The Portland daily press., 1899-11-17

rr,no,p.I,v an adm. ..sistraativs problem.
and into which were thrI-s hpsoroine
and irrelevant questions Of ns.'ons'
politics. The most persistent factor In
the political development Of the United
States has been the growth Of the belief
In representative democracy ana this in-
crease OF intelligent and conscious effort
TO make the belief an accomplished fact.
Il Is this that inspires municipal reto- m
ers with the confidence that honest, ef1-
cient, progre ssive city government In this
country is certainty In future not
far distant.
"City government must he a govern
mept Of tte people. BY the PEOPLE and for
the people, through their chosen represen-
tatives in order, on the one hand. to de.
velop a general popular interest 10 the
local public affairs. and. on the other,
u make this Int est effe,tive.
"UnTe. the proposei Municipal Pro-
grainme the city Independence is guar
anteei. Ihe State Legislature cannot
me idle with purely local affairs. Its
funotious, SO far as citiei are concerned.
are confined TO passing laws applicable to
all cities or oil Inhabitants of the State,
except In cases where the necessity for
spe, ial legislation is so clear that IL re-
osives tbs affirmative vote OF two thirss
of all the mem bers of the Legislature and
10 formally approved by the Council OF
the city, CT, IL disappruved. Is again
passed by a two-thirds vote, which must
inoluue thres-fourths Of the bers from
dist lets outside of the city concerned.
1.-THE city Is vested with ample power
to manage les own affairs. 1T may ac-
quire, hold aud control property. Within
Its corporate limits 1t has the same pow
ers Of taxation as ara possessed by the
State; IL may license md regulate all
trades, occupations and businesses; IL IL
vested with power TO perform and render
all public services. and with all powers
OF government subject to the State Con-
stitution and to laws applicable to all
cities and all Inhabitants Of the Stats.
"The business function Of administra-
tion and the purely political function OF
determining the local public policy are
intrusted to entirely separate agencies,
In the administrative service, who hold
office without fixed term. the latter to the
Council, subject to . limited veto power
In the Mayor. The merit principle 10
strictly enforced In all appointments and
promotions In the subordinate sdminis-
trative service.
1.-The Council 10 the grand committee
of the citizens chosen by them for the
purpcse Of determining all questions OF
city policy. The Mayor and the Council
are the only officials elected by popular
vote. Nominations for these offices must
be by petition. The ballot 10 sim pie.
Names OF all candidates foi the same
elective office must bs alphabetically ar
ranged under the title Of the office. and
the moter must vote separately for each
candidate for whom he desires to vote.
1.-The city under the proposed Municipal
Programme Is representative democracy.
Unable to resort to outside assistance and
secure ag,inst outside interference, com-
PEELED to work out its own local destiny,
and clothed with ample 20 wers to do so.
the very necessity Of the case will develop
an enlightened public opinion, which Will
ooLtrol the public policy. The people are
the Government"