Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-02
COMMISSION is PREFERRED
Change Necessary Because of Large
Foreign Element.
NEW CHARTER FOR BOSTON
System Has Given Satisfaction In
the Few Months It Has Been
in Operation.
BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
BOSTON, July 81, 1911.
The town meeting has always been con-
sidered the only proper form of popular
government in Massachusetts until re-
Gently. 1t is what Thomas Jefferson
calls "the vital principle of democracy,
the wisest invention ever devised by the
wit of man for the perfect exercise of
selfgovernment and for its preservation"
Mr.. Bryce, in his authoritative work upon
the American commonwealth, says that
considered either in its origin or its
development, the New England town
meeting merits the study of all who are
interested in the extension of tho prn-
ciples of democracy" In the town meet
ing every citizen has an opportunity to
assume his share of the responsibility and
exercise his share of the authority by
expressing his view and casting his views.
Every New England village has a town
hall. usually simple. unpretentious
structure like the meeting house near
which ii usually stands. facing the com
mon or green. In several towns
modern structures have been erected as
memorials by natives VINO have gone to
New York. Chicago or elsewhere and,
having amassed fortunes. covet the good
opinion of their former neighborS and
desire to perpetuate their memories in the
neighborhood
To the town hall twice year, and
sometimes oftener, all voters are sum-
moned. as the King OF England summons
the house of lords. to consider the COM
mon welfare. The rich and the poor,
the old and the young, the wise and the
foolish, the educated and the illiterate
are equally welcome and have the same
rights of debate and ballot The prn-
cipal of the high school and the village
drunkard-for there is at least one in
every community-stand on the same foot
ing; like the banker and the blacksmith.
and the influence each exercises is meas
ured by the estimate his neighbors have
formed of his worth. Debate is open to
everybody and all questions are decided
by d majority vote The transactions of
the selectmen are approved or condemned:
their plans for the ensuing year are in
dorsed or rejected. the tax assessment
is fixed. the budget is voted and all
other business rela ting to the community
is considered and usually disposed of
in formal way by viva-voce vote.
In olden times and to less extent to-
day the town meeting has been used as
an opportunity for the expression of pub
lice sentiment upon matters of national or
state policy. Representatives in Congress
and members Of the United States SEN
ate have frequently been instructed as to
their duties, and the wisdom or folly or
national legislation has often been ap-
proved or condemned. Samuel Adams,
using the town meeting as rapier,
fenced with the British ministry: it was
the claymore with which he smote their
councils: 1t was a harp of a thousand
strings that he swept into burst of pas
sionate defiance, or electric call to
arms. or proud paean of triumph, chal-
lenge and exultation-all lifting the con-
tinent to independence. His indomitabe
will and command of the popular con-
science played the provincial town meet
ings against the royal parliament