New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-07
FUNCTIONS OF CITIES.
Mr.. Bryce Speaks Before Chicago
Commercial Club.

chicago. April 6-James Bryce. British AM
hopsador 70 the United States after spending
husv day in Chicago attending luncheons and
is,ting a score OF large commercial and indus
.visl establishments, tonight was the guest OF
honor az a dinner given by the Commercial Club
At the Auditorium Hotel There were 175
prominent business and professional men about
the board. Red. white ana blue in the form OF
81. Andrews cross decorated one end OF the Hall.
che red. white and blue OF the Stars ana Stripes
the other
Ambassador Bryce was the only speaker dur
snE the evening. His topic was The Modern
city in Relation to the State" He said:
What are the functions Of proper city govern
rent and what kind Of work ought It TO undertake
Cor the benefit OF the community?
Municipal work seems 20 fall into three classes:
snsigpenSsbe Because the Individual citizen living
81 a very large community cannot 40 them Tor
fsnisation which covers the whole city. One OF
10 say. the police Among other functions are
snbIie bealth and making OF sanitary regulations.
and general building regulations and protection
second class OF municipal functions covers those
which might possibly ba left TO individuals or 70
sarge corporations-What call IN England pub
4bs PROVISIONS OF light whether OF gas or cleo
fricify: street railways, the telephone and the pro
he care OF the poor and public education
third class Of municipal actiVlties covers mat
tiers which may or may not be given 70 punhc
local authority. and which. in Britain are IN
seW places only undertaken by such authorities
One OF these IS the provision OF public lodging
houses OF public baths and wash houses. ana OF
SSVeines for the la5oring classes. What has been
fone "a this direction is still in the stage OF expert
Tnent and opinion Is not yet liked as 10 the oes1E
Much depends on whether the particular work 20
ne done Is in the nature OF a monopoly FOR m
*o1ce the supply OF water Is almost OF necessity
a monopoly. You cannot have a number OF water
companies undertaking 10 supply eaHn elLIen ~
sFsr own pipes. Still less can you nave rlgaA sifeet
--9IiVay companies laying down their rams IN the
same streets, because there would NOT DC room
ftV or handed over 10 one corporation which Wo1!a
heeome q monopolist at least Tor one paftlcuAarr
TsTf OF the city. And the same thing IS true OF
fghfing Now, where there is monopoly; ~ ls
.f-onsiv urged in England that the Fronts when
.sonoDolv NAV earn and the increased value wnlch
she growth OF city gives 70 sucn q monopoly 80
fhat Of street transportation ought 70 OelONs 10
ne financial results Of some branches OF
.-T1icnal work much disputed, ana 70 present
general conclusions on Lhe s165ee' oe De nav bs
.nid II is a pre-condiuon 10 the etnI,nS 70 a
--,,rlnel authority OF any control over public work
rnd public utilities what are not -
.-Sl-ef in the varying existence OF that nunlelpal
sori+[I that the authority itself should be honest
and capable-that IS 70 say that the aon1lnS
should be upright men ana intenssnL Llel: 70 ~ ~
sieTlsT civ II viii depend mainly on the puonc
nj-iS ~ the citizens-and the sense OF civic duty
s.sshieb enimates them. II there is lively sense
sss,ss,,ei citizen for the good government OF the
,o-1TITltv Ia ne gives honest vote oaeeo on nls
sSSrnent 81 the character OF the canoldatess ~ ne
~. S.Sslf ana ealls them 70 strict account for any
,-S.Soinge II viii obviously be sate 70 lrust %
-. 11,icipalitv -un-tions which otherwise II might
b desirable 70 withhold