The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-18
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
Reforms Which Would BE Impossible
in the United States.


1t would be impossible to carry out the
municipal reforms that have been much
admired and commended in Birmingham in
any city of the United States Our doctrine
OF universal suffrage would prevent 1t. Mr.
Blaine once said that the best government
on earth was an absolute deSpOtsm with
a good despot on the throne. The thought
that was in his mind is illustrated clearly
and fully in the municipal reforms that
| have taken place in Manchester. Glasgow,
Birmingham and other British cities with
sible only because the municipal authori-
ties had despotic power conferred upon
them by the taxpayers, or ''ratepayers,"
as they call them in England.
In order to vote over here man must
own property and pay taxes, and prop
erty owner may vote in dozen different
places wherever he owns property on the
same day, if he has the physical ability to
do so. This privilege applies to women as
frage is a matter of property and not of
| principle in England. While there has been
considerable advancement toward the ex-
tension of the franchise throughout Eng
land. it's limitations still invest the power
| of government in the hands of the property
owners and taxpayers. In birmingham, Tor
example, the tenant pays the taxes on the
property he occupies and therefore he has
vote There are in round numbers ABOUT
600 inhabited houses in the city, and the
roll of electors includes about $4,000 names
of whom 1900 are women, usually WIDOWS
or wives of workingmen who have taken
the lease of the property in their own right
Another curious feature of the law gives
what is known as the lodgerS FRANCHISE
that is, a voting privilege to men VINO oc-
cupy apartments for which they pay rent
exceeding $50 year. This practically ex-
cludes bachelors who own no real estate,
| because 81 a week is a high price to pay for
room in the manufacturing towns or
England. hence, in Birmingham out or d
voting population of nearly lO,UOO there are
less than 500 dodgers on the poll llSt; IN
Manchester there are about 1000. All shop
keepers who pay rent exceeding 500
year are entitled to vote, and in Birning-
how no fra in
that way.
The British municipal system thus practi-
cally excludes from participation in the
government all citizens who do not pay a
rental of $50 a year or taxes on real estate.
The class of people who hold the balance of
power and usually control elections in the
United States are not allowed to approach
the ballot box, and therefore it is safe to
assume that every man ana woman who
goes to the polls on election day here has
personal interest in doing So Nor are they
under the influence of demagogues and
bosses. The slums cannot vote, the lodg-
ing-house patrons, the tloaters, the bar
keepers and all the serving class are dis
franchised. The organized labor of Eng
land is active al the polls, because they are
mostly mon of family They rent h9uses
and pay rates, and, a. rule they take
interest in political issues that is quite
as intelligent as any other class in the COM
munity Few women exercise their privi-
legeS, although at times they go to the polls
in large numbers when they have particu
lar interest in a candidate or an issue.
Candidates for office are not nominated in
conventions. Any one who desires to run
for office may file his name at the office of
the town clerk upon a blank prepared for
that purpose, one week before the day of
the election, but it must be supported by
the signatures of one 'prOpOser,' one sec
onder' and eight other citizens, ''indorSars -
who testify to his qualifications and integ-
rity One week before the election the
town clerk prints a list of the nominees
with their names, residences, occupations
and the names of those who vouch for
each candidate. If only one nomination is
made in a ward, as is Otter the case, no
election is held, and the expense is thus
saved. The town clerk simply returns the
candidate as elected without opposition.
There are, of course, political organiZa-
lions that select candidates and see that
they are properly proposed, but the free
dom of nomination is wide that as long
as ten citizens of ward can place can
didate in the field there is not much dan
ger from the caucuses.
The overseers of the poor in the several
parishes are the judges of election On Aug
l each year they are required to make out
a list of qualified voters which is printed
and posted bulletin boards in several
places. The public is given twenty days for
filing claims and protests, which are form
ally considered, and the list of electors is
revised accordingly.
When the voter approaches the polls he
is given ticket containing the names of
all the candidates, which is torn from the
book, and his name is written upon the
stub which bears the corresponding number
He steps into an alcOVe. where he marks
crosses in the blank spaces opposite the
names Of the men for whom he desires to
vote. He then folds the ballot writes his
name upon the back and drops it into the
box in the presence of the election officers
1t will thus be seen how difficult election
frauds are in England. Candidates are re-
quired to file a sworn statement of their
campaign expenses, which for municipal Of
fees must not exceed G25 except in wards
where there are more than five hundred
voters. Then additional 3 pence is al
lowed for every additional voter.