Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-31
PROBLEMS IN MUNICIPAL REFORM

PROBLEMS Nv VI UNICIPAL REFORM
The problem of local disagreement
touches a larger number of the Amerl-
can people than almost any other issue
with which they are confronted. The
tendency of rural populations to gravi-
tate toward population centers is mani
tested by the rapid growth OF large
cities, and the greatest difficulty Amer
lean cities have encountered has been to
secure an efficient and honest municipal
government.
The experience of all the cities has
taught one lesson. namely, that dishon-
esty in public office is not confined to
any particular party and that extrava-
gance, wastefulness and graft permeate
almost every city hall and court house
in the land to greater or lesser degree,
regardless of political conditions. En-
perience has also demonstrated that eff
cheney and integrity in the various
branches of municipal administration
cannot be guaranteed by following any
plan Of reform. In some cities centrali-
cation and the one-man-power have been
most effective in eradicating the worst
other cities management of municipal af-
fairs by various boards has been most
successful.
One of the most eminent political
economists, Prof. Tausslg of Harvard,
advocates long terms of service for the
administrative officers, reduction in the
number of elective officers and the en-
largement of the appointing power. In
other words, Prof. Taussig would center
responsibility on the executive of the
city rather than leave the selection of
public officials to political organizations
and irresponsible voters. A municipal
administration chosen on these lines
would doubtless afford greater protec-
ton to the taxpayers, always providing
that the chief executive chosen by the
people is a man of high ideals, superior
executive ability and sound judgment
municipal government should happen to
lack all of these qualifications. or any of
them, the Capitalization of power would
prove to be disastrous to efficient and
economic government.
The irrepressible trend of public senti-
ment is in favor of divorcing municipal
government from all politics, but that
reform cannot be accomplished so long
as city charters are fabricated by legls-
latures. In other words, politics cannot
successfully be eliminated from our mu-
nicipal governments until the cities
make their onn charters. The Toledo
plan commends itself as the most prac-
teal measure for the election of mu-
nicipal officers regardless of their polit-
zeal affiliations, but as yet it is confined
to the election of school boards.
Under the Toledo system of school
elections no party nominations are per-
mitted. Each candidate must have his
name filed without political designation
and the names are placed on the ballot,
in their alphabetical order, without party
designation. AS consequence the
candidates for the school board of To-
ledo are not nominated at primary cleo
tons, caucuses or conventions but they
are simply voted for on their regulations
for capacity and integrity.
Sooner or later the Toledo plan will be
adopted for all American cities, and
when once adopted municipal officers
will be elected on their individual rec
ord and merit and not as representa-
tives of any political organization.