New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-22
THE TYPICAL MODERN CITY.

More than one-third Of the volume is given up
10 Paris and properly. We may truly reckon II
the typical modern city. whose influence Is 10
be seen in we-nigh every other city and large
town Of Europe. Would that we might add, and
Of America, For ancient as IL Is, 1t new
made a hundred years ago OF ancient Paris
Luteta, the Town of Mud-few fragrant
memories survive. IL almost entirely bad.
With all their absolute power and all their lavish
use Of it, the Bourbons did little for the general
good. outside their palace walls and garden
gates. Paris was still Lutet.a each year growing
bigger and therefore muddier. both morally and
politically. Hugo in "Notre Dame. gives us
hideous picture of it. probably as true as 1t is
hideous II was feudal.sm run to seed, its few
virtues withered and dead. its many evils full
grown and hardened into permanence Shall we
venture to say that thus the rural system has
run to seed in American cities? An earthquake
was REQUIRED TO shake down the seed and up
root the noxous plant; the earthquake Of the
Revolution of 1888 Then began New Paris In
that time Of storm and stress the French in
vented new science, the science Of building and
governing cities Napoleon the Great elaborated
IL; Napoleon the Little through the genius or
Uaussmann, still further: and the Third Re-
public is carrying II on TO triumphant climax
The Revolution swept away the mad tangle Of
narrow streets and ramshackle buildings or ola
Lutetia and replaced them-or began to do so
with the stately edifces and the noble avenues
and bouleyards which We too greatly credit to the
Napoleon Haussmanr era 1t did more 1t swept
away even more completely the ancient "chaos
OF competing authorities which had made Paris
the worst-governed city in the world. and thus
made room for and established homogeneous
and effective government. Into all the details
MT
student of municipal problems should not fail
10 do Sd however: and he VIII find an ample text
book for his work In this volume OF Mr.. Shaws.
The dual system Of control established by Ma
poleon Bonaparte has, with slight notifications,
been maintained down to the present day. There
Is a Municipal Council elected by the people.
II has certain authorities and functions. Bun
the National Government also exercises author.
tiles and functions still more important. The
Prefect Of the Seine and the Project Of Police are
the chief governing powers Of Paris. They are
appointed by the National Government and are
responsible to IL alone. The score of local or
district Mayors merely deputies Of the Pre-
feet OF the Seine. OF course this is not represen
tative government. 1t is not home rule And
Just now there is. as hitherto there has been
from time to time, camor for complete local
autonomy, a single Mayor elected by the people.
who. with the Municipal Council. shall govern
the city independently Of the Elysee and the
Palais Bourbon. We shall scarcely. however.
see that come TO pass. Paris Is the national seat
of government as Is our District OF Columbia.
For that reason. If for no other, 1t should ana
doubtless will remain under national control
The best sentiment OF the city Is in favor OF
maintaining the present system. Nor does the
general character Of the Municipal Council invite
material increase Of It's power. 1t contains
some good men. and. Mr.. Shaw hints. In
creased authority might increase their number
But the indisputable fact Is that to give the city
over TO the Council now would be to give 1t into
the hands Of an incompetent, visionary. some
times revolutionary. body.
But does not this system Of State control make
local interests the sport Of national politics, and
subject the city to change Of policy with every
Ministerial crisis? That is exactly what 1t does
not do On the contrary. there Is a marvellous
stability OF local policy. due. we imagine chiefly
to the civil service system. The affairs OF the
city are In the hands Of an army Of permanent
clerks 1t Is a vast. complex. but unified ad-
illustrative machine. comprising the depart
me nts OF police streets. fire. SCHOOL, charity and
what not You may change the engineer as
often as you will: the engine goes on working
Just the same. OF course. the system has some