, read before the Second
National Conference on Good city Coy
crnmeut. now IN session In this city.
The question OF model city charter
IS a purely relative one depending on
temporni and local conditions. 4 form
of government which worked well a
generation ago in tho United states Is
probably unsuitrd for us now, a form
OF government which works well IN
European countries to-day Is probably
not well adapted Tor American c9ndi-
tions. The model city charter for Amer
icau cities Is the charter under Which
the business which devolNes upon the
modern municipality In the United
States can be most efficiently performed
This Is Go be ascertained BY study OF
prevailing conditions in this country az
the present time and not by reference
10 the history OF our own cities IN uhe
past or 10 the conditions OF European
cities in the present. The study OF the
past, then. In America or the present IN
Europe. ls not what We need most, but
the study Of the present In the United
States. In this statement there Is no I'M
teDtiou Co helittle the Importance or
studying history or OF examining for
eign condltions-both have their own
justification, both are necessary-su-
premely necessary-as part or gen
eraI culture and as showing what has
been done at other times and places.
but neither could throw much light on
the problem in hand, viz: how TO ac-
compllsh similar or better results here
and now.
While we must admit that In the gov
ernment OF cities we have thus far
failed In one sense. at least. and Europe
has succeeded relatively; yet In another
sense we are further along toward an
ultimate solution of the city govern
ment problem than Europe. Modern
cities cannot be governed In the long
run N free countries except upon the
basis OF universal suffrage, popular rep
resentation and popular control we
are already upon this basis ana are
slowly solving the problems involved,
though they are rendered doubly dlul-
cult by the complications of the foreign
element. We have not yet succeeded.
II is true, but we are, at least. graphing
with the problem with a certainty or
solving II In the long run; while Europe
has not even been brought face 10 race
with Il in such a way as TO realize the
gravity OF the situation. European
states Will be sending men here 10 study
our municipal government before gen.
GRAFTON has passed away. because we
shall have solved some problems with
which they will be unsuccessfully
wrestling No American city could be
managed az all on the plan adopted in
England or France or Germany, and
am sure that IL will not be possible TO
manage European cities on their pres
ent plan after universal suffrage shall
have done It's perfect work. The method
OF government by committees, for ex-
ample, so characteristic of English Cit
les has broken down absolutely here
and will surely break down as abso-
lutely there. when their conditions be-
come more like our own.
An Ideal city charter must. therefore.
take account of time and place, reck-
oning with what Is possible under eX-
listing conditions No city charter can
be an ideal one for American cOndi-
tions which relies for its excellence up
on limited suffragc-limited either by
the possession of property or so-called
education-for the simple reason that
such charter could not be successfully
worked. II would arouse such popular
antagOnism and distrust that II could
not effect the good results which might
seem on priori grounds likely TO flow
from such an arrangement.
Accepting then the principles of uni
Nersal manhood (and possibly also
wOmanhoodl suffrage, popular repre-
sentation and popular local control;
what are the elements OF model city
charter for American conditions?
Such charter should give the great
est possible amount Of self-government
10 the community. The locality should
really have the right 10 frame its own
charter In all matters Of detail provld-
Ing for It's own scheme Of organization,
determining the powers and functicrs
or It's government II should be- as far
as possible, autonomous. self-determin-
ing and Independent Of state control.
either legislative or administrative. We
are indebted to Missouri and the far
western states for the FIRST movements
IN this direction, The mere work OF
framing these charters by The lomuuHI
ties themselves would do more 10 arouse
popular interest In city government
than all our municipal leagues or as
sociations.
We oftentlmes hear II said that de-
mocracy has broken down as "A system
oi government In American cities Moth
ing Of the sort. Democracy has never
been fairly tried. No city community
Las been left 10 govern itself at ali
Let us first make fnir trial of popular
government in our cities before we al
low that it has been broken down.
II Is believed thnt our American eN-
poricncc has demonstrated that In
framing such a charter Tor lur large
cities. whether il he done by the lcEis-
laturc, a5 IN most states, or by the
rlues themselves, HE Is now uumlnally
dyur iu trw stut"s. two principles
should hr adopted Firstly, the rxecu-
tiyc and the legislative authorities
rhpuld De clearly differentiated, and as
TAR as ppsf Nln vested IN different bod
les. This o. g. fundamental departure
fIuin The European systems secondly
ths executive should be organized on
the sound basis Ul permanent clyll SER
Vice under tAc direction ot q mayor
elected By tho people t1f not too short
tern; "hils the legislative should be
"rglulzed ga the principle Df u sunic-
lently num"pua rppTasrtatltn body
irnty numerous representative body
principles Of geographical diattibutIon
ana minority representation
lu brief the work Uf city admins.
tratiou should ho divided nmoug gxocu-
tive departments, varying in number
ltum the functions actively assumed by
the community, the hruds uf which
should u" appointed by tho mayor at
his own pleasure, but in nn cnsc for a
longer tcrm th'ln his oWn-a plan simi-
lar to the present Philadelphia one. An
clerical positions should be hllpd hy
competitive examinations open a. all
young persons of suitable age accord
Ing 10 Fystcm now uOmlnnIiy h force
in several cities of the United Statrg.
Tho necessary labprrrs should hr sc-
lcctrd according to "a system like that
IN operation iu liustou and other cities.
Directive positions aud those requiring
special qualifications like health inspcc.
tors, building inspectors, etc. should be
filled only from the ranks NJ those who
have had a suitable training fur such
work All officials ana Regular rm-
ploNrH below the grades of heads Of dr.