The Sentinel=record., 1914-06-21

that the governmntal fficincy will ap- proximate one hundred per cent.
 In order to determine what the gov ernmental efficiency of any city is, it is necessary to have thorough in- vestigation of every department by disinterested municipal experts so as
 to ascertain local conditions and dis
 cover leaks, as well as defects of
 organization. This examination will
 also show where there is any failure of proper coordination between the different departments, or between the
 different branches of any one depart
 ment, and if there is any waste
 through useless duplication of work.
 When all these fundamental condi-
 tions have been actively mapped out,
 the experts are in a position to plan
 a reorganization which shall properly
 oorrelate and harmonize the activi-
 ties of the different departments so
 as to secure the maximum efficiency
 and economy of operation. Up to
 the present time no charter has yet
 been devised with economy and eff
 cieacy of operation as it's basic prin-
 ciple. This fact is admitted by the
 New York Bureau of Municipal Re.
 search, which, of course, is in posi-
 ton to speak authoritatively on the
 subject. 'sdms Before proceeding to define any
 special plan of charter as the best,
 certain primary principles must be
 considered. Under our form of gov
 ernment in the United States there
 the nation, which legislates through
 congress for all the states, but does are in fact three spheres of govern
 mental activity, viz: First, that of not attempt legislation for any one state, for such legislation would i'm mediately be resented as an infringe. ment on the rights of that state. This fact is definitely established.
 Second. that of the state which, through its legislature, properly passes general laws affecting the state as whole. When the legislature at tempts locaI Legislation, the impro. priety of the act is usually recognized by requiring larger majorities to pass it, or by reference to special commit tees, and in some cases the legislation cannot become effective until it has obtaind local assent, while in others iC can only be considered on the ini- tiative of the representative of the dis Tt tTt O nd I~, 1f lot ter case the inherent right of local l self-government is fully recognized. In | nearly dozen states of the Union | the right of cities to frame their own | charters, within constitutional and | statutory limitations, is acknowledg l ed in the state constitutions. In course of time, no doubt, this right | of home rule, or local self govern ment, will be gradually extended to the municipalities of all the states. The soundness of the constitutional principle has been repeatedly affirm ed by the highest courts, and the logical necessity of its application is The interference of a state legislature in matters of purely |
 ocal interest is as abhorrent to our system of government as is congress sional interference in the affairs of | any one state.
 Third, that of the locality which | should, in matters purely locai, legis- | late for itself through it's council, or, in case of county. through it's 1 board of supervisors. To secure the | best legislation it is apparent that | correct information as to all condi- | tions likely to be affected thereby is | essential; that those who pass laws | should be directly interested in the | result of their act, is the best guar l antee that due care will be observed | by them, In regard to local legisla- | ton, the council. or board of super | visors, as the case may be, neces- sarily has more intimate, accurate and l extensive knowledge of local condi- | tions than any legislature can pos sibly have, while the members of such | council or board are all in a position l to be affected directly in person or | by the consequences of their | act. Hence, they are not onIy better | fitted to pass this merely local legis- | lation, but they have the strongest i motive for making their laws the best | possible. There are reasons without | for local self-government and, l none against it. It under l lies the constitution of the United | States, since it is the very object for | which the American Revolution was | fought.
 For our ideal charter, then, the | first requisite is that the constitu- | tion of the state be so amended as | to place the state in the list of home 1 rue states, in which the cities are, | within certain limitations of the con stitution and general laws, empower ed to frame and adopt their own char. ters.
 "The second requisite is that the | constitution be so amended that they | may adopt charters based on lines of business responsibility, such as those of the commission or Lockport or