The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-06-23

Brown Arvtne Entitled "AbsOIutisn
 ing Histories Read-Fine Musical se-
 Iections Programme of To-day's
 Graduation Exercises, Glass of '99.
 Class day of the Hillhouee Higf
 school was held yesterday afternoon at
 the Hyperion before very large au-
 dience, and every seat down stairs and
 in the dress circle being filled with rel
 atives and friends of the graduates
 The members of the graduating class
 were seated on the stage, the pretty girls with their pretty gowns making a
 very attractive picture.
 The exercises opened with an address of welcome by Harold Terry Clark, pre- ident of the class. He welcomed the audience to the, class day exercises and
 thanked those present for the kind way in which the members have been aided during the progress of their high school course by the older people. MT. Clark address was short but to the point, and was very well given.
 The second number on the programme was a class history by Miss Maude Morse Tufts. Miss Tufts remarks like all those of the historians, were hits on the different members of the class. The histories were very witty and re- fleet great credit on their authors. The third number was trio by Miss Kelley, Miss Rathgeber and Miss Hyde. The class sang the chorus to each verse in a pleasing manner. Walter CoWles of the class of 1900 was the accompanist. Prof. Jepson led all the musical numbers which were eXcellently rendered. The next on the programme was history by Thomas Adam Fogarty, followed by a history by Miss Alice Mabelle Cronan. Interesting histories were also read b Miss Carrie Ward Munro and Timothy Francis Barry
 One of the most pleasing numbers on the programme was an oration by Will liam Brown Arvine. His subject was "Absolutism in Municipal Government" MT. Arvine's oration was a very pow erful one and was intensely interesting.
 The class poem was read by Miss Sarah Elizabeth Beecher. Miss Beech er's poem was pretty one and was heartily applauded by all.
 The exercises came to a close with the singing of ''The Foot Ball Day" by the class.
 Harold Terry Clark, president; Miss Ethel Flora Booth vice president; Don- aid Bradford MacLane, secretary; Car roll Frost Baker, treasurer.
 The class day committee was Earle Wayne Brown, chairman; Grace Pier pont Fuller, Ray Minnie Frank, George Walter Allen, Thomas Adam Fogarty, Marie Elsie Hooghkirs, Bessie Louise Manross, Sadie Winifred Cooper, John James Murphy.
 MT. Arvine's oration was as follows:
 It is sociological fact that there is an ever-growing tendency on the part of the people in this country to swarm to the cities. Accordingly the municipali- ty, politically as well as socially and commercially, is becoming more and more the very nerve center of the com- monwealth. Inasmuch as large and ever-growing percentage of the popula- tion of the United States lives and la bors in the cities, it is plain to be seen that the city, if not already, is soon to be the handspring of national progress. From what I have said thus far you must realize that the question of munic- ipal government is one of the most vital problems that have ever been interwo- ven with our republican destiny.
 It is my intention, so far as it is pos- sible in the short space of time allowed me, to show you the fallacy and the danger of this new idea of absolutism in city government In using the word "absolutism" I refer to the main provi- sion of these new city charters, which are becoming popular in so many states that provision which grants so much power to the mayor.
 For the first time since he broke the chains of despotism and attained self. government, the Anglo-Saxon has been deluged into the idea that purely rep government is not good enough. Down through the centuries he has fought and died to win govern ment "of the people, by the people and for the people," and now at peace and fairly secure by reason of the blessings 1e has won, he suddenly forgets the bloody lessons of the past and resolved, f l may use an expression of Seth Lows. the arch-absolutismist, to trust 1ne man largely; that is, to elect him to he office of mayor and give him the ab- ,olute control of the executive machine y of the city government by allowing Jim the unconditional power of appoint | ng the members of the executive depart nents The democratic Anglo-Saxon DOW desires to establish a despotism i'm hat form of government which most di- 'ectly affects his home.
 Formerly the power of appointing the | members of the executive departments vas vested in the people, or the alder nen who were the representatives of the | people.
 Now. however, these new city charters provide, besides the board of | aldermen. for the popular elections of | ,nly three or four city officials. These were, in rooklyn, the birthplace of ab- for instance, the mayor, the and the auditor. To the mayor is given the unconditional power f appointing the members of the board f education, the police commissioners, he fire commissioners. the members of he board of public works, and all the ther members of the executive depart 1ents-that Is, his appointments are not ssubject to the approval of the board of ldermen. He is also at liberty to re- love these officials under trifing re- lrictions, which vary in different cities. So you see, ladies and gentlemen, that ,hile the people have the power of elect ,er the board of aldermen or the legis- l