The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-04-25

beeu called q "false-alarm statesman,
but he receives a great many people
He is doubtless at his best when
gueakng in opposition to the aboli-
ton of any office. He regards such a
move as one toward curbing the lib
critics of the people. His admiring
constituents and his admiring con
, tractors are prepared to applaud his
| utterances In some states cities have
| been known to have two branches of
legislative body, an upper and a
lower house. Yet their authority is so
limited that they can neither add to
nor subtract from the penalty of any
offense against the laws. They can
order sewers and sidewalks and des-
lgnate what months within which
dogs shall be muzzled They can also
prohibit chickens from running at
large. The legislatures of states make
the important laws, and practically ev-
cry function discharged by city
council is executive rather than legis-
latiye The claims are allowed by
committee on claims. The report of
the same are radically opposed to re-
during the number of members of the
council, and they are especially OPP
posed to the abolition of ward lines.
1T happens in many cities that men
who represent wards practically rep.
resent contractors. Having members
OF a city government from subdivis
ions OF any nature is a mistake. Men
are elected from wards who never
could be elected from the city at large
Bad men are elected from bad wards
and good men are elected from good
wards. But the good men oftentimes
receive as much criticism and as
much blame for bad city govern
ment as do those who are really re.
sponsible Thus good men are deter.
red from becoming members of the
city council because the general cit
izenship has been in the habit of
all city councils as being
neglected., if not actually
corrupt People have been deferred
rom undertaking to reform city gov
'rnments because they regard the
ask as too large ever to be success
ully performed.
The principal error in municipal
government of the old style has been
n connecting politics with it, The
Iverage American connects politics
With every form of government. But
his has been especially true with
government In many cities
andidates for the municipal offices
re nominated by political parties,
which ought never to be the case.
I ought not to matter what "a man be
ieves in regard to tariff or reciproc.
ty. He may be as badly mistaken as
he most radical insurgent, yet he
night make a good member of a city
government. Clays and Websters are
ewer contracts on putting down pave
nent. Municipal governments need
men who know how to transact bust
ness in businesslike way Municipal
governments do not need theorists
lor dreamers. Men are wanted who
Snow when contractors are properly
lOlHS lnelT Wuk
In the old form of municipal GOV
where the responsibilities
are so divided, it is Impossible to
lind out who is to blame When any.
tnpg goes wrong. To have good |
those who do right !
should be praised and those who do
wrong should be criticized. But the
public has formed the habit of crlti.
cising everybody and praising no,
body. The public formed this plan be-
cause there has been vastly more for
the critic than for the eulogist.
The public is scarcely informed as
to the neyerending division of au.
thOritV unlpT tha old nIan 80 ,it,,