The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-06-29
SOME LEADING EDITORIALS.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.


MANY Americans are apt think that because their gov
eminent processes he of the people by and for the
people he in all respects article superior TO that
dealt the inhabitants of countries grooming under inc
load Of heavy happens however that in point OF
practical liberty Of protection life and property and
economical administration might our National
and municipal organizations with those of Great BRIT
ain and her chief colonies with anything but disparaseme
to the latter.
Perhaps the most uncomfortable contrasts Of the lot are
presented in relative and efficiency Of municipal
government in this and in other countries Some very IN
ereng comparisons recently have been made by Mr. Koo
Donald well known for his work in the cause OF munic
pal London after study of the operation OF CIVIC
administration in American cities of New York and But
falo OF public utilities Mr.. Donald has this to say
The system of city government here and in cities in
ncpaty not only controls the street railroads. the water
and gas supplies but it also operates them
beermen OF the people is necessary to have nonpoit-
aa council and an honest All hese e o ow
such plants presume that while the employees would be IN
the employ of the city they and their places would be under
the control OF the politicians in power. -,
In Liverpool in Glasgow and in twenty other cities big
In Huddersfed manufacturing city of population
all the franchises owned and operated by the munepal
AND in few years is believed the fares viii be as low
cents That the average fare in Glasgow now and the
people OF London hope to reduce this to cent on the
roads in operation there.
This authority hits directly upon the why munich
pal ownership in the United States the desirable
TEN that abroad There be doubt that in prn-
cpe is the best thing possible for the community but
while cities the sport of party politics governed
through the political of nonaxpayers than tax
payers and hobeds of official corruption and oong
the greater which the municipality in the
business of furnishing and conducting public facilities the
greater will be the opportunities OF the party bosses to
rich themselves at the of those who in the end must
foot the bill For example if all the lines OF New
York owned and operated by the city it would follow
that the thousands of employees
of the system would their places through the favor
of Tammany Hall and would their bread its
One Of the most serious problems of the future in America
will be practical reform Of municipal organization the end
that cities which in theory political subdivisions but
business corporations may be brought adjustment with
their reasonable purposes and rescued from the clutches Of
the organized bands OF thieves who largely control
and prey upon them 1t is positively Notifying think of
the Americans called for the luxury
supporting domestic imported leaders and their greedy
henchmen Mr.. Donald tells that in London there
65oo the metropolitan police force They
of square miles The annual of the depart
ment is $793577o In New York, with less than half the
the expense is $tLo3S343. London with 500 schools
GLIDING high and technical schools and pupils spent
1o1275s for educational purposes last year The
New York with much smaller school population was SIS
6rot The London FIRE department one OF the best on
either side of the Atlantic last year 5000 New
York the same service cost $4S64485. Summing up his
comparison of municipal expenses Mr.. Donald says The
figures show that the people of New York the
nhabtant The people arc taxed for Sos
about SIS for each person On subject OF municipal
corruption this eminent English observer very
pertinent remarks which well worthy attention Of
the great class of property holders places New York
Philadelphia Chicago St Louis and who for years
have been Systematically and cruelty bed by the political
vampires who fatten them. He says:
don't see why all your public work seems to cost so
much more than the work docs London. NV only
city admnsraon and @ be oo5 r6 seoen Tor an hon ,
WberP do ,o,r ,ol;c
keep themselves in the streets only occasionally
and strangely enough they are always near saloons ! look
without signs they have been there but have taken
I'VE had in London fourteen years ago many rings of
petty corruption but we rid ourselves Of that by giving
end you would have take the power from the people
With the communal spirit highly developed ii is NOT So
e' on 40 many things here that seem much opposed
to the spirit OF personal liberty that with they would
children to submit TO vaccination You couldn't do that in
London Here too your police and detectives may arrest
dare make arrests such hEhaanded manner name "0uo"
70 develop along the right path you have perma-
nent cVl service You put positions OF trust ire
specve Of party men who will do their best for the city
long they do their duty and thew must not @
they may be ouSted after each election The London council
mark 0oo ana 1t Keeps these officials up to the
Mr. Donalds is voice crying in the wilderness. and
what he or else say the subject will hardly
produce effect present Civic reform for ts is st;
matter Of the less distant future We NAV dcc
the evils and abuses of the present system, but M n1;
party has yet arisen in State Nation honestly committed
to their abolition Democratic politicians would not readily
,oe me advantage OF the Tammany organization in New
YORK nor would their republican opponents consent 70
nit Philadelphia to he governed in non-partissn manner
by ITS taxpayers and so forfeit the advantages of the most
corrupt ring rule top OF the earth So presumabl $40
sna go dodderine along until something snail happen to
awake the country to its foolish tolerance OF organized
Fuption vice and crime and then perhaps there NAV m
some change for the better. '''' Oe
Here.
Mexa Evening News
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