The record-union., 1896-02-28

the salaries to be paid city officers and
employes)-Robert Waring, William K.
Lindsay, William H. Winn, Charles
Holl
A paper was then read by ]. A. Wood
son from the American Magazine of
Civics' on Needed Changes in Munic-
ipal Methods" 1t is by Hon. J. H.
Walker, LII. D., of Worcester, Mass,
member of Congress from that State,
and Chancellor of the American Insti-
tute of Civics.
Chancellor Walker holds that when
a system is inefficient or wasteful it is
corrupt or liable to become SO. Any
business institution would be quickly
bankrupted if conducted on the lines of
most municipal governments.
Separation of the authority to decide
what work is to be done, the doing of
it, and the approval of it, is fundamen-
tai in successful city government.
To secure this separation a large
Legislative body is absolutely necessary;
without it the will of the people, their
sense and judgment, cannot be reflect
ed It's members should be elected on
a general ticket rather than singly.
Each party will be thus compelled to
put on its ticket persons representing
the classes and interests in its con-
stituency.
A small legislative body necessarily
cial powers. A city charter should pro-
vide for absolute, complete, local self
government within constitutional linn
its, and should call for a large legis-
latiye body.
ho 10 che
responding with those of the Governor
of the State, having a veto not only
over each legislative act, but over any
one or more items thereof.
Taking a city of the size of Worces-
ter, Mass. CWorcester has 100000 in
habitants) there should be elected on
a general ticket five Aldermen yearly
from each of the nine wards for three
year terms, and five on a general ticket
at large for three years, making a total
Of 80 Aldermen, fifty new ones
coming in each year.
From each of the nine wards there
should be elected annually for three
year terms on a general ticket ten
Councilmen, or 270 in ALL This would
give desirable, true and consistent mi
nority representation.
No member of these bodies should
have anything to do in the way of con-
tlol or interference with any work for
the city. But a committee of the body
may do work for the city or bid for
awards of work or furnishing of sup
plies.
Any person now clothed with author
ity under any existing law not to be
eurtailed of such power until the City
Council devolves the duty on some
other body or individual.
That is all the charter in substance
that is needed, according to Mr.. Walker.
A~city with such a body can govern
itself well under general laws.
Under such a system alone can a mi
nority be represented, or put the best
men into place. Under it a city would
get the services of it's sons in the years
Of their highest ideals and aspirations,
their purest patriotism and their sub
limest courage. He refers to his own
experience in the City Council to which
he was elected in his 23d year, and the
enthusiasm with which he served. He
wants the young men to have chance,
and this is the way to give it to them.
Under this plan of the 210 Council
men at least ten be under % years and
over 90 will be under 80, and they will
not be the least useful members of the
Council
The only disgrace that has ever come
to Massachusetts has come through her
cities, through discredited city govern
ments. Her fathers constituted large
| legislative bodies and insisted that the
executive, legislative and judicial func-
tions should be separately vested, not
only in bodies, but each in different in
dividuals
The whole body of experience in demo-
cratic governments proves that that ac-
countability, efficiency and economy can
be secured only in this way. The or
ganization of our city governments
violates this principle.
1t is established that distinct, con-
| spicuous and sole responsibility of the
executor is the only way to secure
prompt, cheap and efficient service. To
mix functions as is now done. makes
IT impossible to fix responsibility; it
invites to fraud, protects incompetency
and conceals neglect.
Success depends not so much on indi-
vidual ability as upon systematized
work, and making evasion of response
bility for failure impossible. Take a
great industrial establishment; how long
| could it run if management depended
on one man alone? But give to him
power to touch a button and be in COM
munication with departments and their
heads, or with any one employee. and
any error can be checked or corrected.
In organization greatest ability is
shown and secondly in wise selection of
agents to execute. Superior organiza-
ton with moderate ability always beats
out establishments less carefully organ
lied though managed by men with ten
times the ability.
All successful private business is
controlled by one mind. 1t secures its
| ascendency through fair competition
and the unbiased judgment of its as
sociates. Autoeracy is a condition
precedent to success in business. Only
] advice is sought of each partner out
side the subordinate domain of each.
So good city government must be
either by the man or by large body
of men in legislation. State govern
ment is successful because of the alb
solute separation of the legislative.
executive and judicial functions. Town
governments in New England are sue
I SSf9SAOA O4AiJ DC@dhSC VI tic tOWu UlG6l-
| ing for legislation, and the use of Sc
/ lectmen for execution of orders of the
meeting. Every citizen is. thus a
critic on their acts, but not a boss of
them.
Look at the inefficiency and corrup-
| ton in New Jersey, Louisiana, New
York and Ohio with small legislative
| bodies. But the British Parliament,
!
of that kind In the larger body there
j e. Ii.