The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-13
MUNICIPAL PROBLEMS
LESSONS DRAWN FROM ENGLISH AND
CONTINENTAL CITIES.
While Their Methods Are Good, 1t Is
Requirements Of Americans.

portant problem of the government of cities
in this country is the disposition to discuss
the subject on scientific and practical
basis. The progress made elsewhere, for
instance in England or Germany, has not
been made here. Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain,
In the Forum for November, 1892, has an
article which may be summed UP i'm one
sentence, viz: that the Americans pay for
less efficient service. in their large towns,
nearly five times as much as is paid in the
case OF well-managed English municipal
ity. Then he proceeds TO illustrate this
statement by comparison in detail of the
expenditures of Birmingham and Boston.
The causes of this difference must be
sought either in the character of the voters
or in the organization of the government.
When Mr.. Chamberlain observes that all
the executive agents of administration are
chosen for competency and retained prob
ably for life, or good behavior he merely
gives the result of one or the other of the
Two causes mentioned. He says, I'VE may
at once dismiss the idea that it is to be
attributed to a more liberal franchise" The
population of birmingham in 1891 was 49,
co. and that OF Boston in 1890 was $4,000,
and the voters in Birmingham in 1891 are
given at $1,000; those of Boston in 1890 at
1900. The registration of Boston, in 1892
was $1,000. 1.-The suffrage is as widely ex-
tended in Birmingham" says Mr.. Chamber
lain. las in Boston; and the small-rate
payers are in a good majority and can prac-
tically do as they like -t
In the English municipalities no property
quallhcat1on is required for members or
the Council. Possibly the requirement of a
fixed lodging on the part of the voter, even
at so low rental as so a year, may be
an advantage over the somewhat loooSe
methods of registration in America; but
loose methods are mainly due to defective
organization.
ANY such advantage" says Gamaliel
Bradford in annals of the American Acad-
envy MAY, 1889, fought to be more than
offset by the Massachusetts requirement of
ability to read and write. If it is properly
enforced. Perhaps none Of us VIII reject
the assumption that the average character
and intelligence of Boston is quite as high
as that of Birmingham If the advantage
Of Birmingham does not lie with the peo-
pie. how is it in the matter of organizSa "a,
the government of that city was vested IN
a Mayor and sixteen aldermen and forty
seven counselors. Their duties and powers
were restricted, but under the acts or lSol
and 1862 all governing authorities, except the
Town Council were abolished and the
whole government of the city was placed
in the hands Of the Council. The aldermen.
who constitute one-third of the Council, are
elected by the remaining members. Ihey
have vote with the rest of the councilmen1
and have no other privilege than that OF
being elected for six years instead of three,
as the councilmen are, and escape the cost
and labor of the public election. The Council
can elect six aldermen from the generai
body Of citizens; but this right is very
seldom exercised and then generally II Is
member from their own ring, past or
present, and tie Mayor is elected for one
year by the Council and not by the popular
vote, but may be reelected for any num-
Der of similar terms. The once corners
no statutory privileges except that OF pre-
siding over the deliberations of the Coun-
Gil; but as Mayor he can readily secure,
IL he is a man of energy and capacity, the
confidence and support of the Councii ana
thus exercise a very important innuence on
its decisions and policy.
ENGLISH AND GERMAN METHODS.
In Birmingham the counciln'en are chosen
as Liberals and Conservatives. that is. ac-
cording to parties. They have the caucus
system and lobbyists. 1t seems that the
Birmingham government is an ''exaggera-
ton of things which have had the worst
effects in the United States; an absence OF
responsible executive power. and the Con-
troll of the administration by numerous and
irresponsible bodies of politicians. If Mr..
Chamberlain's diagnosis of the case Is cor
rect, they have better government in Bir-
mingham than the people of Boston have.
Birmingham has the very worst system,
from the American STANDPOINT, possloie.
Why does the system work better In Eng
land? 1t has been suggested that the rea-
son lies with the subserviency of the lower
classes. so obvious to their visitors AGAIN,
ii may be caused by the traditions OF the
higher classes, formed through two centu-
ries OF working together for the puolic goou,
or the example of Parliament. which is
greatly different from anything In the
Mr.. Bradford says for one. ne believes
that the vicious principles involved In the
Birmingham idea will overcome all the safe
guards which the English may place about
them. and that it is only question OF time
when the English cities will have taste OF
what New York has just been through. And
If that happens we shall have universal
cutlery against democracy and universal sur
frage: 1t is but few years since Loma9n
formed on substantially the same principle
as that of birmingham.
Sir John Lubbock and Prime Minister
Rosebery have shown the way in which
things are tending in London. The Council
of London has already considered the plan
of giving up public work by puohc con-
directly by its committees. 1t is
believed that we have nothing to learn from
English methods of local government we
NAV gain some wisdom by studying their
methods, for one of the lamps by which
our feet are guided is the lamp of other
peoples experience as we'll as our own Our
American cities differ N their constituency.
in their ideas of citizenship and government
from those abroad. The same methods can
not govern us always. and yet there are
some things to be learned from European
municipalities.
The city of Berlin is perhaps the best gov
erned city an Europe or in the world. Hon. Lee
s. Rowe, of Philadelphia. brought out the
strong points of the government of Berlin
in a paper read before the National Con-
ference for Good City Government held In
Philadelphia some two years ago, ana THESE
points are worthy of consideration. lie
| takes the position that the Berlin govern
ment stands nearest to the modern Ideals
of municipal life. being the most uniformly
| developed. No one department stands forth
| as a separate attraction but the Depart
ments are uniform throughout. Encie en-:
| is to be found almost everywhere. This
would prove that the same general princi.
pies have been determining FACTOR In al
departments. He asserts that there Is nc
| other European city offering so close anal
| ogies with other American conditions. Ber-
| lin is thoroughly modern 1t Is shown that
| the efficiency Of the city government OF Ber-
| lin cannot be attributed to the Prussiar
monarchy. The concisely expressed will OF
| the people determines the character OF Their
| municipality. 1t is more democratic thar
| either New York or Philadelphia. There are
| certain reasons which account for this ex-
| cellent government. The history of the free
cities of Germany is in itself a. great mora
| lesson. Reformers Of 1903 clearly recognized
| the necessity of permitting municipalities Il
| solve their own problems. They encouraged
| the feeling that the inhabitants or the city
| were the only agents for the attainment OF
| a free municipal government. The policy OF
| the city was. Hands OFF,
| In this country we have been accustomed
| to look upon municipalities as a minor
| branch Of the State government, creature.
of the State. dependent upon the will o.
| the State for its corporate existence. and
| with few. If any, adequate guarantee.
| against constant interference. All power,
| are expressly delegated. AS an illustration
MANY of our police commissioners are ap
| pointed by the State. City governments ar.
| formed under the general State law. Eaci
| Legislature comes along and amends. abro
| gates or multiplies the laws which govern
| f;$fa ynio of r anenf n