The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-07-02


is only the legal instrument which
gives the community authority to
act as corporation, and which de.
fines the duties of its officers"
The wisdom of legislatures does
not seem to be summed up in the
formation OF legal characters the
terms of which shall govern muni-
cipal corporations, and there is a
remarkable lack of the exhibition of
those flexible and elastic features
which ready and successful gov
ernment would depend upon, acting
as a corporation and not rs a state.
But it would require all the positive
notions OF law yet devised with the
unfeigned assistance Of all its fic.
tions to present in legislative cham
bers a measure radically uprooting
corporate evils and designed to oper-
ate as sine qua non in the govern
ment Of cities. The collision OF one
boss with another, the struggle OF
faction with faction, the wasteful ex-
travagance of city councils, impelled
by frequent temptations to embrace
bribe, and the unlawful interference
in municipal affairs by those whom
Senator Quay designated last sum-
mer in his famous letter TO the press
as appointed to preserve the peace"
form some Of the most notorious and
very worst features Of municipal
mismanagement. Repugnant as this
must be to men of integrity and
especially to men who strive by the
expenditure of time and the liberal
use of private means to eradicate
the evil influences at work, it must
be the very climax of disgust when
reproach is cast upon the judiciary
of the city corporation and the ad-
ministration of justice is thus faint
ed with the suspicion of collusion.
Such circumstances are rare, but a
sporadic evidence does sometimes
manifest itself of such hated con-
dition in the modern city corporation,
under the political boss, just as it
did when the Crown selected his
Judges as his personal interpreters Of
the law and as the special defenders
of his prerogatives.
London is the best known as well
: as the most ancient English speak
ing capital in the world. 1t has ex-
listed for period of almost ten CEN
turies. 1t presents greater degree
I. of interest. considered as corporate
!: municipality than any other in the
world. The repression of violence
!. does not appear difficult there and
, indeed with her four or five million
souls the city government forms so
extensive plan OF thoughtful con-
sideration, that the perfect admins
tration Of law and the preservation
OF order have become the admiration
OF travellers abroad. 1t is said that
American ladies travelling alone in
London are safer than they would
be on the streets of Philadelphia or
: New York, but this can be readily
imagined to be true when we con-
template the vast and comprehensive
police regulations there enforced.
The police power is the first institu-
tion necessary in civilized commun-
ity and its abrogation would lead
quickly, in some localities, to the
total aunihilatiou of the established
social condition. They are the sworn
custodians of the peace, the minis
tiers Of the vast constabulary ma.
chinery in city corporations, the re
= liable agents looked to for the pro
motion of order and the suppression
6 of lawlessness. The police system
= perverted either by political inhu.
!, ence, intimidation or bribe becomes
! an engine of oppression and torture
o In Europe the police power appears
4 to be literal agent of perfect law
in American cities it forms the prin
cipal basis of grievous complaint
Notwithstanding legislatures have il
nearly all the states established de
= partments of safety as necessary
= adjunct of city government.
4 1t was the unlawful interference o
O the police power with the privat,
II rights of the citizens of New Yorl
IS City which caused Senator Lexov
g. to ask for the legal creation of Sen
le ate Committee to lay bare, unde
% state authority the shameful scan
o dals practised on Manhatten Island
# now the home of the wealthy Dutcl
n. Knickerbockers; it was for simila
ar reasons that Senator Penrose aske
q. the Commonwealth of Pennsylvani
10 on into N rauulor rly ,,thori1aI in