The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-08-17
Che City as a Business Corporation
p LAURENCE MINoT, chaian Boston statc Department

ognized and only in rare instances is
it adequately rewarded. There is lit
orally no ONCE in the gift of the city
capable Of permanently attracting any
man OF unusual ability, in comparison
with the opportunities offered in pri-
vate life. 1 nave intimated that we
should be glad to choose our city coun-
ellis from among the directors of our
leading corporations, Tor while these
men bring 10 the positions they now
occupy a special training and expert
ence, they are ignorant of city affairs,
and this ignorance would be felt IN
many ways ii they were entrusted with
the administration oil them. What we
ought to do is TO make the conditions
of employment in public life such that
the best of our young men would be
attracted to il. in preference 10 pri-
vate employment. and such as would
enable them to receive that special eN-
perience and training in the affairs OF
government which would fit them in
time for the higher positions.
Whoever is minded to invest in pri-
vate corporation looks first to the men
who are to manage it, and next to
the condition OF its assets and liabih-
ties. What do we know of public as
sets and liabilities There may be a
few men in Boston, for instance, who
know what the debt of the city amounts
TO, but they are only a few, and they
are not agreed about it. There is prob
ably no one, in the city government or
out of il. who knows what the city's
assets are, what they cost, or what
they are worth The streets, sewers.
parks, buildings and other property of
the city represent the plant which is
necessary for the community life of a
certain number of people. The cost of
the plant needed for a city of one. two
or five hundred thousand people should
be as accurately known as the cost Of
the machinery necessary to manufac-
ture one, two or five hundred thou
sand people. The cost of increasing the
plant should be as accurately known.
and it should be known. too, to what
extent il is wise to build for the fu-
ture. The difference of cost due to
advantages or disadvantages of lOca-
ton or due TO the increasing complexity
OF life in large cities, should be known
as accurately. The cost of mainte-
nance of each department in every city
OF the country, having regard to the
service rendered, should be so well
known as TO be automatic, and the ex-
pense in one city should be comparable
with that in every other. We should
know how much is saved to the com
rendered
and the cost of this service should be
so well proportioned as TO fall on those
who effect the saving But of all
these matters we are profoundly ig-
norant
In the keen competition of business
/ we cannot afford to neglect anv ele-
ment of success or of economy. / sub
NIT that the administration of our city
| affairs is a part, and a fundamental
nf aHr ,ie-f,
private business in that city and that
our failure TO secure honest. thorough
and scientific administration of city
amalrs; our failure to secure low taxa
/ ton and efficient service, is a constant
drain on our resources. the extent OF
which we underestimate only because
we are familiar with it.
One thing which tends to obscure the
Importance Of the problem is that we
limit our view to the city in which we
| live. IL our taxes are high: If the pub
/ lie money is wasted: if our property is
| inadequately protected from fire. we
are handicapped. it is true; but our
neighbor is equally so. Our competitor
| across the street is as badly handi-
! capped as we are. It is only when we
enlarge our horizon-when we come
into competition with other communi-
| ties-that we realize our position. Then
! the contrast becomes striking, and in
l Stantly we realize that the merchant
| and the manufacturer seeking a place
to establish his business. takes these
| things into account; that the working
| man, seeking a place to work and to
| live in. takes these things into &C.
count, and that in very truth they are
| the foundation and prerequisite Of our
/ prosperity.
| 1 predict that those captains Of in
| dustry' who are first to realize that
! the public business is their business;
/ that they must take hold of it and
manage it with single eye to the pub
| lie good; that they must bring it to
! their highest standards Of ability, hon
! esty and wisdom, will outdistance their
competitors who are willing to leave
/ the city to the politicians so long as
! things are not too bad and taxes are
/ not too high