The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-12
Mr. Adams Describes Matches
tcr's Board Of Aldermen
and Co,incilors and s8a
5 Tells Of Their Fl
Service.
ACCURATE DIVISION OF. WORK ,I''
BY Frederick Uphan Adams,
Author 81 dJohn curt" and "Thhe sd SD
t,appcd MllIloralrcs."

s-RIT1c1slt Is made by those who
for eynrio,is reasons a re opposed
-.X to putlc ownership that elected
IERh1RI officials cannot he expected to
=. posscss the detailed technical
knowledge and the experience
,,o,cssnrv6to the proper administration or
such complex and diversified enterprises mt rise
na street railways. gas works electric
lighting and power plants the erection
aud supervision OF dwellings and cot
fiapcs and the numerous other lliluer-
s4aki1gs assumed or In contemplation ny
+. iha municipalities OF Great Britain. Next
tn tho fear or offering added opportunity
Tor oficial plumber th!s Is the moro quoted
argument against the system by those
who discuss and write OF IT In the pflted
+ States.
such A plea is rarely made IN England,
and never In Scotland. even BY those
( who have most reason. to call q halt on. on
any, extension Of the field OF pubic
ownership. talked with scores oil pusi-
ness men and large property owners, ana
1t is only the simple truth to state that
without exception these men nsserte 60 thht
no such charge was even entertained b9
the Responsible element OF the conf
lnuntty.
1t is difficult for an American TO COM
plchend tho possibility OF a municipal
Legislative and executive body actuatt TED
solcly by an Intelligent desire to so ad-
minister affairs as to safeguard ana
promote the common interests OF citi-
zcns and Taxpayers There may be
city councils, In this fair land OF ours
which can point to n record Of unswerv-
ing fidelity and an unaucstioned hon
cs,y ana / sincerely trust that there be
fuch bodies. but 1t must be admitted
that they do not constitute the mujorlty.
PROCEED IN A BUSINESS NAY.
Tho British taxpayer selects his alder
man or councillor With the same care
and with the Same object In view that
actuates him when he has a vote for the
choice Of directors in aSprlvatc corpora
iion. Hetlooks for n man who possesses
Judgment, abilitSsand unimpeachable fn-
tcgrity. He does not demand n man
who necessarily has an exact technical
mastery OF all Of the details pertaining
to the Undertakings he will aid lii super
Wiling. Neither does he insist that the
director OF n railroad In which he is n
stpclsholder shall be able to regulate the
executive work OF the general manager
or the system.
would that every careless American
citizen could witness a session of the
city Council of Manchester. which Is of
members Of this distinguished assembly
arc in fact as well as In name thu
sclcctmen'' Of their city. They are not
s placed In these positions Of honor be-
csi.lsn or u purchased popularity. with
groups OF partisan ward helpers; they
DO not represent tho salocs, interest nor
do .hey, owe their elections to nominations
dictated BY corporations In need of their
services They arc the representatives
If their city
When they meet the galleries are not
FILLED with horde OF oiiice-seekers. No
LOBBY turks on their TANKS. The papers
which record the proceedings do not
flame with headlines or briste with edi-
tarials dcnouncing the latest aldcrmanic.
steal
There are men In the Manchester City
Council whose heads are white from
forty or more Of years spent in unpaid
md unselfish service to the city of their
birth or adoption, The dean of the Coun-
ell IS Alderman King. who was elected
councillor In 1856 and made alderman
eleven years later. He has served as
Lord Mayor and in two years from now
he will celebrate the completion Of a
half century OF official life. The aver
hgc time served as counciors by the
twenty-six men who now are aldermen
,vns eleven years. In that length OF time
the average man of Intelligence should
become we'll acquainted with the duties
of his position. When an alderman re-
signs or dies n councillor Is raised TO his
place. and n now one elected.s There
nre twenty-sx wards, and each one has
three councillors and an alderman. max
ing a legislative body OF 1o4 members.
Elections for councillors are held once
I in three years. but 1t is seldom that
man is opposed who has shown him
self capable Representatives. The
changes are so slight that the Council
IS To all intents and purposes a perma-
merit assembly,
TIE scope OF the work relocated TO ne