New-York tribune., 1899-11-17
J,tpROVED CITY GOVERNMENT.
PLANS PROPOSED AND DISCUSSED ef "o'
NICIPAL LEAGuE-coNTRolhEH
COLOR ON CITY IN
DEBTEDNESS


o,. oh,o Nov. is-The sessions OF tho
,,.'", n,r,ricnal League we're continued to-day
rho s,scussIon was on the new municlpal pro-
nrar,r,o ronorted by a special committee 1he re-
port In part was as follows:
Good city government Is dependent NOT iierei but
on proper form OF munlC,pai, of the position
Of the CITY and upon the ability OF the hi own
Citizen to decide municipal questions OH 'ne'' o"'
The organization provided has been IN mace eoa FOR
1t consists OF Mayor elected % bs Elected nc by gem
era TICKET for years term one.third b OF time @
m hs Election Of the Mayor The details OF the
municipal organization are 20 tbe Council is to
elect Controller, that all OF the other CITY , OF
fcers are TO be appointed by tne oyeS hv him on
Charges for reasons Of other than political Gnat
acter and that all appointments IN tne hII he made
where practicable as the result OF competitive cy eH
aminations conducted under the elrectuo @ onno,nted
service commission whose members are aPpoii''u
by rne has been made for exercise by the
State Controller OF n supervision OF muiiieip"' u"
rder both 10 relieve cities from legislative con,
troll and permit them sufficient opport@un',esd UNI dt ot
local deveopment cities are vested with the wiuest
poSsssoe pS pSer limitations in the interest Of sound
municipal finance, that no debts hcuIie ,tcb the
purpose Of mnneipa scent to pay ali
OF operation. interest on the bonas anu antv vrars
sSs bs Included within the debt which may be con-
sttutionaly incurred
Bird S. Coler. Controller OF New-York. oiscusseu
"The Cltys Power TO Incur Indebtedness o'ue' '''
Proposed Municipal Programme. ,.,
Mr. Coler, after referring to the early h'a'S'"
difficulties OF New-York spoke OF the resuic'ioh "a
indebtedness Of cities, saying:
beleve this clause in the Constitution -whooty o
admirable at the time IT was written-ls not az a.
gether adapted TO modern requirements III ~ s, ,,,e
does not discriminate suHlclenty Detn ho rao
classes OF city debts OF a "hoily uiieieh' '""'"0
a city issues bonds only for permanent improve
ment the benefits OF which inure TO posterty buu
there are two classes OF these improvements easiy
distinguishable from one another, anu oe'"e'"
which a sharp distinction should be drawn -,
In one OF these classes are improvements whlcn
while adding TO the attractiveness. beauty ana
heaithfuIness Of city, TO its economical admins;
traton or TO the better conduct Of Its governmental
functions bring in direct financial returns.
This Is by far the more numerous class, ana IN
cudes such ordinary works as the erection OF pub.
lie buildings including schools the acqulsltloh OF
parks and the repavlng Of streets. No matter now
great the material benefits that are derived from
such improvements. the expense incurred is un-
Questionably financial burden upon the TAX
payers In regard TO such expenditures there can
arbitrary constitutional limit since otherwise the
burdens that might be thrown upon succeeding gem
eratIons by excessive Issues q bonds would become
There is another class Of improvements. however,
far less commonly met with which either result In
casting no burdens whatever upon the taxpayers,
or else bring In an actual profit to the municipal
ity. In such cases II may be permissible to ask
wherein there lies any rational excuse for limiting
the governmental activities of city by constitu-
tiCnal restrictions.
A dim recognition OF this truth seems already to
have found expression in State constitutions. which
specifically except from the operation Of this linn
itaton bonds issued to provide for the supply OF
be established for their ultimate redemption.