The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-01-03

governmentemb National, State,
County and municipal government,
each separate and yet dependent. and
interdependent upon each other, and
each revolving upon its own axis. and
constituting one systematical whole. we
have system of adjusted balances
and responsibilities, as uoiqae as it is
comprehensive and efficient. Our cities
with their charters aud forms of gov
erument with power to levy taxes,
incur debts, issue bonds and subscribe
to enterprises, present many features
which distinguish them from those of
Europe, and especially in their prio-
ciples Of universal suffrage, upon which
depends their election Of officers. aud
which while in keeping With our Amer
lean politr. at the same time presents
serious difficulty iu their management
Among the vexatious problems in this
question Of municipal government are
the extravaganza of expenditure, ou
works Of internal improvement. irres-
possibility of public servants, and
reckless subscription to enterprises. and
yet Professor Boyce iu his American
Commonwealth the best work on our
institutions ever written by a
Foreigner, has said, Whatever
defects have marked the progress of
such cities. no one acquainted with
their history, will deny that since the
problem assumed its present aspect.
progress has been made aud substantial
progress, from decade to decade" ;" The
problem will never be any thing but
most difficult one, but with all its
difficulties there isl every reason to be
hopeful" One thing is certain and
that is that the attempt on the Part OF
State Legislatures to control cities by
special legislation or assume control Of
their police government. is sure to
result 10 complication, misfortune and
disaster and is contrary to the genius
and spirit of local self-government
A sorry day indeed, will it be, when our
State Legislature undertakes to force
upon our Metropolis or other cities.
Metropolitan police system under the
control Of. the Governor Of the State.
In 1876 a Commissioner appointed by
the Legislature of the State of New
York to devise a plan for the govern
ment Of the cities of the State reported
..that among the mischiefs to be
apprehended one of the chief is the
assumption by the Legislature of the
direct control of local affairs. and their
report on the subject, is as exhaustive
as it is clear. and unanswerable.
Much thought has been bestowed
upon reforms 10 municipal government
and various theories proposed. Some
of the suggestions are wise and timely.
while others are vague aud theoretical.
Civil Service Reform, heightened terms
Of service for Mayor and Aldermen
limitation of the taxing power, aud
borrowing money; one elec'or of
officers; of having a Mayor alone and
giving him every executive function
of having one general ticket regardless
of wards all Of these ideas and plan
have been suggested and strong articles
written in favor Of. or against them.
The whole subject is so important that
the fullest discussion is necessary; for
as an able writer has expressed it: 1.-The
question of City Government is that
which chiefly occupies practical
publicists, and which newspapers and
magazines necessarily discuss, because
it is admittedly the weakest point of the
country" 1t is comfort to know that
progress has been made, and the cities
of our country are better governed, and
their police aud sanitary regulations are
becoming better and better; while the
Influence Of Municipal Government in
the direction Of public health. safety
and educational facilities is being ex-
ercised in wise aud bene6cent manner.
Aud now Mr.. Mayor and Citizens.
this subject aud train of thought leads
me in conclusion to say few words
especially appropriate to the occasion
which has called US together. While
not large in population or extensive in
area. this beautiful city of yours
exercises salu.ary influence over your
county; and the responsibility entailed
thereby demands commensurate degree
Of reciprocity with your friends of the
county, and no pains should be spared by
its people to do away With any possible
friction or jealously between them aud
yourselves Every inhabitant of this
county must feel commendable pride
in the growth and progress of this city
1t was incorporated as the village of
Sumterville, Dec. 1845, with only
population Of 500. In Dec. 1855 its
pame was changed to that of Sumter,
and in Dec. 1869 it was incorporated as
the town of Sumter, aud 10 Dec. 1889,