The Washington herald., 1913-02-09
erned than cities in the United ststesg'

-erned than cities in the United states?"
1 asked.
THE atmosphere in this country Is
charged with money. The atmosphere of
Europe is not Here the ablest men are
engaged in business. Having made for
tunes, they, the fever OF acquisition now
boiling through their blood, lust after
more money. There are grades among
milliOnaires, and there is competition.
just as there is among merchants, law
yers and politicians. Once a man is
very rich. he buys an electric light COM
pany or a street railroad or a manu-
featuring concern and sells a loo bond
for $50 and throws in some Of the stock.
He keeps most of the stock himself.
however, puts up prices, declares a divi-
dend and sells out. Thus worketh our
strongest and ablest citizens.
Don't Want to Water Stocks.
There Is no Wall Street in Germany.
The French bourse refuses to list the
shares of the United States Steel Cor
poration. Wealthy men in England are
willing to become mayors Of cities They
believe they owe some of their time and
talents to the public. So they take office
instead OF looking around for opportun-
tiles to water stocks.
II rode in a German railway train a
year or two ago with a party OF young
men. One OF them had been conscripted
and was on his way to join the army.
His companions had escaped compulsory
military service because Of minor physi-
cal deficiencies. No doubt 1 said TO
them, you were glad to get of?' No,
SIR they replied, 1T is duty and an
honor to serve the empire We pro-
foundly regret that We cannot go along
with our friend That's the spirit of
Germany. In this country our young
men think that public life is scarcely
honorable.
The streets of foreign cities are said
to be clean. American cities, therefore,
should be clean, declare those who criti-
else their own country. But how are
European streets kept clean? BY women.
in Vienna and Budapest. who are paid
s. 50 a week-barefooted women, in short
dresses which show their legs half way
up the knees. In Berlin, tourteen-year-
old boys, with shovels and brooms, re-
move the dirt made by animals and We
hicIes. American women would not work
in the streets. We don't want them to.
Our boys would feel degraded by the
service performed by the boys of Ber-
lin. We send our boys TO school that
they may become business men, physi-
clans, lawyers. engineers, and expert
mechanics"
lis Boston, under its new charter,
practically governed by commission?
NO; we have a City Council of nine
members elected at large, instead OF
seventy-five members, as was the case
formerly, and a school council OF hve
members. These men, with the Mayor
govern the city. / am opposed to gov
ernment by commission. Responsibility
ehn ha I'D made definite
A small city council is better than a
large one.
The Big Man of Boston.
THE Mayor of Boston has more pow
er than any mayor in the United States.
He initiates all the money appropria-
tions, sending the budget. now amounting
to $4,000, 600 a year, to the City Council.
His veto is final on everything. He ap-
points men to manage all the depart
ments, except the commissioner OF po-
lice, who is chosen by the Governor of
Massachusetts Accountability Is fixed.
II things don't go right, the people know
who is to blame. Nominations for cleo
tive offices are made by petition. Con-
ventions have been abolished. Party
lines have disappeared. Our plan is
good, and I heartily recommend 1t to
other cities.
.'The Mayor of Boston can now be re-
called" I said. Docs such a provision
in the law of city or State have any
influence on the mind or conduct of a
public official?''
Undoubtedly. When man Is subject
to the operations of the law OF recall, he
naturally thinks about 1t and takes IL
with him into his conduct There is
mental effect which can't be escaped. 1
indorse the recall. but II should be ex-
tended so as to include the Governors of
States"
You know, of course. that you are
said to be a machine politician
Yes: though have been fighting ma
chimes ever since I have been In poll
tics. Your question has brought my per-
sonality into our conversation. Let me
say. then. that have always earned my
own living. There is something excul-
pable. perhaps. In that. At all events. II