The record-union., 1896-02-28

All expedients suggested as reme-
dies have failed One remains TO be
tried. 1t is the true one, namely, large
legislative bodies and complete sew
erance of the three functions.
Defects and maladministration cam
not be corrected by a small body, be-
cause the members are inevitably
mixed UP in the executive and judicial
acts complained of They become a
part of the evils to be corrected.
In Mr.. Walkers city a Committee on
Street Lighting of the council drove
the stakes for setting the lights The
Chairman then changed them TO suit
his own ends because he was 'sboss of
the work" An Alderman materially
altered the decree fixing the grade of
a street, and without the knowledge of
anyone, and the street went through
as he fixed it.
A young Councilman exposed ineffi-
cheney and mismanagement in the Fire
Department. An old member in open
council said, well, what are you going
to do about it?" The reply was: II
have given you the facts, now you must
take the responsibility This forced
reformation, this fixing of responsible
ity, and now Worcester has the best
Fire Department in the State, and has
had from that day
A danger of small bodies governing is
that one lot says to another lot you
run your department and / will run
mine" will tickle you il you will tickle
me legislation proceeds according to
that custom mainly.
In every community there is body of
men whose interests are in defeating
good and securing bad legislation. 1t
is in small bodies that such men find
their opportunities. We invite them to
their arts by our present system.
The people have a right to visit the
departments of government and witness
the work of their servants. To seclude
the Mayor or any servant so as to pre-
vent it is bad
The workroom of the city officials
should be one great room, taking in a
whole story so that whoever steps in
can see what is being done there. Thus
each officer will prompt his fellow to
more prompt and efficient service. AS
| it is now, the workrooms are simply
private retiring rooms.
In the matter of amending charters,
the amendment should come as do State
Constitutions from the people and inde-
pendent of the local legislative body.
The submitting of an amended charter
to the City Council is like submitting a
question in controversy to one of the
kparties in interest for it's decision.
Tne comment of the reader of Mr..
Walkers paper was that the principle
of large legislative bodies for cities is
right, but that he makes the two bodies
Inf oil TOO Io.,o ha civ
would give the same results in a city of
| 100000 people. Secondly, the complete
separation of the judicial. executive and
| Legislative functions is an absolute ne
cessity, their mingling is a great dan
ger Thirdly, biennial elections are
preferable to yearly elections.
A large legislative body does away
with the need for lodging great power
in the hands of the Mayor. But all ap-
pointive power should nevertheless
there reside, because it fixes response
bility. Election of portion of the
| legislative body at large is wise. be-
cause it introduces Il conservative ele-
ment, not hampered by local conditions.
The plan of all city officers working in
one large workroom is not desirable,
nor is it practicable. Much of the city
official work requires quiet and separa-
tion from other work, and could not be
efficiently done in common with other
departments in one room. In this re-
spect Chancellor Walker is in error of
judgment.
The paper of Chancellor Walker was
then taken up for discussion.
Mr. Weinstock-The paper opens up
new line of thought 1t is strong and
plausible. I have believed it best to
give the Mayor greater power in order
to place responsibility. DR.. Walkers
idea of placing the power in the hands
of a large legislative body has strength.
1t seems to bring the responsibility
closer to the people. Under his scheme
Sacramento would have about eighty IN
two houses. 1t may be right. But L
think the Mayor should have power to
name his lieutenants absolutely.
Mr. Woodson-Experience as DR..
Walker says, proves the larger body in
city or State to give the best govern
ment The thing to Go is to trust the
people always. In New England the
Town Meeting is the secret of good gov
ernment This plan comes nearest to
the town meeting. 1t gets fullest ex-
preston of the will of the people and
will conserve economy Corruption
thrives in proportion to the number of
members in the legislative branch, and
the rule is 'the smaller the body the
more corrupt the government" That
| fact Mr. Walker, one of the most ex-
perienced legislators in the Nation,
maintains that all history proves.
Mr. Coffman-Large bodies move
slowly, but more surely. I have long
believed the larger the body the safer
the government, and the better.
DR. Watts-The subject is new. am
| from New England. In Massachusetts
there is the largest intelligence in pro-
portion to the population. Education
does it. There, more than anywhere
else, it is question of intelligence and
qualification than anything else in fill
| ing offices. SO Throughout New Eng
land They try to pick out the best
men, and politics cuts the least figure
| IL city government. 1t does seem
| that the larger body will give US best
results. I can't help thinking that the
Mayor should have supreme power in
making his appointments.
Mr. Joseph-CaIifornia experience
/ teaches us the larger body is the bet
| ter. Were that system to prevail in
our Legislature we would have better
/ government. Take San Francisco;
there is the largest congested popula-
tion, and the largest degree of intelli-
gence, but they send up the poorest
quality to the Legislature. The ele-
ment of intelligence and representative
character rarely gets the chance If
we had $50 in the Senate and 800 in the