The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-09
MUNICIPAL FORESIGHT.

When once established on strictly q business
basis, municipal affairs maintained, public cor
poratons will pursue economy in their transaction
and the revenue will be applied judiciously, for va
rious purposes, that progress will take stead,
course. Not until the city government is conducted
business institution, from one administration te
another, will the best results be accomplished.
The average private corporation, having a capable
directorate will set standard for the future and
cording to that standard plans Will be devised and ad
hered to vigorously. The revenue will be made tc
correspond to all requirements, both present and
prospective SO that development to Or beyond the
standard may be assured. Real estate will be pur-
chased when 1t is cheap. materials will be accumu-
lated. resources will be acquired. The company has
definite aim, which 1t proposes to reach by the most
economic and best route Its officers, directors stock
holders and employees work In harmony, although
from divers motives, to mike the ultimate ambition
secure.
Municipal corporations have no positive policy.
They are moved by issues Of day which are cast
aside, before being determined for issues Of
other day They are moved often by fictitious issues.
They stirred by real issues for period and then
through the schemes Of practical politics. abandon the
real for the fantastic. They appear unable, as rule
to abide by important issue. to stand by prudent
fixed policy from election to election.
Msmanagement Of public business in the past to-
gether with the Yenaities Of politics. has produced
embarrassments Scarcely city in the United States
is situated that it can bring the Of the
present into use for the naturalization of plans and
ideas which only time can consummate. Almost
without exception American cities are pressed to the
extreme by immediate demands and are impotent to
follow standard which will fruit In later years. The
revenue is insufficient for present requirements and
is far from being regulated with wise foresight.
What st. Louis might have done, and has failed
to do other cities might have done and have failed
to do St Louis has neglected to look into the future
and prepare for expected contingencies. So have
other cities St Louis has tolerated professional pol
iticians executive officers, instead Of business men.
and have other cities. st Louis defeated the en-
deavors of business administationss by permitting
spoilsmen and incompetent officers to succeed into
authority. Other cities have done likewise One ad-
ninlstration has fixed standard, formulated plans
and prepared the way for Advancement; the next adj
mnstraion has destroyed the standard and the plans
and put out on wrong path Such has been the e1-
perience of St Louis. Such has been the experience
Of other cities
Citizens now see that additional small parks are
that economy could be effected by the
of public buildings In locality that
property is needed for hreengine houses, that mu
nicipal garbage plant should be built and operated
that overhead trolley wires are undesirable, that
municipal street lighting plant is advisable that other
permanent public enterprises becoming imperative
more and more from day to day Had foresight sys-
em and business sagacity been exercised the city
would not be confronted with grave problem. If |
he plans and policies now adopted will be held sacred
future standard, future problems will be averted
What the citizens should do is manifest. They
should exclude partisan issues from municipal cleo
ions and insist that all administrations shall be bust
less administrations guided by officials Of ability and
integrity. Otherwise the mistakes Of the past, the
Effects of which are witnessed at present will be
made again. 49,