The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-26
Municipal Government.


be one of the people. by and for the
people, it must be in all respects an ar
ticle superior to that dealt out to the
inhabitants of countries grooming under
the load of heavy crowns. 1t happens,
however, that in point of practical lib
erty, of protection TO life and property,
and economical administration, we
might compare our national, State, and
municipal organizations with those of
Great Britain and her chief colonies
with anything but disparagement to the
latter
Perhaps the most uncomfortable con-
trasts of the lot are presented in the
relative cost and efficiency of municipal
government in this and in other coun-
tries. Some very interesting COMPARE
sons recently have been made by Mr..
Robert Donald. well known for his
work in the cause of municipal reform
in London, after a study Of the opera
ton of civic administration in the
American cities of New York and Buff
falo. OF public utilities Mr.. Donald has
this to say:
''The system of city government here and in
cities in England is vastly different. In many
of our cities the municipality not only controls
the street railroads. the water and gas supplies,
but il also operates them.
TO bring about such condition and to make
il for the betterment Of the people II Is necessary
TO have non-political council and an honest ad-
ministration These conditions do not obtain
here, / should judge. and did the city own
such plants / presume that, while the en-
poyes would be in the employ of the city, they
and their places would be under the control of
the politicians in power
"ln Liverpool in Glasgow. and in twenty other
cities, big and little the street railroads are
owned by the municipality In duddersheld a
manufacturing city of one hundred thousand pop
uation. all the franchises are owned and OPP
Grated by the municipality. Liverpool now las
one hundred miles of electric trolley railroad,
and in few years. it is believed. the fares will
lie as low as two cents. That is the average fare
in Glasgow now and the people of London hope
soon TO reduce this 10 one cent on the roads in
operation there"
This authority hits directly upon the
reason why municipal ownership in the
United States is not the desirable sys-
TEN that it is abroad. There can be no
doubt that in principle it is the best
thing possible for the community; but.
while our cities are the sport Of party
politics, are governed more through
than taxpayers, and are hotbeds of Of
fetal corruption and footing. the great
er extent to which the municipality en-
cages in the business of furnishing and
conducting public facilities. the greater
Will be the opportunities of the party
bosses to enrich themselves at the cost
OF those who in the end must foot the
7. oil 80
lines Of New York were owned and op-
Grated by the city. it would follow as a
matter of course that the many thou
sands of employees of the system would
obtain their places through the favor of
Tammany Hall, and would earn their
bread at its mercy. One of the most
serious problems of the future in
America will be practical reform Of
municipal organization to the end that
cities, which in theory are not political
subdivisions, but business corporations
may be brought into adjustment with
their reasonable purposes. and rescued
from the clutches of the organized
bands Of thieves who now so largely
control and prey upon them. 1t is posi-
lively notifying to think of the price
Americans are called upon TO pay for
the luxury of supporting domestic or
imported leaders" and their greedy
henchmen, MIR. Donald tells US that in
London there are sixteen thousand five
hundred men on the metropolitan police
force. They cover an area OF six hun
cred and ninety-two square miles. The
,f rs, fe-e
77o In New York. with less than half
The number of policemen, and a much
smaller area to protect, the expense is
81. 1885. $43. London, with five hundred
schools, including high and technical
schools, and six hundred thousand pu-
pills, spent s12 Oh, 755 for educational
purposes last year. The cost in New
York, with a much smaller school pop
ulation, was sI4,6l9,1l1 The London fire
department, one Of the best on either
side of the Atlantic. last year cost
1894 200 In New York the same service
cost 81. s64. ass. Summing up his com
parison Of municipal expenses, Mr..
Donald says: The figures show that
the people of New York are taxed IN the
sum of SOS, 1O0,4l3, which, as l take it, is
about twenty-eight dollars for each in
habitant The people of London are
taxed for s66 $50, s95, or about fifteen
dollars for each person" on the sub
ject Of municipal corruption, this emil
nent English observer offers some very
pertinent remarks. which are well
worthy the attention of the great class
of property holders in places like New
York, Philadelphia, Chicago, st. Louis,
and so on. who for years have been
Systematically and cruelty bled by the
political vampires who fatten on them.
He says:
81 don't see why all your public work seems
20 cost 80 much more than the came work does
In London. My only inference Is that all the
money Is not needed for an honest city adj
miuiTration and that the surplus must 20 into
the pockets Of some favored ones. Where do
your policemen keep thenselyesf ! see one in
the streets only occasionally. and strangely
enough they are always near saloons. ] look up
at lamp-post 10 where | am. Half Of
them are without signs they have been there
but have been taken down. Why, wondcrY
I'VE had in London fourteen years ago many
rings Ct petty corruption. bGt we rid ourselves
Of that by giving the power 10 the people
Here, ] am afraid, 10 gein the same end you
would have TO take the power from the people.
WIN VI eSnibsuhAi rpHsk n iHiig ueNtlfped.
Il is not 80 here. You do many things here tina /
much opposed 10 the spirit Of per-
sonal liberty that with US they would cause
almost revolution. For instance you compel
school children 10 submit to vaccination. You
couldn't do that in London. Here. too, your po-
lice and detectives may arrest citizens with ex-
traordinsry facility. Our police wouldn't dare 10
make arrests in such highhandcd manner.
ITO develop slong the right path you mus,
have permanent eiyit service. You must put in
positions Of trust, irrespective Of party, men
who viii DO their best for the city, actuafed