New-York tribune., 1902-03-24
PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
RECENT Contributions TO THE DIS
CTSSION OF THEM.

Lewis. D. D. IL. D. l2mo PIP N'' ~ H.
coTERNMENT N STATE ANp ESATTIo}Nv ESATT5e} n Ry B
J A. James, Pi d and A +bSsIs II SaI3eoS;t Sons
OF POLITICS. BY Richard Rogers Bo"Ker'
1smo. pp 81. Houghtoa, Mifflin & Co
OF BUSINESS BY Richard Rogers Bo"kef-
16mo PIP Sc. Houghton, Miftiin d 60.
THE BURDENS OF LOCAL TAXATION; WHO
PEARS THEM. BY Lawson Pn5G}. PtI}.r,I my; con- M
IS Chicago: Public Policy FuOISn'"s Ooi''-
NEw-YoRK POLITICAL PRIIMERR, By Adele A,sd NJ NJ
Political Education.
The author Of Municipal Administration
announces his work as a comprehensive and
systematic treatise on the whole subject Of city
government What has been written hitherto
about it he regards as fragmentary or ele-
rnentary. He gives us a great mass Of detailed
information the past and present machinery
Of cities The first part Of the book is devoted
10 municipal history. noteworthy attention
being given 10 the organization Of ancient and
medieval cities. This is especially interesting.
but the usefulness Of these researches is some
what impaired by the authors failure to pre-
sent his results in other form than as raw ma
teriaI. It shows original research, perhaps, TO
reprint from Larouse table Of the municipal
finances Of Florence in 1866. but when some of
the items are given in forms and others in
Iivres without any clew being given TO the
actual or comparative value Of either at that
particular time, the table has little significance
for the ordinary reader In the study of ad-
rninistration Of modern cities Professor Faire
adopts the topical method. which is in some re-
spects q useful variation from that generally
followed by DR.. Albert Shaw in treating Of
European cities. DR. Shaw tells of the govern
1nent Of a city or group of cities as a whole
This plan makes better reading and better re-
veaIs the spirit of different types Of admins
he eTu who
wishes to know how council can best be or
ganized. or TO compare the policy Of different
cities in dealing with franchises will find the
topical treatment more useful. The author is
not the advocate of any particular theory. He
has no ideal charter with which he would cure
municipal abuses. He does not plead for non
partisanship. or minority representation, or
anything else but devotes himself to telling Of
the various functions of city administration
and the machinery by which they are exercised
in different countries. The result is an extreme
ly useful compendium.
In the new edition of Sunday legislation
Dr. Lewis includes an account Of the Sunday
laws passed IN the different States Of the
United States between 1883 and 1902. thus
bringing the history down to date from the
time Of the pagan Roman Empire, when. he
saws, compulsory observance Of Sunday began.
The Christian Church becoming under the en-
perors a State institution. succeeded to the ex-
ercise of this regulating power. The Continental
reformation made little change in the medieval
civil legislation concerning Sunday. but in Eng
land new theory Of observance was intro
duced and a distinct type Of legislation de-
veloped For the first time the injunction Of the
Fourth Commandment was held to apply to the
first day Of the week, and the sanction Of legis-
iation was found in divine authority rather than
In the right Of the State TO regulate religious
well as secular conduct. Ever since Sunday
laws have sprung from religious sentiment
The prohibitions Of our laws are based the
idea that il is morally wrong to do certain
things on Sunday Legislation against the
liquor traffic is however, an exception. 1t is no
more pertinent 10 Sunday than TO any other
day. except on grounds Of expediency. because
Sunday being day Of leisure offers greater op-
portunities for rioting and criminality.
The authors conclusion from his historical
study is of special interest just at this time. He
holds that the successful enforcement of Sunday
laws has never been attained except under a
State church, that under A State church the
continental Sunday is inevitable. and that
with the divorce of State and Church regulation
becomes illogical and contradictory. AS piece
of secular lawmaking regulations which declare
what is intrinsically good at one minute crimi-
nal the next and make it a misdemeanor not to
be idle A certain number of hours each week
cannot, he believes, stand the tests OF logic and
common sense. The worst evils of the present
time will continue, according to DR.. Lewis until
idleness on Sunday Is made permissive and not
compulsory. The two alternatives presented 10
New York are Strengthening the liquor traffic
by enforced idIeness on Sunday or a de-
parture securing TO every person day of
rest a week, which day being a matter for in
tiiViduaI choice. These are radical views. but
they are the views Of a doctor of divinity.
President Hadley has given impressive warn
ing to American teachers that knowledge of civil
government does not make good citizens, and 1t
IS open 10 question just how much benefit stu
dents in secondary schools will derive from
s-Government in State and Nation" It would
seem TO require the expenditure of a dispropor-
tionate amount of time upon the machinery of
local, State and national government, upon COM
parative methods in various States and in the
consideration Of legislative and administrative
problems. IT, however the crowded hours of
school life must be devoted TO questions some
If which lawyer would not try answer with
out reference TO his books the study should be
carried on with the aid of a scholarly textbook
such as that Of Professors James and Sanford
which gives due attention TO the history of the
institutions described and emphasizes the ele-
ment Of character IN the making OF patriotic
citizens.
Each OF Mr.. Bowker's two little volumes. "Of
Politics and ~Of Business" is an essay for
young people. with some of the characteristics
OF a sermon Some musing. some moralizing
some whimsicality. history and some po-
ltical economy are fused in the composition
Mr.. Bowker writes pleasantly and holds himself
enough detached from actual affairs TO give an
air OF philosophy 10 his teachings. which are