The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-03
boston Is ROTTEN
Schemes of PIug-Uglies for
Raiding Treasury
HELP TO CREATE OFFICES
For the Purpose of Giving
Places to Friends,
HELP TO CREATE OFFICES

New York. May 2-The city Of Boston
is more English in its civic practices
than any other American municipality.
1t undertakes al sorts of municipal ven
lures. The latest freak is a proposal to
establish crematory for the disposition
of the unclaimed pauper dead, and such
other human bodies as would naturally
resting place in the 'potters field" It
is intended to open the plant for the gen
eral use of the public on the payment
of a small fee, and it is anticipated that
revenues VIII exceed expenditures. Sew
eral cities Of Great Britain, including
certain boroughs of London, have had
similar plants in successful operation
! for the past ten years, therefore Boston
! thinks she can duplicate the undertaking
with profit.
| A large number Of Boston's citizens,
! however, do not concur with the NUM-
cipaI authorities who are behind the pro-
/ ject. They DO not think the plant can
/ be run on business principles; that it is
the hands of frivolous aldermen, and
/ they urge that II he left to the enterprise
/ of private parties.
Since the failures of the municipal ice
plant and the electric lighting construc-
| ton and repair department the people
I take less kindly to municipal ownership
proposed by the socialists Of the town.
In both these plants a thorough investi-
- H. lad md
lot Of incompetents, who did more dam
age than good whenever they performed
any work They were kept on the pay
roll because they were good henchmen
Of certain ward leaders.
Although Boston is infested with ward
heeleEs and machine politicians who are
Sin it~ for the spoils, she is not so boss
ridden as other cities of her size. But
machine rule has been, and is, enough in
evidence to threaten the life of certain
institutions, and particularly that Of the
municipal printing plant, which was in
augurated in 1887.
Upon the election OF Mayor Hart, a
nose searching investigation was made,
beginning with the public ownership
ventures, and two of them We're put out
Of existence because they were found to
be worse than useless-a positive ex-
pense 10 tire city. The printing plant.
according to the report of the expert ac-
countant recently maue. was found to
have a fighting chance for life and
Mavor Hart determined to eliminate pol
ftfcs from its control so far as possible. I
The outcome Of a recent episode in this
connection demonstrates the mayors
sincerity of purpose and augers well for
the future success OF the plant. One of
the aIdermanic leaders called on the sup
erintendent of the printing plant the
other day and saidS
Il have a young lady friend in my
ward who wants a job in your depart !
ment."
intendent.
.she can't do nothin' what 7 knows
Of but she wants a job, and I want her /
to have a job; there's room in here for /
one more, and what say goes; see?"
'.Neu. all Z have to say, Mr. Alderman,
is that do not need any more help, and
[ shall not appoint her
''We'H see about that" said the alder
man. "Tu get an ordinance passed at
the next meeting of the council creating
a position for her in this department
And he did but Mayor Hart sustained 1
the action of the superintendent and
vetoed the ordinance.
The expert accountant in his report,
said: a municipal printing plant such
as this one, with all the presses, type. /
rules. etc. especially designed TO handle
the regular work of the citys would save
money over a private plant.
THE discontinuance of the plant would
be a public misfortune, but, in my
opinion. it can be avoided only by a rigid
adherence TO business principles in its
management, including the appointment
and removal Of employees. There is no
doubt in my mind that Is to % per cent
Of the expenses of the department would
be saved if the pressure of political in
huence in favor of applicants for posi-
tons were wholly removed, and the sup
erintendent left entirely free 10 run his
department as a private business is car
ried on. appointing experienced and cap
able employees only. and purchasing his
materials wherever they can be bougsc
at the lowest prices.
with the plant run rs business
solely for the benefit Of the city as
whole. there is no doubt in my mind that
all expenses can be paid, the cost to de-
partments reduced. ana q profit shown
10y the plant sufficient to ultimately re-
imburse the city for the capital expended
in the plant"