The age-herald., 1901-04-21

save thOuBanoS or dol1arS TOT tuo City. The Mayor being held responsible for the city government. would be more likely to check extravagant appropriations than any one else. I would have the Mayor sign every voucher. He should know know where every cent of the citys mon ey goes There should be a purchasing agent, who should be required to obtain bids on every article purchased. All con- tracts or purchases should always be let to the lowest bidder.
 The city's prospective revenue should be carefully estimated at the beginning of each year A budget should then be care fully prepared. Appropriations should be made for each department. The charter should require the aldermen to provide budget, and after the budget has been passed by the board, no changes should be permitted during that year. The char ter should be very rigid on this point and any city officer violating this law, whether he bs in the executive or legisla- tive branch. Ssaould be punished for mis- appropriation of funds. After providing for all the different branches of the city government, the balance of the income, if any, could be left over for emergen- cies. believe if this system were adopt ed, 1t would save any city thousands of dollars annually.
 Public Franchises.
  gas, street railroad. etc., should be granted without the city's receiving fair compensation in return. All corpora tions using the public thoroughfare should pay the city for the right of way. A small percentage of their gross re- ceipts would perhaps be tn ebest way to arrange it. If the corporation prospered the city revenue would increase in pro- portion. As the city developed 1t would throw the burden of taxation on those that prof1ted most by the development If Birmingham could collect, say 8 per cent. of the receipts of her public fran chised corporations. she could probably pay the interest on her entire bonded indebtedness from this source.
 Of course, I realize that new city could not immediately adopt this course. There ought, however, to be a limit to free franchises After the city had suf- f1ciently developed and had assumed mat ropolitan proportions, and after the fran chised corporations were sufficiently strong, tho franchise tax should at once be levied. A reasonable time, of course. should be given the corporation to put itself on a paying basis. I do not believe that proper city government will ever prevail until every franchise and special privilege granted to individuals and pri- vate corporations is made to yield reve nue. based on its actual earning value The granting of perpetual franchises without proper returns to the public is perhaps the most serious blunder com mitted in our American cities.
 believe the time will come when the revenue receivd from franchised corpora tisn will supercede all direct taxation.
 The influence of franchised corpora tions in our American politics Is, per haps, the most dangerous element that threatens free institutions. This cor rupting influence Is not confined to one party or to one state, or one city. It is found in every state and city in the United States.
 All franchises granted by the city should be publicly advertised for a req sonable time before final adoption. City officers are often criticized for accepting passes l believe the non-salaried officers of the city should have passes They give their time to the public without compen- sation, and much of their time Is taken up with considering matters connected with franchised corporations. While they are entitled to passes they should not re- ceive them as favors from the corpora tions. No alderman should be under obli- gations to any railroad company. I am in favor of a law being passed requiring the street railroads to issue passes to all aldermen. If this was done it would do much to eliminate some of the evils that now exist in many American cities.
 general Government.
 The general government of tks city should be conducted in the most simple and business-like manner. It should be conducted for the benefit and convenience of the citizen and taxpayer.
 All business of municipality is the af- fair of its citizens. It should be conducted with open doors, and all its acts should have the, widest publicity. Secrecy and concealment should not be tolerated. There shoulud be no executive sessions except In cases of great public danger, such as riots or epidemics.
 Rays of light and publicity should shine on all public acts.
 The government of a city should not be conducted for the benefIt of any party or faction, but should be conducted for the benefit and best interest of all the peo- pie.
 Honesty, simplicity, intelligence and publicity are the four necessary adjuncts to all good city governments. Honesty Is the basis of all good city government When I refer to this specification I do not necessarily mean that a dishonest public officer has stolen from the city treasurer, for there are other ways of robbing city. It may be robbed in many ways-by favoritism, by inferior work, by careless management or by reckless ex- travagance. The honest city official Is the one who handles the city's business in the same careful way he would his own.
 Simplicity and intelligence are absolute ly necessary. All public business should be conducted in the most simple manner so that all the people can understand ev- erything that is being done.
 The officials should be intelligent. They should be progressive and quick to de- tect and profit by the errors of the past This intelligence should be of a positive, rather than of a negative, character.
 Publicity in all municipal affairs will prevent a mulS&ss5e of sins. It is behind closed doors fn executive sessions. fre- quently in the dead hour of midnight, when the peoples rights are voted away, or some other wrong to the public is com mitted.
 Let us have honesty. simplicity and in- telligence before we have ideal city gov ernments in the United States. Nearly all of the model city governments known to exist are in Europe. It has required per haps two hundred years to perfect the city government of Glasgow. which is re- ferred to so often as a model city.
 As time goes on, the American cities will gradually improve their form of government. In conclusion, I wish to say that the remedy for all good government in this country Is finally in the hands of the people. If there Is bad government, They have the power to correct all evils at the ballot-box The cause of all bad government Is that spirit of general in- difference to everything that is not the personal concern of the citizen. This in- difference is found more in the cities than in the country.
 It is not only necessary for every cit