The times., 1901-04-26
Circulation Statement.
Municipal Government.

because their Government processes 10
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 groaning 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 compari-
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
tion 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 10 make
il for the bettement OF the people il Is necessary
10 have a non-political council and an honest ad-
ADMINISTRATION. These conditions DO not obtain
here ! should judge. and did the city own
such plants ] presume that, while The en-
Yloyes would be in the employ OF the city. they
~1ssw r1, could ha ngnae he rrgl OF
the politicians in power.
'In Liverpool. in Glasgow. and in twenty other
cities, big and little. the street railroads are
owned by the municipality In Huddersheld
snanufs scturing CITY Of one hundred thousand pop
ulation al the franchises are owned and cp-
Grated by the municipality. Liverpool now las
hundred miles OF electric trolley railroad,
and in a few wears 30 Is believed. the fares viii
l,e IS low as two cents. That Is the average fare
in Glasgow now and tAe people q London hore
soon 70 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 f. not the desirable sys-
TEN that il Is abroad. There can be no
doubt that in principle IL is the best
thing possible for the community: but,
while cur cities are the sport of party
politics. are governed more through
the political power II non-taxpayers
than taxpayers. and are hotbeds Of Of
fetal corruption and looting. the great
er extent 20 which the municipality en-
cages in the business Of furnishing az :
conducting public facilities. the create
vii be the opportunities Of the party
bosses 10 enrich themselves at the cost
q those who in the end must foot the
40
lines q New York were owned and op-
Grated BY the city. il 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 it's mercy. One Of the most
serious problems Of the future in
America viii 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-
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
Sred and ninety-two square miles. The
annual cost Of the department is s. $685.
40. In New York. with less than half
the number Of policemen. and a much
smaller area 10 protect, the expense is
s11, ,s3S. .S43 London, with five hundred
schools, including high and technical
schools. and six hundred thousand pu-
pills, spent So Oh, ,755 for educational
purposes last year. The cost in New
York. with much smaller school pop
ulation, was Sl4 ,6l9, Ill. The London fire
department one Of the best on either
side Of the Atlantic. last year cost
$685., ,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 JOG. .413, which. as / take il. 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:
Il don't see why all your public work seems
60 cost 20 much more than the same work does
IN London. Ny only inference j. that an the
money Is not needed for an honest city ad-
rniulstration and that the surplus must 20 into
The pockets of some favored ones Where do
your policemen keep thenselyes2 I see one in
the streets only occasionally. and strangely
enough they are always near saloons. ] look up
st a smp-p0st 10 see where / am. Halt Of
them are without signs they have been there
but have been taken down. Why, ] wonder2
we had ia London fourteen years ago many
rings oi petty corruption. but we rid ourselye.
Of that by giving the power TO the people
Here, ] am afraid, 10 gain the same end you
would have 20 take the power from the people
With us the communal spirit is highly developed:
il is not here. You do many things here that
seem SO much opposed 10 the spirit Of per-
sonal liberty that with they would cause
almost a revolution. For instance you compel
school children TO submit 10 vaccination. You
couldn't do tltst ia London Here, too, your po-
lice and detectives may arrest citizens with ex-
traordinsry facility. Our police wouldn't dare 70
pake arrests in such highhanded manner.
TO develop along the right path you nlust
have permanent giyfl service lou must put in