The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-26
PROBLEMS OF REFORM.
Municipal Questions Discussed by pr. +
W. Bemis Last EVENING, VA

~ PROBLEMS OF REFORM.
Municipal Questions Discussed by Or. e.
w. Bemis Last Evening.
Dr. e. W. Bemis of Cleveland was the
principal speaker last night at the meet
ing of the American League for Civic |
Improvement his topic being Municipal
Reform in Practice" -t T. |
Three things, the speaker thought were
necessary to secure good municipal gov |
ernment,-the men, the machinery and
public opinion. The only hope of divorc |
ing municipal politics from state and ma
tonal politics. was by complete home rule, |
as eXemplifed in California and Wash
ington, and in less degree by Mime
sofa and other states.
He favored the concentration of power
in a mayor, who could be held RESPONSE
BILE for the acts of his appointees, and
decried the board system, which was la
mentally irresponsible. Better men could
he induced to run for office under the fed
eral plan, as it is called, as men of
strength care only for an office with
power and responsibility. AS few officials
as possible should be elected, and they
should be held responsible for the gov
eminent, and allowed to appoint subor-
dinates and heads of departments where
technical skill is required, Better salaries
were needed to secure the best men for
public service
A city must raise large revenues to fur
nish the full benefit of modern civiliza-
ton, and the methods of taxation needed
careful revision. Taxation should be ac
cording to the ability to pay. Quasi
public corporations should be assessed on
the same basis as individuals, and the
value Of their property could usually be
ascertained by the market quotations of
outstanding securities. The taxation of
real estate should be reduced to a more
definite basis. Franchises should be
granted for a limited term of years, and
then the city should always have the
right to buy the plant at its structural
value, plus a fixed percentage for the
value of the franchise.
Civil service is needed in city depart
ments, and the best civil service is not
by examination, but where a competent
official, appointed on a nonpartizan
basis, is allowed to hire and discharge
employees at will, subject to the approval
| of a supervising board. Such a civil serv-
ice is in operation in most school sys-
| TENS Of the country. The difficulty in
getting away from the spoils system is
that often the man that attempted it lost
control Of the primaries Of his own party.
| DR.. Bems' final lesson was on the i'm
| mense Importance of good leadership.
why cannot men, Of character and
power Of leadership in every community
| be content with their present accumula-
| tions?" he asked, "and retiring from &C
| tive business life, help in leading their
fellow citizens to higher and better
of such leadership. We pay our city en-
| gineers and heads of departments, our
| mayors, .councilmen and state officials
far too little, and then wonder why the
| railroads and trusts and city monopoles,
with their vastly better-paid men over
run us as they do, and laugh at the ridic-
ulous efforts Of our incompetent public
servants to adequately deal with them"
The City Beautiful.
DR.. w. w. Folwel Of Minneapolis spoke
on 1.-THE City Beautiful" discussing it as
a cooperative center. He cited the pub
lie schools, library and parks illustra-
tions Of municipal cooperation, and
thought the plan could be pushed much
farther with benefit. He found great
need Of appreciation of ones city and a
greater cherishing of citizenship Parti-
zan politics should be banished from the
city, and the best men put into office
This seemed almost impossible; but if cit
liens cared enough for their city they
would form a public sentiment that would
force the political machines to put up &C
ceptable men for office, and this seemed
the most promising way Of securing bet
ter municipal government.
There should be parks to preserve the
striking scenery of the city. River banks
and land that is not of great commercial
value were frequently admirably adapted
for park purposes, and~should@ not be al
lowed to go to waste.
DR.. Justus Ohage,x the st. Paul health
commissioner, gave an illustrated lecture
on abating the smoke nuisance, garbage
collection and the public baths. He told
how the sale of garbage to farmers had
brought the city more than $1,000, which
made it possible to clear many vacant
lots Of rubbish.
The resolutions adopted yesterday noted
with qualification the very general ap-
prevail given the suggestion Of the league
for model city exhibit at the st. Louis
exhibition. They indorsed the plans laid
before the exposition management by AL
bert Kelsey Of Philadelphia and urged
their adoption. 81
| The league also recommended to the
favorable consideration of the st. Louis
exposition authorities the establishment
Of a model school garden as one of the
features Of the exposition in connection
with the model city and model farm.
Approval was expressed of the intro
duction into the public school system OF
the country Of method of instruction in
civic improvement, so that it's principles
may be taught in the schools.
The reception yesterday afternoon at
the rooms Of the Woman's Civic League
and the Art Workers Guild was designed
to illustrate the afternoon program on
larts and crafts, as the rooms contained
a considerable amount Of furniture made
in the mechanic arts school and examples
Of leather work. Mrs. L. F. Ttnsley OF
Minneapolis also had an interesting ex-
hibit of basketry.