Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-22

hazard. without system or economy.
AS Hon. Seth Low says: 1T is 0
strange that a people conducting an
experiment in city government for
which there is absolutely no precedent.
under conditions of exceptional diff
Guilty. should have to stumble towards
correct and successful methods through
experiences tina are both costly and
distressing
IN many instances what good citi-
zrns have neglected to do. others have
taken hold OF and are managing with
little respect Tor law, and less for right
and docency. But the outlook is hope
ful. There have been great improve
Wents during the last decade. Good
citizens are realizing the dangers of
further negligence. ana thoughtful
men in every part of the country are
devotinc themselves to ~remedying "
listing evils by formulating a system of
local government that will meet the
conditions of American cities and yet
be in perfect accord with the broad
principles of IL government.
To demand that American cities in
all those departments of work where
technical learning and skill are neces-
Sary should hav as efficient service
as the great corporations is reasonable.
but it is also necessary hat the city
shall guarantee permanent positions.
promotions to the worthy. and good
pay. If il is expected that men will
learn how to do the business Of cities
and become experts in its various de-
~partmentS. as men excel in other pro-
fessions. the city must offer as per-
manent. honorable. n profitable Il
career as do railroads or mercantile
houses.
Paris is the typical modern city
1T was the pioneer city in reconstruc-
ton n Improvement that would meet
modern requirements. 1t set an ex-
ample for Glasgow, birmingham. Ber-
lin and Vienna. In all the details of
public buildings, sanitation. paving, in
establishing an order of beauty. clean
illness. convenience, and safety that
makes modern collectiviSm possible
without impairing the physical and
mental growth of the people, Paris has
been first. This is because the French
people through their refined and artis-
tic tastes quickly adopt modern in
strumentalities: because the French
capital is a center of great learning
and has doubtless more men of superior
technical learning vote to the study
of city building than all the United
States.
1t has been SO difficult to fix the re-
sponsibility for disagreement where
it belongs. hat political reformers in
nearly. all instances are in favor of
c%entralizing all power in the mayor
authorizing him to appoint whom he
pleases to nearly all positions within
the city. and also making him answer
able for every evidence of inefiiciency.
extravaganza Or dishonesty. The old
theory that in the council of many
The movement towards Capitalization
oe power is conspicuous for two rea-
sons: first: 1t is nti-Democratica and
contrary to the American idea of gov
eminent. 1t is clearly a m~isconception
Of the position and its duties. Ameri-
can institutions. national. state. and
municipal, are founded on principles
and not on men. Whenever American
cities are solely dependent upon
the personality Of one man
for efficient and honest govern
ment it will be time to confess
that our form of government has
failed. The mayor of a city should be
elected as its chief executive, to en-
force the laws as he finds them, with