The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-03-29
JOSIAH QUlNCY'S ADDRESS
Ex-MAYoR OF BOSTON SPEAKS BEFORE, LAW SCHOOL CLUB.

BEFORE LAW SCHOOL CLUB. Discusses "NTnnicipaI Government at
 Hendrie HaII--Problems Confronting City Ohicials--Practical Suggestions
 for Betterment of Local Affairs--Need for Abandoning Political Lines In City nistratiOns--Speaker En- tertuined at Union League.
 Hon. Josiah Quincy, formerly mayor of the city of Boston, delivered an ad- dress last evening in Hendrie Hall be- fore the Yale Law School Political club A large audience filled the hall, many invitations having been sent out by the club. The speaker was introduced by Alexander Cumming, president of the club.
 Mr Quincy stated that he could not attempt to treat the subject fully, but merely wished to make a few informal remarks based partly on his personal experience with municipal affairs in Boston and partly on his study of the general subject of municipal govern ment He hoped that the graduates of the Law school, whether they entered politics professionally or not, would 4oIv i,,to ;,,ta Ia, nicipal affairs than the average citizen. The address was interesting, and while specific and to the point, was at the same time free from technical ques- tions which would have prevented it from appealing to the average nearer. At the outset the speaker outlined the mutual relations of the state and the municipal governments. The city, de- irving its charter from the state au- thorities, must look to the state as the supreme authority in all questions. The question as to how much power should lbe given to the municipal government must be answered by bearing in mind that the city should always remain sub servient to the commonwealth. The state must be held responsible for the enforcement of the laws which it en- acts, and it is the lawmaking legisla- ture that has to say whether the laws shall be enforced. This may be done by direct supervision by the state policy, l or by delegating the enforcement to the municipal police The speaker said he was inclined to believe that the best re- suits were obtained when as much of the supervision was delegated to the municipal authorities as was consistent with general state supervision of all statutory laws.
 The remainder of MT. Quincy's ad- dress was divided between the discus sion of three questions. First, how far is the mayor to be made the supreme executive authority? Personally he fla vored giving full executive power to the mayor and most students of mu- nicipal affairs would uphold him in this decision. It means concentrated re- sponsibility in one mar elected directly by the people. MT. Quincy cOntrasted this policy with the English idea of dis trioutive authority. The great advan tage of more distributed authority is
 
 and interest in municipal affairs among the citizens. Committees could keep in closer touch with the people than a mayor who had control of all depart ments There is 8 great danger in overburdening the mayor with multitu- dinous duties and cares. The mayors office can never be so opened to the re- dressing of grievances as committees of various departments. T would like to suggest one of my personal hobbies in this line" continued Mir. Quincy. AS a means of obtaining some of the ben efits of the distributive system, would advocate boards of officials serving without pay, and without compelling it's members to give up their vacations. These boards are subject in authority only to the mayor" He then outlined the success of such commissions in the Boston government, especially along public charity lines. In fire and street
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