New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-01

Of the United States thought moth
~ ing good except himself could
come out of Europe, by lingo! Then as
his cities grew he reluctantly had 10
admit that they were not like the cities
of Europe. Those who travelled discoV-
cred that there was a difference. If they
CHANGED TO land at Ponta Delgada, in the
Azores. on their way TO the Mediterranean
they went into raptures over the streets
if they were honest with themselves. One
was almost willing TO eat from the sur
face of such streets, they were so immac-
ulately clean The chief thoroughfares
of Manhattan were unkempt alleys beside
them. One wondered how this people
living in pink-and-cream colored houses
did it-and under a Portuguese govern
ment. too. 1t was spotless town. One
landed in England and found that cities
were governed honestly, and that 10 be
selected as an alderman was considered
honor
SO il was on the Continent. The streets
were speckless. The buildings seemed to
belong TO homogeneous groups. The troll
ley cars looked as if they had just come
from the manufacturers There was an
absence of overhead wires. The electric
light poles were ornamental, sometimes
being bedecked with flowers growing in
boxes fastened TO them. The public build
ings were placed in civic centres Ell
ficiency and thoughtfulness for the needs
of the inhabitants-not only the utili-
tartan. but the astheuc-were markedly
in evidence. They then discovered that
American cities were only in their teens,
great. sprawling youths that had just
grown without much thought as to the
order. shooting out first in this direction
and then in that. European cities were
adults controlled and developed under the
guiding hand of reason.
EVIDENCES OF A NEW DAY.
Despite, however. the reports Of those
who have gone into far countries, despite
the fact that James Bryce i'm his Amer
lean Commonwealth, has pointed out
that we have been least successful in our
municipal government, we need not feel
respondent. The evidences of the dawn
ing of new day are al hand. They hard
~ need 10 be pointed out, they are so pat
cnt. When the Mayor of Philadelphia
thinks it worth while for himself and a
group Of his fellow officials 10 go to Wis
consin TO take a course in subjects which
will make for better municipal govern
ment. then one may well take heart. This
means not only a desire TO serve, but a
desire to serve intelligently. One of the
causes Of the failure Of our city govern
ments has been lack of expert knowledge
among officials. We have thought that
clever political leader, or an honest or
able business man, could administer the
complex affairs of a municipality. They
have not been able to do so. 1t takes four
years to train a police commissioner in
New York City.
A particularly significant recognition Of
the need for better municipal government
is found i'm New York State. This is the
Mayors Conference. which was organized
three years ago. and which will hold its
annual meeting at Bnghamton on June ),
8 and to discuss municipal problems.
When some prehistoric man CHANGED to
rub two sticks together and fire resulted,
he satisfied a great need. Many of the
needs of man have been satisfied by ac-
cdent rather than by generalization.
That the discoveries were adopted is in
itself an indication Of the progress
given group of men has made. 1t re-
quired more than the accidental flame
from the two sticks to give the discovery
value. According To common repute
Columbus discovered the New World II
has since leaked out that the Normans
preceded him by several centuries
IN THE FUlNESS OF TIME.
No inventor is ever free from the fear
that some one has preceded him. and his
profits, If not his .glory, shall pass 10
another. 1t is the man who comes in
the fulness OF time" who finds the place