The Boise citizen., 1910-07-29
Public Auction

The Lawrence municipal which has resulted IN the con-
vcions of the Mayor member of former board OF au
several general interest chiefly as It beays Weakess
the ordinary system political which greater OF @
gree especially in municipal AFFAIRS as aosl -
gained recognition inherent and normal accopannets -
system says the Boston Herald In the Lawrence case ue ~
chief engineer of the fire department to nave had m
value recognized according to the evidence both on te @
appontve power and the side Of parties interested
in securing position although the successful asprat or te
place yet been individually connected by evidence win
any of the corrupt efforts This value which appears 70 nave
fixed by processes competitive bidding out OF all Popoo
the salary of the office But instead OF pointing the ge OF COLI
ldenaon and eson at Lawrence other communities would de
we'll to regard this incident conditions that have been
rejecting standard of valuation OF public Office which IS
not local. but rather general and which more than any other one
fact representative of the evil of politics in the United States
Why should the office of chief engineer OF the h department OF
Lawrence be worth $1,000 to any one And also why
should the office of Congressman from district in Pennsylvania be
worth $4,000 or more to any one! or why should seat III tue
United like Wisconsin be worth upwards
Of $1oo000 Is public office public with responsibilities
which demand sacrifice of man who accepts It and uh MS
OATH private SNAP for which prohtaby can spend
several times the salary which they expect receive for their service
The city OF Magdebug adverses far and wide tor man to serve
Mayor and will determine choice the basis OF the merit OF
the respective applicants The Mayoraly Of American city
hung up prize for political for the wagng of which men
spend far in of possible salary The average
European city seeks experts for its department executives Here
there an American city has placed municipal administration
such basis of efficiency but general its administrative berth
subjects of trade and der always Of cash.
the Lawrence case but. in equally tangible values.
Practical politics chiefly that which produces commercial
profit The practical politician seeks office other preferment for
what he out Of it by direct indirectly through the
pahzaon OF MS pull lhere are privileges within the git OF
legislators executives for which willing pay There
contracts and purchases of supplies from which akeo
e garneed There perquties which, if nduged fla
rany will be winked at by the people Public office only
soft job but pays we'll And the people, nomnay clarnong
honesty and for the abolition of all graft politics actually ap
the system by asserting to and participating expensive
agns which inevitably commecaze the standard of vae of public
fce
The Lawrence scandal but single exescence that
running through the political system e United States Public
ce is for sale Naturally the man who invests in expects TO
ct his return who pays public official for his influence
getting office bribe and if convicted to Jail But
has partner the degradation of the public the man
Tho for his election though manages bring record
his payments within the letter of the law 1t that the
dding for positions in the public service be stopped