New-York tribune., 1899-02-27
FUNCTIONS or A Municipality.
~ PRESENT DAY PROBLEMS N THE
BROADWAY TABERNACLE

Everett 7. Wheeler spoke yesterday afternoon
before the class in present-day problems in the
Broadway Tabernacle on the functions OF
nicpality. He said that civic questions are in a
sens. moral and religious. and In appeal
10 the conscience OF the Christian strongly
20 the reason Of the statesman. In a little New
England town IN which he spent some time when
- boy the village did just three things II made
what roads made maintained district
school and kept poor farm. The NE OF the peo-
pie was 40 primitive each man raising his own
substance on hls ntil. farm and exchanging with
his Immediate neighbors that no more complex
municipal system :han this needed.
In New-York city Hfty years ago. said the speak
or. the municipality did only few more things
than this t'lc village did. It did little road
making. occasionally repairing an especially bad
piece Of cobbestone pavement IT maintained
schools and almshouses and had something or a
police force. The policemen were not unif riaed n
brass star serving 20 show their authority. and
the force was small one There a yolunt'. r
ire department. the work OF The hremen being "n-
tircly voluntary and the engine-houses places Of
congregation for the young men The streets were
lighted with OIL lamps few gas lamps being In
Broadway.
All these things are done now much more elabo-
rately and many more things have been found
necessary for the municipality to undertake as the
life OF the people became more complex Mt
Wheeler said that II was now problem what tho
city should do and what II should leave 70 It's
citizens 20 DO for themselves lie thought that the
city should not try 70 do for the citizen what he
can DO better for himself He went on TO speak
OF a few things that experience had Indicated the
city could do better for the citizens than II could
leave for the citizens 20 do.
The building Of the Brooklyn Bridge by the two
cities had been a success and the running OF the
under the Bridge Trustees than II Is now done by
the BROOKLYN elevated railroads. II was ques-
tion whether IL would not be best he said Tor the
city 10 run all its transportation systems. II prop
erly handled. ne thought the city could give bet
ter service than any private company r4ianlns L
the good 20 the city OF ownership by the pubic
The I1.gisiature he said. now debating
whether II would follow the wishes OF the peo-
pie as expressed by a popular vote rev years
ago for rapid-translt system owned ny tne mu-
Mcipahty. 49, - - -
The success of municipal ownership or many such
Industries a. transportation. ne said. depended on
tr. control OF them by good or bad men. At pres
ent the efficiency OF many city Undertakings was
les.en.d bv the system Of employing and manag-
ing men on account OF pull or influence, rather
than because OF faithful work Many proposed
undertakings would be successful. without a DOUBT.
If they Were managed wholly IN the. interests OF
the city ANY other management might make pri-
control preferable -,-,-,-- a.. /,
4 man I'm the audience asked Mr. Wheeler II he
Thought the municipality should not 20 as far as
10 provide work for citizens. NJ. Wheeler said
that this was a grave problem The city might at
some time provide ways OF making living for men
by setting them 20 building roads. But the city
should not. iu doing anything OF THIS klhd, come
into cOmpe ttion with established trades. so as 10
make further trouble by cheapening labor
Another man IN the audience caused q conrno-
ton by referring TO the fight between Tammany
and Manhattan l..