The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1899-04-29

CITY is the home Of a cOmmunI"
Il ty, and the real reason for its
L "A existence is the protectlon,conl-
fort and convenience Of its Inhabitants.
The community is a greater and more
complex human unit, and the cry
serves the same end for the larger unit
as are served by the houses and homes
of the individual memebers of the
community.
Most of the defects Of our munlclpal
life can be directly traced to causes
growing ont of this completely. While
it was possible to manage town AFFAIRS
bv town meetings, all the people could
keen in touch with each other and with
the affairs of the community, but as
soon as we had to resort to city life
with its election Of an executive to
appoint other officers we began to lose
touch with each other. and in the
clumsy compleHity of the method
mich of the purpose Of the functions
of the city has been lost sight OF, and
all sorts of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. have
crept in.
The thing for civic reformcrs to do
is to find the most direct and simple
methods.
A city is not business corporation.
We do not run our affairs for the pur~
pose of making money as city, but
for the we'll being and comfort of our
citizens Nor is it a clearinghouse
CITY, run to make profit from the peo-
pie who live here. The city of Pull
man, ILL.,, is a clearinghouse city. and
to live there is the quintessencc OF the
misery of clearinghouse life.
A city is cooperative housekeeping.
When say that a city is not bust
ness .orporation I do not mean, nor
dee it follow, that we have no b'lsi-
ness methods in our management. Ev-
cry good ho,,sekecper must have BUSH
ness method or I'll sorts of trouble
will ensue.
As a community we have been fin1-
ing, lately, that our house needs some
rcmodeing and extensions. We need
a new city charter, and the question
we are here to discuss is: What lines
shall we build upon?'
would suggest that one Of the first
mccds is Il method of direct lcgisla-
ton, so that all citizens shall once
more be i'm direct touch with their own
affairs. 1t would also have the effect
of killing partisan politics in city af-
fairs. and would take away much of
the temptation to bribery and corrup-
tion.
Ne also need complete system Of
civil service which would still further
break the sway Of those who live in
corruption, and more than all. would
insure. to the city, servants fully COM
petent to do their duty. With these
we can. think, justly insist upon hav-
ing complete home rule in all matters
relating 20 OAR own affairs.
The public ownership of all utilities
is also Il necessity of these days. WE
cannot afford to keep on paying rN-
ceSsive toll to Eastern capitalists for
the use Of the well they claim to own.
1T is much more economical and better
in every way that we dig Il we'll OF our
own. and have our own water supply.
The street transportation ought also
H. be city business. Think how absurd
ii would he in Il house to give to one
rrmhrr Of the family Il franchise to
lay down Il carpet on the stairway and
the ri"h, to collect Il toll from each
mrmlrr Il the family every inc they
step upon it.
Public ownership of utilities would
greatly cunducr to honest public Srr>-
ice. We all know that the inlurr
mrn1> offered by these uua>i-puhll>'
corporations to Facilitate the granting
of public favor> and privileges are very
potent incentives to dishonesty among
public servants.
Is IL still further means uf economy
and efficient >rr> ice we should abolish
the letting out of work to be done 10y
contract. is far is possible. All the
larger work of The city should BE done
by direct employment.
None Of these propositions ar" in Vac
yl.uI>. Each has been adopted 10y
large cities and is working r\rrIlrn,ly.
by direct employment in doing city
work London saves millions Of dollars
y,.Hrly. by public ownership Of stree!
cars GLASGOW Mas able 10 rarm revenue
enough 10 pay the expenses Of tic civ J,