The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-28
LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Its Origin and Development i'm the
United States.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
The study of local government is becom-
ing important. Our fathers solved the larger
problems of government relating to the pro-
lection of civil rights and to the rule of the
people. 1t has been left for the present gem
GRAFTON to consider the machinery of local
government for the conduct of public bust
ness. Our city, town. county and township
organizations, in general, work admirably
except in the transaction of business. Public
business is not in general carried on with
anything like the economy or success of a
private enterprise
Organization is a very large element in the
successful conduct of business. A railroad
with loose and unsystematic organization
is much more likely to pass into a receivers
hands than one which Is highly organized
with perfect system and the most approved
checks upon expenditure. SO with county
township or city governments. If the law
under which municipal corporation is or
ganized is incomplete, unsystematic and
without suitable checks, the results will be
high taxes and poor returns. In word To-
cal government is a machine having certain
work to do. If the machine is poorly con-
structed, out Of date, loose clumsy or 9TH
erwise imperfect, the work which II turns
out must be inferior. 1T is true that good
men under a bad law may give better gov
eminent than bad men under a good law
but in the long run sound business organ
iZation greatly raises the average of results
obtained
1t is a singular historical fact that in the
development of American institutions our
local governmental machinery was not
formed along the lines of federal and state
institutions, but has Jagged behind in the
march of improvement. following English
rather than American types. When the Re
public was founded there was clear break
from the old theories of despotic govern
mcnt. The federal Constitution with its
separation of legislative, executive and jul
dical functions, bore little resemblance to
that OF any other country In the world. The
various colonies did not Immediately reor-
ganize upon the federal plan, but most of
adopted the principles of the national Con-
stitution. In respect, however. to local gov
ernment, have not yet adopted the new
ideas and principles which control the or
ganizaton of the Republic and the various
States. at least IN respect to that branch
of local government which levies taxes. ex-
Ponds money. makes the contracts, builds
roads and schoolhouses, which. I'm short.
transacts the public business of a local
character.
The British Parliament exercises, or may
exercise. all governmental powers, legisla-
tive. executive and judicial The cities of
England are governed by representative
bodies, which. OH "A small scale, strongly re-
semble Parliament, exercising legislative and
administrative If not judicial powers. This
system naturally was adopted in America.
and 10 the present day we continue in our
city and town government to follow the
English rather than the American plan.
Thus. with the recent exception I'm Indian
apols. Evansville and Fort Wayne. all cities
and towns i'm Indiana are governed by coun-
ellis or boards Of trustees which exercise
not only legislative powers but also trans
act the executive business of the munich
paity. and the mayor, who is the presiding
officer, also possesses judicial powers. This