Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1908-11-17
MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS.

MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS.
The subject of governing the cities
OF the country, large and small, is
one which will continue to be a live
issues in all them perhaps until the
arrival of the millerium. We take
the following from the Washington
Post:
Among the most perplexing If not
altogether discouraging problems
which confront a civilization growing
daily more complex in its organization
and consequently more difficult to run
without jar and friction. is the govern
ment of cities So universal have
gross Encouragement incapacity, ex-
travagance, and corruption become in
all our leading municipalities that it
has almost ceased TO be a subject of
remark. When such conditions were
first exposed, under the Tammany
regime in New York, the country rang
with it. and such 4 manifestation Of
rottenness was supposed to stand by
itself, due to an exceptional state of
things in New York Probably at that
TINA M e,,oh- a. Gran, IN ctapoo axieta5
elsewhere, and it may be that New
York was the source of the Infection,
but. however that is, it is certain
that it has spread over the land, till
every urban community is more or
less affected, and the prevailing con-
ditions have become source of anx-
iety and foreboding 10 every believer
in democratic government.
It is easy enough to see now that
universal Suffrage should no more
have been granted to cities in munich
pal matters than to the negroes in the
south A city in all that concerns its
internal affairs is great corporation,
and as in other corporations only
stockholders, that is, taxpayers. should
have the right to vote. Almost the
etire duty of boards of councilmen
and aldermen consists in voting or
withholding appropriations, and it is
manifest that a man who has no bur
den of taxation to bear because he
has no property to be taxed, ought not
to be permitted to say how much shall
be laid on those who have property,
and for what it snail be spent. AS
a matter of fact, men not equitably
qualified to vote are a majority in
cities. and determine what improve
ments they shall undertake and what
charities they shall support, and Hx the
aznount Of their expenditure.
In erdeavurins TO ezfrioate them
selves from the dilemma thus created,
different cities are resorting to differ
eat expedients. In Washington. as is
well known. the right of suffrage has
been wholly abolished, and there Is a
strong demand thai 1t shall be re-
stored to the actual taxpayers. The
commission plan has not proved a
success in washington. and change
in the way of concentration Of au-
thority and responsibility is certain to
be pade.
The latest city to try what Is prae-
dcalIy the commission plan is Des
Moines, Iowa, which under its new
charter Is to be governed by mayor
and four aldermen. each OF whom is
at the head Of department. with fall
administrative and executive power.
They make all appointments by a
majority vote, and remove from Of
fee II the same way. The franchises
they may grant before becoming OBJ
erative must be approved by popular
vstc. Ordinances passed are subject
II referendum, on a demand Of rs
per cent Of the voters. The same
number may also Ietition for an or
diuance. and # must be submitted to
s vote. Wards are abolished, politi-