Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-14
MUNICIPAL VI.
Sentiment Against BOodlcrs and
SpoiIsmen Steadily Growing.

Kansas City Star.
The progress of municipal reform in al
parts of the country Is among the most en-
couraging signs of the times. Whenever cor.
ruption raises its head there is a missile read!
to be thrown at 1t, and, instead of boldly
stalking abroad in arrogarca, as formerly, thu
municipal plunderer now operates in conceal
ment and under cover. That he still operate,
in some quarters is unhappily true. But the
hazard for him becomes greater every veal
and the opportunities for escaping punish
ment grow fewer. There Is less public sym.
pathy for the detected violator of public trusts
now than there was a few years ago, and the
common eulogy, The was a good fellow
which condoned the crime then, scarcely ex.
cites sympathy now. This healthful change
of sentiment may have contributed largely to
the batterment Of the conditions, and 1t is
therefore a welcome sign that 1t Is ~increas-
ing in every direction.
There never was a time when partisan poll
tics was excusable in municipal affairs. From
the first 1t was invoked as an agency for pro
noting the ambition Of bad men, who hoped
that by in6aming the people with passion and
prejudice their unlitness would escape notice.
Having thus, by intrigue and deception, pol
luted the fountains of municipal power. 1t was
easy and natural to corrupt the collateral
branches, and soon the entire fabric was de-
bauched. Every man proceeded to make the
best of his opportunities for plumber, and
legislation was DOuBnt anu SOlu, trusts De-
trayed, treasures looted and crime held carni-
val in high and low degree. In a few cities
these conditions still continue. But the num-
Der is growing less, and before long none will
remain. Reform, like revolution, nsver turns
backward, and it increases in bulk and mo-
mentum as 1t advances.
The improvement in municipal government
goes hand in hand with the progress of non
partisan government. Where public Office Is
a spoil of politics, no ether result than NAL
feasance can be locked for. The occupant
having bought his place by political service
or contributions to the campaign fund, he
feels that 1t Is his, and the right to make
the most of 1t is a natural and proper Incl
dent. In the beginning he may not have in
tended to be dishonest, but he surely under
stood that he enjoyed license to be inefficient,
which is kindred to dishonesty, for the public
interests suffer as much from one evil as the
other. 1t makes little difference to the tax
payers whether their substance is wasted by
or dissipated through neglect Of duty.
The loss must be made up in either event,
and the taxes are increased accordingly.
The aim of all good citizens, therefore,
should be to divorce municipal governments
from politics. Fitness should be made the
standard and integrity and ability the guide.
1t is no comfort to a democratic taxpayer to
know that the official who despoiled him be-
lieved as he did on the tariff question. The
republican property holder finds little solace,
after a disclosure that the treasury has been
looted, in the fact that the beneficiary of the
entertained the same views on the sub
ject Of cast defenses as himself. What is
wanted in municipal governments Is men
who will neither be dishonest nor criminally
careless in the discharge of their duties; and
the only way to secure this result is to put
men in office who are capable and honest.
regard to their politics.