The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-10
GLASGOW POINT OF VIEW.

To the Editor Of the san Francisco Cag-SIg:
Conservative members OF our charter com nit
tee OF one hundred aud conservative citizens
in general may safely give heed 10 Sir James
Bell, Bart, Lord Provost of Glasgow, from
whose great WORK on "Glasgow; It's Municipal
Organization and Administration, an quot
ing information, Tor MS views on the pun
poses and aims OF municipal government are
Dr. no means radical If judged from the Glss-
Cow point OF view. Indeed, Ischink most
people VIII be surprised when they learn the
chief agency N producing the great changes
which have taken place IN this famous Scot
ush metropolis. ! an sure nothing can be
more ma tursl and rational, and il s stated By
Sir James IN great sim plici " and cleerness on
page Il OF the Introduction.
"Ia the srly part OF the century" he says,
the duty OF the tmUuicipal) corporation 10
the individual was chiefly negative and re-
pressiye." even ss Il is in san Frauci SEQ TO-
day. 'He hsd simply 70 be kept from being
g menace and trouble TO his neigh bors."
But with the progress OF the laoors OF the
health authorities and tie opening up OF their
vast teld OF operations, there came an entire
reyo lutlon IN the conception OF tie RESPONSE
oIlIIes OF Town councils toward the citizens
they represent The health OF the city, il was
now peFcelFed, involved the health OF Inc IN
dividusl, and the recognition OF this fact
opened Up hitherto undreamtoi spheres OF
action ana usefulness"
so il was "ihe health OF the city, that must
be protected and promoted which became the
ms plring Influence in producing the change.
Sir James continues: at was not simply light,
air and water that were in question; the food
OF the people, and the conditions under which
they laboTed, came under sup6rVisiol; even
then -ecresIions and eljoyments became the
care OF the councils. So came the parks, rec
restion grounds, Fairgrounds, open spaces,
the band performances and concerts, the
libraries and the museums and art galleries
all modern developments OF municipal
activity.
Another phase OF municipal work which
has emerged with popular election and Demo
cratic organization IS the supervision and con-
trol OF what we may tenn CIVIC nonopolies.
In this connection" he cautiously observes,
it IS not necessary to enter into any discussion
OF the debated question OF municipal COM
munism, as he calls II, ''or 70 inquire how far
il is the duty OF council to become q univer-
sal powder In the case OF Glasgow. at least"
he says, the absorption OF the water, the gas
and the trsmysys can De defended on quite
other considerations" Surely tnaI is the voice
OF the svowed conservative. Ard yer he
honestly adds:
$50 it comes that municipal rule comes
close&o the everyday Interests OF the people.
pal institutions are being daily better recog-
ntzed 8 nd more widely appreciated Indeed,
as sir James truly says, 'the power Tor good
or EVIL OF q corporation such Is Glasgow, deal
Ing with The daily life and wants ana inter
preting the aspirations OF three-Quartars OF q
million OF human beings, is almost inconceiv-
ably great"
We sre informed that Hthe government of
this noble eily requires the services OF more
than 10000 officials and servants; that The
revenue exceeds two millions sterling yearly
that the city owns properly worth more than
Ten millions sterling, or $50, 00O, 600, and car
Ties debt OF more Than $1,000, 900, or $40
oOo,oo0. He well says tnst The income
equals that OF modest kingdom, and II is
applied TO purposes much more directly bene-
heisl 10 the people. and the officials earn their
pay IN msnner far more dire city useful than
do the armed hosts of the nation"
We new come 70 the methods and details az
set forth in the book
JOSEPH AsBUsY JOHNSON,
II Essex street. August 8, 1897.