The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-08
BOSToN IN A. SERIOUS LIGHT.

the Olty Oh bOoJOn 10 unuer tnVonL hBhtlOn W
a special commission and some progress 10
being made in codlfying organic laws with
a view TO charter revision. Administrative
reorganization will doubtless proceed In
some respects. as IL might In any city with
an unduly large debt. by providing for the
annual creation Of less bonds are re-
tired; but Boston has special perplexities
not often met elsewhere. A policy Of nom
annexation has kept independent a large
number OF communities virtually suburbs.
Metropolitan districts Of various limits for
the several public departments are served
by State commissions under direct control
Of the Legislature. while the city Of Boston
proper retains autonomy over similar SER
vices. Thus a continuous population OF
about 100000. radiating ten miles or more
from it's centre. has a complex government
based on no scientific principle, and admin
istered both wastefully and. in assessments,
inequitsbly.
For certain purposes appropriations and
bond issues are authorized, and admins
trative officers appointed and confirmed,
by a Governor. Council and Legislature
representing the whole State. Communi-
ties therefore which pay no part Of the
taxes and claim no direct interest In the
improvements or services have the same
vote on metropolitan bills as on general
State measures. II would perhaps not be
strictly fair to remark that representation
without taxation is tyranny" but IL Is
certain hat the expenditure OF money and
the creation of debt under this system has
given city officials in Boston proper the op-
portunity to defend their part In bringing
about the city's lnancia condition by
asserting that a large part Of the debt was
incurred by the Legislature and that they
had nothing to say about II. Greater
Boston" is not self-governing.
No one official body being held responsible
for the formulation and execution Of a
financial policy, authorization Of OUTLAWS
and bond issues has been given by a COM
mittee Of the Legislature substantially a.
requested by any metropolitan board.
Millions have been included in budgets Qf
n bill so drawn can be dignified by the
name of budget upon a few minutes talk
by a chairman of a commission, ALMOST
without delay, debate, investigation or
, corroborative testimony. Practice so lax
might grow up under any form Of govern
ment, but il is commonly believed that the
Massachusetts, system tends to encourage
extravaganza by imposing on those who
spend the money no responsibility to the
people who pay the taxes.
BY the division OF departments, Boston
prope having its own, the outer zone its
own, and in some cases ihs cities and towns
OF the district theirs, efficiency and economy
are sacrificed. The metropolitan park de-
partment, for example, maintains as re-
quired by civil service rules a permanent
f,rAA No. oApNIA IL .uh.nI an, - las1 ~
except for cause after a hearing. So does
the park department of the city of Boston.
This payroll must be held at a figure not too
far above the minimum demand, so as to
avoid paying idle men, and when work ia
heavier extra employees must be taken on,
which is costly, green men out of a job not
doing as much for what they get as regu-
lars. If the two park departments we're
~emalgamated a larger aggregate payroll
could be maintained. since by distributin z
the squads 10 any part Of either area the
work might happen to require, the pro-
portion of extra" labor could be reduced.
One commission with one set OF salaries
would represent a further economy.
Separate health departments in the COM
munities of the district. too, are medi@val.
or what avail Is it for Boston ia establish
a hospital for consumptives, with clinics
| and patrols, If Cambridge. Maiden and Som
erville. whose citizens mingle freely with
Boston's, neglect precautions? Fire ap-
paratus also would be much more effec-
lively and economically managed for the
whole metropolis than pieoemeal. The
! Boston police ave for years been under a
State appointed commission. but the SUI
burban municipalities still have their own
police.
Boston. with 900. oOO people. is taxed TO
maintain water, sanitary. police. fire. paw
ing and Lighting for a downtown district
! used by 300. 900 people. A resident OF one
of the Charlestown wards OF Boston, whose
business is in State street. is taxed on his
dwelling. and the local Charlestown stores
and banks which he supports are taxed to
maintain Charlestown improvements and
also to maintain downtown Boston i'm
provements. His partner. who lives in
Somerville. is taxed 70 keep up local Somer-
vile services but not to provide protection
downtown in Boston. Thus the burden Of
taxation on real estate. whether for dwell
ings or for industry and business in Boston,
is disproportionately heavy.
Many Of the most influential business men,
whose property in the commercial district
is assessed for a great part of the city's
levy, live in suburbs, and the city is de-
prived OF their participation in It's govern
ment.
There is local prejudice in the cities and
towns against giving up their autonomy,
and this might break out violently in
Boston IL an attempt were made to metro
politanize any Boston department now
controlled in School street. Is real fiscal
reform, however. possible without some
step in that direction1 The members OF the
Legislature from the metropolitan district
might by virtue Of election to that body
sit as metropolitan commissioner, Just as
the Boston Aldermen sit as Suffolk county
commissioners. and exercise the money
power.
II the water. park and sew or commits
sions could be confirmable by and subject
to such a metropolitan commission Of legis-
lators and their jurisdiction extended to
Boston proper. this would be a step toward
genuine nome rule, and the only serious
objection likely TO be raised would be that
of the Boston Democrats, who enjoy owing
to their preponderance a practical monop-
ly OF that ~burrowing for sewers which il
80 far underground as TO bafie ordinary
inquisitiveness. II the plan worked well
the police might be added as a concession
by the outer zone to Boston's self-denisl in