New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
PROBLEMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

REFORM
With an Introductory Chapter by he REQ.
Charles Il Parkhurs; ID. l2mo.' p3. 2S'
Fleming Revell Company.
Intelligent Americans did not need to be in
formed by Professor Bryce in his great work that
the government of cities was the one conspicuous
failure in the orderly development of their nstitu-
tons They had been taught by experience as
taxpayers and as good citizens that Whatever
might be their achievements in national policies
and material progress, they had not been success
full in working out the practical problems of local
government. Even if they had not been forced to
accent the positive evidence of municipal misgov-
eminent and extravaganza offered by the local adj
rninistration Of their principal cities. they would
have been impressed with the concurrent testi-
,nony Of the thousands Of American travellers
swarming in Europe every year that the business
interests of foreign cities managed in a supe-
rior Wav Dissatisfaction with the wasteful
methods and corrupt administration Of local bosses
and political rings has created periodical reform
movements and public revOlts against existing
abuses; but the relief afforded has been temporary
and the misgoverned communities have invaria-
bly, slept off their wrath and submitted apatheu-
cally often hopeeSsly TO the recurrence OF former
conditions Civic energies have been eXhausted
ordinarily in the struggle to overurn partisan rae
lions and rcformatory zeal has not been brought
10 bear upon the practical questions OF progressive
and enlightened administration Of municipal af-
fairs
The appearance of DR.. Shaw's exhaustive study
Of municipal government in Great Britain is par
ticularlv opportune al this time. when great
wave Of moral influence is sweeping over the
United States and municipal reform ~ burning
question which has taken complete possession OF
the public mind. 1t is not a controversial BOOK
II does not prescribe European remedies for the in
tolerable evils OF local misgovernment in American
cities The author does not arbitrarily assume
that systems aHd methods. which have beeh
evolved from local conditions in Great Britain and
are now operating satisfactorily, can be initiated
in the United States. He says explicitly: I'VE
must deal with our problems in our own way but
we must be willing to gain all possible enlighten-
ment from the experience Of others VINO have oeeh
dealing with kindred problems and have found So
buttons that are satisfactory under their own cir
cumstances" Having disarmed criticism by TINS
reasonable proposition. he supplies Well-dgested
body of information respecting the working ol hl"-
nicipal institutions in Great Britain. we DO not
know Of any recent volume which can be reaa
more profitably by the friends of good government
in American cities.
Two of the best chapters of DR.. Shaws book
are based upon articles contributed 10 Inc
Century Magazine" upon the government of
and expanded, and have been supplemented by
analogous studies OF Manchester, Birmingham
and other British towns To these have been
added three preliminary chapters dealing with
the growth and problems of modern cities. the
rise of British towns. the reform acts. the mu-
n ,ipal code and the general system Of local gov
eminent as it is now in practical operation IN Eng
land The field under survey is wide one but
the author is never lost in the intrcaces and
complexities of the questions discussed by MIN.
II is & more lucid account Of the governInent OF
English cities than an Englishman could nave
written for Americans. DR.. shaw, pelng an
American was cOnversant with conditions ana
methods Of local administration at home and
he was impressed with the contrasts offered by
the management of municipal affairs in England
He has looked at everything with keen American
ewes and without confusing his readers with in
,erminable details has brought before them
mass Of information which they ought 10 know,
whatever may be its practical application 10 the
conditions and requirements Of local government
in the United States. Such a work can hardly
fail to have an educational influence in broaden
Ing the understanding Of municipal reformers. II
will teach them how much work there is to he
done in America before the government o. cities
can be raised to the high level Of efficiency which
has been reached in England 1t will warn them
first skirmish in a prolonged campaign Of mu-
nicipal reformation, in which technical knowl-
edge Of the methods employed in the best-gov-
erned centres Of European population is indis-
pensable
Dr. Shaw in his opening chapter lays stress
upon the fact that in spite Of the tide Of emigra-
ton that is always flowing from Europe the
cities in England and on the Continent are grow
ing nearly or quite as fast as our own The era
of industraism has not only created all the hard
problems Of capital and labor profits and wages
but ii has also produced revolutionary effects
upon the grouping of population masses. The
increase Of population is concentrated In large
towns and a new class OF administrative ques-
tions has arisen and is now affecting all the
cities Of the civilized world. One-third Of the
whole population Of England is now centred IN
towns Of over 100000 in population, and at least
three ourths Of the people will soon be living
under urban conditions. The problems which are
now confronting American cities have been an
ticipated in the English hives Of population The
great English cities came into existence Tor
Temporary purposes Of industrial production, but
were il-organized even chaotic as regards COM
fort health and the amenities Of civilized life.
New organs OF administration had 10 be de-
yjsed Centralized services became necessary.
A series Of complex problems had to be worked
out with technical knowledge. The science OF
modern city government has been evolved and
Europeans have been compelled by circumstances
to be pioneers in the field. But the same prob
lems arc to be faced in America. 1--WE shall solve
our problems" remarks the author, land in the
end we shall do many most things In our own
way But we cannot wisely continue to ignore
the results that European cities have to teach
The philosophy Of this admirable work is con-
densed into those two sentences
The detailed studies of the government Of Glas-
gov. Manchester. Birmingham and London form
the most valuable portion of this comprehensive
and luminous investigation OF municipal admin
istration The sanitary department Of Glasgow
IS described as marvel Of scientific organ!za-
nfrr iclral rail-