The herald., 1895-06-04
ANNOUNCEMENTS
TUESDAY. JUNE 4, 1893.
HOPE FOR MUNICIPALITIES

The attendance at the recent confer
ence OF the National Municipal league
held in the city of Cleveland and the in
terest manifested in the proceedings is
significant Of the awakened interest in
the government of cities and towns. 1t
is surely time that the American people
realized the importance. in fact, the ne
cessity. of a moro active and intelligent
participation in municipal affairs. When
the tirect relation that the city govern
ment bears to the peace, security. health
and general welfare of the citizen and
his property is considered, the indiffer-
ence with which it has heretofore been
treated is almost inexplicable. This neg
leet of what is at once duty and an in
terest, has borne fruit ali over the coun-
try III the shape of high taxes, inefficient
service, extravagant expenditures, cor
rupt officials and disease breeding sani-
tary conditions. 1t has developed that
creature apparently peculiar to American
politics. "the boss"
This occupation OF the latter is afforded
an excuse for existence by the political in
dolence of the people most vitality inter
estsd in the maintenance of an honest
clean and capable municipal government
When the people in general yield to their
local public affairs the thought and action
they warrant. the individual who is in
politics for what there is in it'' will be
placed under the cruel necessity of get
ting rich in some other field of activity.
He will be crowded out. The firm and
intelligent performance by the citizen Of
-.
to efface the Buckleys and the Crokers
from the local political stage. The wide.
spread discussion now going on regarding
the need for municipal reformation indi-
Gates that the mind of the citizen, SO long
diverted and astray, is returning to
realization of the duties to be discharged
and the interests to be guarded.
But even a conscientious and painstak-
ing activity on the part of respectable
citizens in local politics will fail of at
tanning the ideal in municipal govern
ment unless in municipal charters the
limits OF authority be clearly defined,
the responsibility for official action un-
nistakably fixed and the selection of sub
ordinate employees be made in accord
ance with recognized business principles.
4llD O4 tlc 4ndttlOl, liluFCislOli anu gen
erai confusion in the discharge of official
duties and the conduct of public affairs
is TO be ascribed to uncertain authority
and divided responsibility. The various
members of city government should
know Just exactly what they can do and
what they should do when crisis, big
or little, comes. Los Angeles can fur
nish some interesting specimens of the
conditions that ensue when officials are
endowed with overlapping functions
and divided responsibilities. The gov
erning of city is purely a business
proposition, and there should be Just as
clear a segregation of duties and as def
mite hxity of power as characterizes the
management of the great business con-
Germs of the world. A municipality is an
organization having to do with the daily
life and current wants of the people, and
it most nearly fills its purpose when it is
quickest in responding to the imm ed q te
demands of its citizens. The red tape
about city government should be very
short. The circumlocutory methods per-
missible in the more remote stat and
federal governments are mistits when ap-
piled to the community. Concen tration
of power and wide discretion is und ou bt-
edly dangerous and Ill advised in govern
ments OF broader jurisdiction. but they
are among the essentials in the expedi-
tious and satisfactory attainment of th e
purposes for which cities are incorpor-
ated.
Tne sense OF definite responsibility must
be the check against abuse of this power
Ax.A q
is in industrial and financial institu-
tions. And there can be no complete i'm
provement in the field under considera-
tion until the pernicious idea that public
Office is party spoil is entirely eradicat-
ed from municipal affairs. The only
qualifications for employment in city de-
partments should be those OF honesty and
capacity. the Jeffersonipn and the real
Democratic test. Only the people most
nearly meeting the requirements of this
standard should be employed. The most
practical method OF ascertaning the fit
ness of those seeking public employment
would b. one similar to;that employed by
TIE custom house and postoffice cepart
ments in certain branches, the competi-
tive examination. The system has met
shc "oe' SahSuiHt cApectdtlOnS OF It's
chamr rions as far as tried. There is no
reason why it should not be equally sue
cessful in local departments Its ADOPTION
would give body blow to bossism, for
without the spoils Of office to reward his
disciples with he would prove decidedly
unInteresting creature TO the men who
make politics business. Without the
San Francisco offices to bestow the
"BIind Boss would have ''blushed un.
seen" by the world With the abolition
of the ability to give away jobs. the ludi-
crous spectacle of round man rattlinp
around in u square hole will be vailed.
and men and women capable of sizing up
to the requisites Of IT, ituations VIII fill
them.
That government is business and
'~pubic Office is public trust should
be the guiding principles OF those who