The independent-reporter., 1910-03-17
LOCAL PATRIOTISM.
lContInued from Page Ono. J


Coming back to the United States.
Prof. Sprague said that the two
chamber city government is a grave
error that trickled down from the
National Government This form of
government Is the most expensive
and inefficient in the civilized world
Ten dollars expended in New York
will not do the work that one dollar
will in Paris or Glasgow. The old
New England Town Government is
the most democratic and efficient
'orm of municipal government nov
in use. unless some of the newly
tried experiments, such as the com
missions of Galveston, Tex, Des
Moines, Ia. and Newport. r. l.. are
better. Boston has also undertaken
u modified form OF these govern
ments.
In Galveston. after the great tidal
wave. it was necessary to expend
millions in building a great sea wall
to erase the danger of another such
inundation The people felt that the
Grm OF government that they had
Vas too leaky to be entrusted with
the great undertaking and many mil
lions of dollars. Consequently they
tlt1ltu i've commissioners 1IltO
whose hands was put all power; and
to all appearances, in spite of some
complaints from disgrunted party
bosses of days of corrupt power, it
has proved a fine success. Des Moin-
es has recently adopted somewhat
similar form of government. and
though the salary list of the five
commissioners amounted to $4,000 a
year, the commission saved the city
100000 the first year and has been
saving more ever since. In Newport
large body of 1876 is elected and
these men elect a commission of five
with mayor to govern the city. These
forms of government are protected
by the Initiative and Referendum. In
Des Moines they have a Recall
The speaker said that the tendency
all over the country is to return to
simpler forms Of municipal govern
ment, and to get away from the spoils
system. He urged upon his listeners a
campaign of Simplicity, Democracy
Local Patriotism, and Town Improve
ment Americans have no peers in
national patriotism; no race will so
quickly take up their weapons and
fight to the death on CORY battle
fields; but when a successful busi-
ness man is asked to hold a local
otfice-where is his patriotism He
is toe busy.
start some great organization for
town improvement" he implored. No
government. is good without the right
men in office the right spirit behind
them; any government, no matter
what the form, is safe and efficient
If the right men hold the reins Glas-
gov is the best governed city in the
world. because its officers are patri-
otic and its people stand behind
them He urged that an organiza-
ton be formed to make recommen-
dations to the municipal government
and to make plans to see to it that
in 1920, the one hundredth birthday
of Maine Statehood, Skowhegan shall
be, as it might well be, the most
beautiful municipality in the Pine
Tree State"
He told how property in other
places has been improved and has
Immediately increased in price. He
recommended that plans be made to
PUT Skowhegan in the forefront of
democracy and good government to
plant evergreen trees and hardy
shrubs to make the town more beau
tiful in winter, to become leader in
making the best of wonderful ma
tural beauties.