New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-04
ON PUBLIC SERVICE.
American Civic System Far Behind Euro
pean. Saws DR.. Blaustein.

a r+rrle town IN Germany once advertised So-
Mayor and Dr. David Blaustein thinks that
II Mould be q good thing II NeV-Nork We're 10 pro
reed in some such way when il wants chief mag
isrrate
III man makes a GOOD Mayor in some little
town in Ohio. Jet US get him for New-York' said
Tr B!austein before the Summ+r school Of Phi
lsnrhropv Yesterday morning land Der as keep him
as long he VIII stay
This n appears Is the way the city OF Berlin got
IT'S present Mayor and the custom is = general one
IN German The Mayor Is selected By an elective
council of ciry fathers and after he has served me
rnic3paIsry for twelve years he is appointed for
life IN This vav is avoided one q the evils OF
-be American system namely. rotation IN Office
IN America man hardly has time 10 turn around
n Wis Office before he IS out again said Lr- 5!tu-
steir.
The subject ~ the morning was Municipal Ac-
ri0r Involving the Welfare % the Poor" and most
unfavoradle comparisons were made between the
civic conscience OF the United States and that or
European counJres
I'm the develormenr Of the civic conscience
America has the worst record in the world" said
Dr. James s Hamilton. of the University Settle
neut. This is because the development u our
municipal life has been economic. while that or
Europe has been biolcgic- European cities have
developed according the needs u the people Tn
ours the growth has been mechanical. The people
have been thrown together temporarily by economic
necessity and are absorbed In their own affairs
mat they have no time to serve the municipality
AND thew have moreover. become iu fhe habit ~
getting thar when thew find themselEes in public
ofIce their idea stul IS nor How can serve The
ciryg' but What 7 ger for myself 50 We
have 70 pay our aldermen and other public ser
wants and We are uow being told rhat DO not
pay them enough. don't think that that is The
way 10 gec -le uest service WHAT need 10 do
is 70 srmu.ae rrore Intelligent interest in The pun
Tic welfare. Thea people Viii ask b- paid for
serving the ai-y'
Tire director ~ the summer school Philip "
Ay--=. -orroborated what D-. Hamilton had said
sbou- me slpe-t5ritv ~ European methods IN civic
govr-n-l4-r
SOM Americans he said. think tnat b. Is
hereby worth xriIe living. "r even travelling in
'-1er countries BUT there i~ no douht that such
c-ues - Glasgow Berlin. Manchester and many
others nave e.. much finer civic gonscienceuess than
He nave and mat IT. Is working out in splendid
Wsr~ To Is NOT true either. that we have had
greater difficulties than they contend with. The
same conditions that have attracted people % the
cles IN this continent have attracted them IN Eu-
rope Many o. their cities have grown just fast
GIr= ana many OF them are just conglOn-
crate London has nearly The same conditions as
AeW-York The reason Sor their better civic condi-
lions Thar more Of their people have leisure 20
York ana IN Ner-York than in Chicago There IS
-.
more leisure II New-Hork than in Chicago"
ADr8Bls OF these references 10 the relation be-
tN-e. .esurec classes and municipal welfare. Miss
~ w DvingtOu deprecated the idea that the rela-
non was necessary one. She Thought he creation
"a -. pTl .leg- ~ serving the CITY ought not %
oe resrrFed for those who were able . live on The
saraIss ~ their fathers To mis- Dr. Blsustein
FL-ess --at IN lTermary this work was done by the
- le-LeI ma oy ne leisure classes ana tltt
me- Wa no reason why e should not be so IN
tio- 81 a6Cr. on 49, va .e , -. ~ i
- lnis wished &c urge that those whose profess
devote Il =, 10 , mould stand TesGy ,i ID
nssne = price whenever Tho occasion should de