Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-21
WAR SECRETARY FAVORs
MORE Capitalization
Tells Civic Association Municipal
Government in America Needs
Tightening Up.
CITIES MUST FACE CHALLENGE
Can Accomplish Nothing, Says Bak-
cr, by Grumbling at inefficient Of
ficcrs and NeGlcctinS Elections.
Entertained by University Club.

Offering no specific cure for any civil
evil, but suggesting as the immediate
need Of all American cities a centrali-
zation of municipal government. n
wntchful supervision OF public eNpendi-
lures and liveii.r effort for social
welfare. Newton u. Baker. Secretary of
War, addressed the civic Association
Of Richmond in the Jonn Marshall
hiigh school lest night. ana said at the
end Of his talk tina, If he had inspired
one young man with desire to live
and work for his city, he would feel
repaid for the journey To Richmond
The address was not in the form Of
lecture municipal governments.
bu; a quiet. confidential chat In which
the speaker disarned possible adverse
criticism by suggesting general RENE
dies for the more common evils There
was prolonged applause when the
young looking Cabinet member walk ed
TO the front Of the rostrum. and for
several moments Mr.. Baker was all
lowed only To smile There was
vocifcr"us applause again when he
took his scat. and he was forced TO
meinberS OF the association and women
=
press their appreciation OF his talk.
DECLINES TO DISCUSS
MILITARY CONSUMPTION
Mr.. Baker was entertained in the
evening at the Jefferson Hotel and
last night smoker was given in his
honor at the University Club. Asked
after the meeting TO express his view.
ns to military conscr!ption or other
form Of national defense. Mr.. Baker
courteously declined to he interviewed
saving that suggestions from army Off
GERS were to he made only before the
proper congressional committees
Mr.. Baker was introduced by John
{. Easley. president of the associations
after John Stewart Bryan had ex-
planned the objects OF the organiza
tion.
Mr.. Baker said that city dwellers
miss the corrective discipline of neigh
horhood opinion based on Knowledge
and stated that some substitute must
be found for those things which were
withdrawn when people moved from
the countr" 10 the city. Occupational
diseases. the strain which sends men
ana women TO asylums. jails and re-
formatories. and the eXactions of city
life, he said, show that there is need
for relief
The secretary would not weld to the
temptation TO discuss the struggle In
Europe, hut he had found, he said that
all Europe was obSeSscd with the idea
OF working for the common welfare
America, he said, has had a hard time
with ITS cities. He quoted f,rn:tr AM
hasSador Bryce as having said that It
Is too soon TO say whether the Ameri-
can experiment with democratic gov
ernment will succeed, because Ameri-
cans have not yet learned how to gov
ern their cities.
NO PATENT PROCESS
FOR CITY GOVERNMENT
Mr.. Baker said that there Is no
patent process by which certain forms
of government may he nodded for
varying needs. but there are underIy-
ing principles which are necessary i'm
all forms. Any city. he said, must no
so governed that the people can put
their finger on an individual and hold
him responsible. Americans get more
for their city taxes than any other peo-
ple but, he argued, they should get
even more. Greater effort. he suE-
gested, should be devoted to the social
welfare, for the function OF the city
is becoming vastly more extended and
more complex. The government should
be more centralized: there should be
a closer expenditure of the public
funds: the answer to incniciency in
office holders should not be in the en-
actment OF paralyzinE laws, but to re-
place them with more competent men.
No city. he said can accomplish any
thing by ncElccting elections and then
grumhliag a Inefficient officers.
There is a challenge at this hour
to those who live In America" he said
I'VE must device effective and efficient
City CnNernm ent. q must atinnl 10