Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-07
II-CoUNCILS

II-C
Thirty years ago David II. Lane, a lieu
tenant Of the late United states Senator
Quay, put the Bullitt law through the State
Legislature to curb the power of Jim
McManes then the local boss of Philadel-
phia. Instead of Councils vested with both
executive and legislative functions, Phila-
delphia was given a Councils possessing leg
islative powers alone, and its former eXecu-
tive functions were passed over to the Mayor.
] This shifting of a bunch of keys from the
/ right trousers pocket to the left trousers
| pocket masqueraded as a great civic reform
which may explain why Mr. Lane, highly
educated citizen, is now commonly called
"the Sage of the Organization.
A distinguished resident, honestly con-
vinced that the Bulitt law is Phiadelphas
Magma Charta--lt has been reiterated so
often as to become a local habit of thought
recently closed his argument by saying: You
cannot deny that four members from the
Union League and four citizens from other
business organizations, outnumbering two to
one the four named by the political bosses,
picked Edwin H. Filter for Mayor"
Alas! He and many other equally fine
looking, gray-hared personages in the club
windows are still living in the days of Mayor
Ftler. War to an old soldier means only
the battles he fought in-"them were the
days" We all know that Mayor F'iter
an honest, able man. but we also know that
the politicians fooled him. Much printers
ink bed in Philadelphia telling how the
Chastened Boss McManes took a delegation
to the national convention of great party
and cast its vote solid for Fiter for Presi-
dent of the United States, to the amusement
of the entire country.
And afterward occasionally came other
Mayors of the Filter type but regularly came
bosses of the McManes type, for Councils
has always been the spawning ground of
great and little political fish. The late SEN
ator Quay used Dave Martin to beat
McN1anes, and then, because Martin refused
to nominate Boies Penrose for Mayor-oh
yes, the same Mr. Penrose who wants to stay
in the United States Senate-Quay set up the
late Israel w. Durham, who in turn was
succeeded by Jim McNichol and the Wares
OF course, all this is ancient history. But
1t shows ConClusively that the Bullitt law
diminished rather than increased oppor-
tunity for better government. If a Mayor
spunked up and broke away from the boss
who made him." Councils was there to
spank him good. If by any chance the peo-
pie revolted and put their own Mayor in
office, in the case of Mr.. Blankenburg.
Councils was there to block, hinder and
his good work.
In England franchises are bestowed by
Parliament The cities have no power of !
control or regulation. This takes the chief |
source of corruption away from Councils and |
lodges it at Westminster. There are no .
franchise hunters and comparatively few !
around the town halls None have !
financial interests SufTiciant1,,
rant their active participation in local poll
tics. Franchise hunters and contractors
centre their activities at Parliament. where
at least they are under the national bell
glass, and are not sustained at the price Of
corrupting the administration of the towns
themselves.
Consequently Councils in England are
filled with men of high character imbued
with serious sense of responsibility Big
men, representing both capital and labor, are
proud to serve, and they are usually kept in
office as long as they will stay. They get
no pay for their services, direct or indirect,
The Mayor of an English city is chosen bv
the Councils. For a man TO enter Councils
II is not necessary for him to obtain per-
mission from some under political boss who
has his headquarters over a saloon. Nor is
It necessary even to be a contributor to a
fund. Any ten of his neghbors
2an put good man in nomination by sign
ng a petition.
Now let us look at home; scan with care
our own Al Select and "a Common Council
men, total Of l31 on joint vote To control
he Philadelphia Councils the bosses are
always sure Of % Select and 81 Common
or a three-ffths vote, enough 10
egally carry any measure over the Mayors
reto. This go per cent. majority in the YER
lacular Of Broad and Chestnut streets, must
1e "a lead pipe cnch'; men who have com