Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-04-19
FOR CIVIC BETrERMENr.

San Francisco has a committee look
ing after the municipal affairs for the
purpose OF making recommendations
TO the Mayor and council II was ap-
pointed by the Mayor himself. The
recent experience OF that city with
grafters and municipal corruption
made the appointment Of such a
committee very desirable. The report
Of this committee contains a history or
the operations Of the Schmitz- Ruef
ring and the prosecutions that fol-
lowed. II also has a number Of re-
commentators for better govern
ment The chief Of thcsei are:
"Non-partisan municipal elections.
the ballot. when printed, 10 show
nothing more than the name and Of
flee Of the candidate"
"a judicial tribunal for the deter
mlnation of charges for public utili-
ties.
Amendment Of the laws for the
further punishment Of bribery. provid-
Ing for the punishment OF corpora
tons In their corporate capacity
Very heavy fines TO be imposed and
forfeiture Of acquired franchises to
DC part Of the punishment.
Cancellation of franchise procured
10y fraud Of the crime or the owners
or their predecessors in interest. pro-
ccedings 10 be Initiated by the mayor
or the district attorney acting IN the
name of the municipality.
Amendment Of the law Of evidence
IN criminal cases so that "a corpora
tion accused Of a crime cannot de-
mand Immunity from producing or
giving evidence against itself
Laws 10 be enacted making Il
crime for any newspaper 20 publish
as news any items for4 which COM
pensation Is directly or Indirectly paid,
unless the fact Of such compensatory
agreement be indicated by some
plainly distinguished mark
"a radical revision OF the public
school system 10 include a well de-
fined course In ethics and politics"
The committee takes the ground
that our educational system IL de-
fective and that 10 it should be added
thorough instruction in the duties Of
citizenship. The report says:
1T II our belief that no child should
be permitted to leave the grammar
school until he has had throughly IN
stilled into him a strong sense or his
obligation 10 the state 10 set aside all
prejudice Of private interest and act
as Juryman IN any case in which no
may be summoned He should be
taught that this obligation Is sacred
that it, performance Is the highest
kind OF public service. outranking the
mere physical courage and devotion Of
soldier. Every child should be taught
that IN All probability he will, for a
very large period OF his life. be an
agent for some corporation. He should
be taught the elemental facts concern
ing the workings Of the corporate or
g0nization and particularly the place
of the immediate responsibility for
any wrongloing with IN edirectors wo
elect tho manager, and the ultimate
responsibility ~ tho stockholders who.
In turn, elect the directors"
These are all good suggestions and
other communities IN addition TO San
Francisco. should benefit by them As
to the education Of tho child. however.
IL should be added that no training that
leaves the religious element out of
consideration win be effective. Man
Is not only a social being, he Is rell-
gious, too. For his development and
education he stands In need OF and
depends upon communion WITH the
Ruler of the world az well as associa-
ton with his fellow beings He has
duties To perform toward God as well
AS the community And any education
or training, that ignores an essential
part Of man and his spiritual needs
must be a failure This is seen IN the
many criminals who are educated"
but dead as TO moral ideals. and
seemingly without conscience. II Is
seen also IN the clouds of falsehood !
and dishonesty that are casting their |
deep shadows over human institutions |
i'm our day They prove the lack OF |
religious training, religious education. |
For q IS true that only a. man is |
correct IN his relations 20 his Maker |
can he boz what he ought to he as a |
unit in a community OF fellow-men. |
There can Doe mo- brotherhood ~ man !
except as based upon recognition OF |
the fathcrhood OF God. Every effort |
at education that fails 90 recognize |
this fundamental truth must necessari-
Dc frHva HafaHfIyp