The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-14
CITY GOVERNMENT.
MIR. CardwilI Points Ont a Method by
Which 1t May Be Improved.
IL Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
Every Indiana General Assembly is
plagued with special bills for the modifica-
ton of some city charter. indianapolis is
the principal offender in this direction, but
she is well seconded by Evansville, Fort
WAYNE and Terre Haute. The session of
1899 is evidently to be no exception, as Terre
Haute is already agitating, and doubtless
from now on her disinterested citizens will
be much in evidence explaining how to
down the other fellows.
City government in Indiana is the same
sort Of lame duck that it is everywhere
else in the United States, and for an iden-
teal reason. Municipal government fails
because the people are not permitted to
rule. We pirate a good deal about the Vox
populi, voX del, but we take good care that
the voice of the people shall have little in
fluence in practical politics. In the first
place, cities are creatures Of the state and
have no powers except those conferred by
state law. Everybody who has had legis-
ative experience knows how difficult it is
to convince the rural members and the rep
resentatives from rival cities that any city
has special needs different from other
cities Then the Constitution, made fifty
years ago, forbids special legislation; so
the city plugs along as best it can, tied
hand and foot.
under the present form of selecting officials
the people do not rule to any great extent.
caucus or Well-Set-up convention names
the candidates, and we, the people, vote
for them, II we vote at all. The officers
elected are usually independent of each
other, and are responsible to nobody What
wonder that municipal affairs are con-
tinual scandal?
Now, the Indiana Legislature can help
the cities If 1t will. 1t can pass a general
law abolishing all of the various forms of
city government now existing in the State.
1t can make a new simple and direct form
of controlling city affairs that will restore
to the people the right of self-government
The form should be something like the fol-
lowing: The government of the city to be
vested in legislative body or council COM
minority representation. This council
should be numerous body, say three men,
bers for each five hundred voters, and
should be elected yearly Conventions and
should be made by written petition Endorsed
in writing by at least fifty voters This
council should be q very large body and
should be selected in groups of three or five
for each five hundred voters. 1t should
meet at stated intervs $, perhaps once each
month, in very public place. 1t should
have absolute control of local affairs and
should appoint such heads of departments
as were needed. All minor officials should
be under strict civl-Service rules.
The whole trouble in governmental affairs
in the United States arises from a distrust
of the people. The Constitution of the
United States, the Constitution of Indiana
and the charters of the cities are each full
ly, for the purpose of preventing the people
from governing themselves. To change
these constitutions will not be easy, but the
Legislature can restore popular government
to the cities OF Indiana if it so chooses.
GEO. B. CARDWILL
New Albany, Ind, Feb. ~.