The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-15
Says Cities Should Use
Common Sense in
Picking Officers.
QUALITY is POINT
TO CONSIDER NOW
Important Papers Presented a,
Municipal League Convention
by xperts-Commission
Plan Discussed at Round
Table Talk-Foulke
Again President.

civil service reform means simply
the application OF morality and com
mon sense to the choice OF public ser
wants" declared Charles J. Bonaparte.
former Attorney General of the United
states yesterday afternoon, speaking
on the subject. municipal civil SER
vice Reform" ana summing up in one
pertinent sentence his exposition OF
the merit system as applied to the Sc
lection of municipal officers 1t was
the central thought in what was easily
the most brilliant and opportune ad-
dress on the opening day OF the sew
enteenth annual convention OF the Ma
ttonal Municipal League.
"A public Office belongs to the pco-
pie said tho ex-Attorncy-General "its
duties are fixed By the peoples laws:
Its salaries are paid by the people,
money. 1t follows logically that if il
PRESIDENT. or Governor. or Mayor uses
the patronage which he holds In trust
for the Union or his State. or his city,
TO strengthen himself in his faction. or
MS faction in his party, or his party at
the polls. his conduct is indistinguish-
able in morals from guardians who
should use his ward's money In hi,
own business or in the business OF
some firm or corporation OF which he
Is member
Quality of Administration.
The particular form of government.
while important. Is by no means the
vital thing In the municipal scheme. In
The opinion of Mr.. Bonapurte. Tho ea-
tent to which city is governed IL no
Indication OF how well 1t is governed.
The quality OF the city administration
is the point to be considered.
Its field OF action" he said. may
II IL acts thoroughly, promptly. cheap
~ and wisely, it gives the commun-
ity IT serves good government, and II
its action be weak. tardy. overcostly
or foolish. II does not
"A government, like every other
contrivancc OF man or production of
nature. must be judged by It's fruits;
however we may talk about II. the
worth OF American democracy will be
gagged. in the irreversibie Judgment
OF history, by true answer TO one
question, namely. To what manner of
men does 1t intrust political power?
The ono essential thing to good gov
ernment is good men to govern. The
ono thing without which good govern
mcnt OF any kind or degree Is iinpos-
sblc, and which. under reasonable linz
itatlons. takes the place and supplies
the want of all others. Is good men,
Need Good Men at Helm.
Pressing the point that good men at
the helm Of authority Is the sine qua
non OF good government, the speaker
then addressed himself to the problem
OF inducing good men to enter public
life, and this lie proposed to do by a
cleansing OF politics with thorough
going. practical application OF the
principles of civil service reform In
municipal government. There is some
thing more to civil service reform, he
warned his hearers. than the popular
conception that II Is merely a system re-
curing the selection OF all public Qfl-
GERS by competitive examination and
insuring their retention In Office dur
ing good behavior Civil service re-
form needs n broader statement.
1T means" said Mr.. Bonaparte. that
every public Office exists for the sole
benefit of the people, and cannot be
maintained. consistently with the fun
damental theory of our government
in any measure. or under any circum-
stances, for the benefit OF the individ-
ual holding such offices for the time
beiIg, or of any other individual or
organization. and, therefore. every of
flee ought to be filled with sole re-
gard to the fitness of the incumbent
20 SO discharge its duties as to fulfil
those ends which the people sought
"nen they created IL and seek WHen
they pay for its maintenance"
To set thief to catch n thief may
sometimes be good policy, but it falls
when it is a question of electing a
chief of police or mayor I'm the rat
ing of these would be public servants"
said the speaker, "a very large per-
centage should be given for the appli-
cant's record in making himself OBJ
noxious to evildoers and protecting
1he peoples interest while holding
other positions of public trust"
Busy Day for Convention.
Eight formal addresses and numer-
Gus short talks and discussions con-
tributed to make the opening day OF
the convention an extremely busy one
The morning session, which began at
o'clock. was devoted largely to the
reading of reports from the executive
committee, from the treasurer and
from the nominating committee, and
to the annual election of officers. In
addition to these reports one was
heard also from the committee on
amendments to the constitution and
bylaws,
Following the four addresses of the
morning, the convention adjourned for
a round table luncheon at / p. NJ, pre-
sided over by DR.. A. B. Hart, of Har-
yard University, Commission plans of
city government formed the topic for
discussion, which was opened by Ad-
miral l.. Z. Chadwick. OF Newport, r.
J.. vigorous opponent OF commission
government as 1t !s popularity ex-
pounded, and an advocate OF the So
called Newport plan. Speeches at the
n ~ ICOntinued an T!J,h ~ Do e-a : 1900