The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-19
DIES MONIES PLAN 0. X.
Former Mayor of Nashville Gives 1t
His Endorsements. ----

Norfolk. Va. sept 1e.-Today's
session of the eleventh annual con-
ventiOn OF the American League of
municipalities was devoted almost ex-
Clusivsly TO the discussion Of Munich
pal Government by Commission YER
sus Mayor and Council" An address
was made by Rear Admiral Chadwick,
L :. Y. who took a decided stand
against municipal government by
commission.
James NJ Head of Boston, formerly
mayor Of Nashville, Tenn. heartily
approved of the new Des Moines COM
mission charter for commission gov
eminent
Taxing for his subject Municipal
Government by Board or Commission
vs. Mayor and City Council" Mr..
Head said in part
We may as well enter into this
discussion with the distinct under
standing that there is and can be no
such thing as q perfect form OF city
government. so long as it has to be
administered by imperfect men.
NO matter what the form of city
government may be- its efficiency will
be determined very largely by those
entrusted with its administration. All
that any Of US can hope to do is to ap-
proxiuate the ideal as near as pos
sible with the material we have TO
deal with
The highest ideal ever yet expressed
Of any form of government is that it
should be 'goveFT ment OF the people.
by the people and for the people, and
as we approximate that standard we
approach nearest to our ideals of a
perfect form of government, whether it
be fer the city. the state. or the ma
ton
outside Of New England. all our city
governments have partaken more or
less of the English ideas Of government
consisting Of 4 legislative. executive
and judicial department. with the leg
Sc lat n a-rr 71d FrN1
branches corresponding to the English
house OF lords and commons.
The absurdity Of attempting to ap-
ply these ideas of government to our
cities seems never to have occurred TO
our sturdy ancestors. though I venture
the prediction there IS not a city off,
ciaI present here today where such a
system stfll prevails, who does not ap-
not abolish 1t if he could In many
cities. however. the two branches OF the
city council have been abolished
Another glazing absurdity under
which our city governments have labor
ed is the idea that our cities are mere
branches or arms OF the state govern
ment and have. and can exercise no
powers except as the state legislature
may from time 10 time permit This
idea entirely ignores the cardinal doc
trine upon which all our governments
are oased-the doctrine OF local self
government-and places our city gov
ernments practically under the control
OF men who do not reside in the cities.
and who know absolutely nothing of
their local needs and requirements
These are radical defects in the present
organisation Of our city governments
which should be corrected as soon as
posi- BILE
The real cause. however. which has
made our city governments such signal
failures has arisen within the past ffty
years, long after our present form OF
- liz
refer, OF course. to the duty which has
devolved upon our city governments of
granting franchises 10 public service
corporations. There is not an instance
where city government has finally
broken down. where city officials have
betra we'd their trust, where this rotten
ness. incompetency and inenfcieacy in
the administration Of city affairs car
not be traced directly OF Indirectly to
the pernic1ous influence of the public
ssrvtce corporation. I know this Is a