South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-12
III FVTURE on CITIEs.

THE FUTURE OF CITIES.
An address by former Mayor Robert
W. SpeeT. of Denver, before the Cham
Der OF Commerce Of that city, is re-
ported in the Rocky Mountain News
end brings a message for South Bend
lie speaks upon the subject. The
City-It Importance and Future" One
thing for which ne contends is so well
in keeping with a contention that we
have long advanced. that il is here re-
peated. II is not more laws that we
need in the affairs of government as
much as il is men with the right
heart aid the freedom 10 do the right
thing, as public officials. We quote:
Unnecessary charter revisions.
red tape and restricting laws will
not make crooked official
straight. but often provide him
material for defense; while power
and discretion TO act strip an Off
cial Of all excuses and make him
responsible for good OF bad gov
eminent.
our city charters of the future
Will be drawn more and more on
q belief in official honesty. In
creased activities and responsible
ities viii be accompanied with
more power and freedom of ac-
ton. Red tape will be unpopu-
lar. Results will count for
more than the conveyance in
which the are delivered, The
legislative and administrative
work Of a city will be entirely
separated; the council Will make
laws and the administrator en-
force them, the council will raise
the revenue and the administra-
tor spend il. Each Will have well
defined duties and responsible
ties. with large power to carry
them out limited by publicity Of
acts and expenditures. with a re-
call in the hands of the people.
In many respects this prophecy has
already come true IL South Bend. We
are ahead of most oil the cities of the
of many commission
cities.-sO far as regards our form of
city government, but there is still
room for Improvement. One of these
improvements is suggested as follows:
An industrial department OF a
city TO encourage Industry and
y
time become more important than
a department of charity. \ work
line IS better asset TO any city
than a bread line and out Of
order that cannot change a bread
line into a work line The truest
charity that can be given to any
persons is an opportunity to help
themselves. Cities can no longer
dodge their responsibility in this
matter by a failure 10 recognize it.
OF course we have our Chamber of
Commerce, same as has Denver. and,
practically every other city OF any
size. These are supposed to consti-
tute a sort of Industrial department of
the city. but in private hands they
are given SO much 10 advancing the
particular interests of the Chamber
members that they occasionally do
things inimical 10 the welfare of the
city as a whole. An industrial depart
ment to the city government would
at least have the merit of presumably
having the. welfare of the whole city
20 look out for There is no reason
why it should not be just as desirable
an attachment to city government, as
the department of commerce and labor
with its bureau of corporations. etc, is
10 the national government.
Hard times occasionally visits every
city. The bad effects can be lessened
by municipal authorities if given the
authority BY listing the things that
require labor and would have 10 be
done within the next few years, and
then forthwith doing them with her
idle people, a world of good could be
accomplished. Bad industrial condi-
lions are the greatest known breeders
IF crime. and self-interest if nothing
else. would seem 20 urge that a city
spend at least as much money TO pre-
ent crime as il does 20 punish IT.
A properly conducted industrial de-
partment. very ike unto properly
Chamber Of Commerce.
might go a long way toward warding
of a city havins an army of unem-
ploycd-barring such inhuxes as re
Gently came here from Chicago at the
fnstigation Of the windy citys chart
ties,-but in cases Of emergency, its
service could also be OF great value.
The present administration did do
q little work in one OF the parks a
year ago filling up a big hole that
might have been left untitled for a
Counle ~ years. Just 20 give employ
ment TO labor. Possibly it has some
similar program in mind now, but
whether il has OF not the suggestion
of the former Denver mayor Is timely.
ORGANIZING THE ASSEMBLY.