The San Francisco call., 1897-01-24

=<O LONG as human nature pre-
I9 serves it's distinctiveness, so long
@S will comparisons continue to be
made. Individuals compare their condl-
tions, and enjoy satisfaction in contem-
plating their enhanced financial or social
standing resulting from the adoption OF
some method peculiar to themselves.
Nations exercise their pride in the display
of government affording special ad-
vantages and privileges, and communities
forming a town or city are not exempt
from the rule, the point dwelt upon by
each OF the communities being its pos
session of one or more desirable condl-
tions to perfect living not possessed by
other organized communities.
The science of municipal govern ment is
now very close 10 being an exact one.
That it is not so everywhere applied IS
due to one of two reasons-either the
badly governed community is lacking in
common knowledge, or good government
is rendered impossible by the existence OF
a loose system permitting the undue as
sumption of power by the dishonest por-
ton of the community. This latter con-
dition is rendered easier Of attainment IN
a republic than under q more concen-
trated form of government, for the reason
that the rights of the individual are too
often considered by the many as being
above the rights OF the state. 1t is largely
due to this reason that the science OF mu-
nicipaI govern ment has not reached that
perfection in this country which it has at
tanned abroad.
The element of cupidity forms a large
part of most men, and in the political
"boss" it is markedly predominant. Its
presence is the lever moving the thought
less masses with a power against which
patriotic unselishness has too often
striven in vain, and its power will continue
until the majority of those whose privilege
it is to make the Government learn by
experience that their interests are en-
hanced and their necessities more speed
lily and better met by the application Of
the true principle that the rights of the
state are above the rights of the indi-
yidual-in other words, the conveniences
and comforts OF the many may not be
disregarded in order TO increase the spe-
cal enjoyments of the few. There is no
trampling upon individual rights in the
exercise of such principle. In every city
the numerical majority of the voters gen.
orally represents the poor and measurably
ignorant If not the vicious and deprayed.
From this, it has been thought that these
classes holding the ms iority OF the votes,
and consequently choosing the rulers, the
resulting bad government is not surpris-
ing. But such argument ~ specious. The
lust of power and wealth is quite as cor
rupting as poverty and ignorance, and
moreover is OF greater potency for evil,
because of its intelligence. II thirds
of the voting population OF any large city
were proletariat mob, without political
rights or interests, it would not be long
before fierce rivals for power would be at
work organizing them into factional
fights.
Bad government is always due to organ
ization on the part of its supporters and
to corresponding lack of organization
among those honestly desirous of good
government Without organization any
kind of government is impossible.
Those methods and practices which have
secured success in administration of pri-
vate business interests and enterprises are
equally if not more powerfully potent in
the conduct of municipal affairs. The
greatest merchants known to the COM
mercial world recognize ana strictly act
upon one undertaking principle: One
man at the head of each branch or depart
ment of the business, and every one of
these responsible to the chief head of all.
On the other side OF the water is a city
OF 10000 inhabitants, compactly built,
covering about 5000 acres. 1t is a great
manufacturing city. 1t makes and sells
its own gas, collects and sells its water
supply, builds its own street railroads, and
has made closer approach to successful
solution of the sewage problem than
has been accomplished elsewhere.
1t has provided for its citi-
zens spacious and beautiful parks
splendid swimming and Turkish baths at
less than cost; magnificent free libraries