The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-20

than presiding officer. All subordinates

than presiding officer. All subordinates
appointed by council.
The result of this system is that the voter
practically votes for but one city officer.
This officer is something akin to our county
supervisor, with both legislative and execu-
tive duties, except that the supervisor is
handicapped by an elective staff of county
officers nominally responsible to the peo-
pie and incapable of harmonious or ef-
fective action. Civil service is the rule in
foreign cities, and they have no city boss
politics. 1t is wonder. relief and har-
binger of promise to find that city can be,
and that cities are run without boss poll
tics. This rough outline of the British
system of city government is given to in
duce Americans who have not already
done so to look into this method of con-
Quoting municipal affairs. No work can
be better for this purpose than Mr.. Shaw's
book. This shows the municipal fran
chise, the general plan and all
the details and exceptions. and
deserves the study of every american who
desires to do away with the reproach OF
our present disgraceful city methods. Re-
of free institutions, with universal man
hood suffrage there is but one livable
theory to work to. This is that the body of
the people are sound and trustworthy. Any
other assumption is fatal to the whole
democratic system and cannot contain
pOutltdt odiNdtiOA III dhy Phits ioth w.
this proposition is, political action in viola
tion of it has been constantly resorted to
or the cure of government defects and
buses. Constitutions of states have been
hanged from declarations of principles
ad the creation of forms of popular gov
eMnent into long. confusing and often
catradctory codes of law. City charters
hae become still longer codes of law.
Ilise often require years of litigation to
leah their meaning and validity. City
busiess has been transferred to state leg
lslatres. State governors have been
chared with the appointment OF city an
cers.tax levies have been limited. The
net reult of the whole business is no good
and INCH damage.
! We lust trust the people. We must act
on thebelief that when given a form or
government under which they can express
and enftce their views on the public BUSH
ness thathey will do right. If this is not
true the public is failure.
| The rerbdy for city affairs then is to end
| the form thereby minority of trading.
self-seekln, low-standard politicians con-
stantly betty the interests OF the people
and prevei a true expression OF the
peoples polical capacity and patriotism.
| To do this e must simplify the system,
| place local Tairs absolutely under local
control, redue the number of elective
officers to aminimum so that we can
select these itelligently, make nomina-
| tons TO Office easy as TO do away with
the domir aionn local affairs of partizan
| combination, Pee power and RESPONSE
bility somewher clearly and unmistak-
ably. and make ad enforce a civil service
| for all subordinate.
That such a sys'm is possible is demon
strated by its existnce. Think my fellow
citizens OF the enth freedom and ease of
nomination to the bsition of alderman in
English cities. of Incomplete control their
legislative and eXective body has of public
| municipal affairs, an then reflect that in
the year considerably Mr.. Shaw there
were municipal elecbns in fifty British
cities without an eletive contest, | say
think OF that IN contrst to our multicipli-
| city OF Candidates an aspirants, of our
multiciplicity OF eectiOs, not only of one
| formal legal election, bl of those primary
I elections and convention in each national
political party before reular official cleo
ton. The folly Of the Mole business is
shown in the frequent Participation of the
| same political bandits in tn primaries of all
the parties. 1t is now proposed and in Cali
| fornia has become aIaw in ts two principal
! cities. that primaries shall b legalized and
carried on under law. Hereis more COM
plication, mere fixing of powr in political
professionals. more expense money and
! more expense in time of the,itizens, all
tending to perpetuate politici control in
cliQues or persons not in the political Of
ices. Law is the resort of npy reform
ers, it is indeed in one way or another a
necessary political weapon and is now a
necessary evil of which we hav already
too much.
Law is made by people, law oes not
make a people. Law follows, adj does
not lead. 1t is not in itself re,rmer,
and when well and wisely made hereby
recognizes and formalizes a refon al
| ready made.
Americans will be obliged to reforLtheir
city governments by non-partisan stion
outside of the present law and syhm.
They will be obliged TO organize and,ct.
They will have to destroy the presentvs-
tenn of city government which has taen
the power away from the people byn-
sidious means. They will have to esta-
lish a new form of city government
harmony with existing conditions.
New charters must give complete loca
self government and must be based on /
trust in the honesty and patriotism of Mis-
masses of the people.
No Christmas and New Years table shout
| he without a bottle OF Dr., SiegertS Angostur