Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-05-27

tons to the executive government
and they can move resolutions on
matters of public interest. In all
these ways the legislative council ex-
ercises a great and salutary influence
on the general administration.
within the last few months the
indian government has accepted and
acted upon resolutions brought for
ward by distinguished Indian non.of-
neial members of council on questions
OF great importance, including the
matter of the abolition of the sys-
TEN Of indentured emigration from
lhdia, and the representation of In
dia at the imperial conference. These
TWO instances show how real and eff
fective is the influence of the legisla-
tive council as IN organ of public
opinion.
Much Local lf-governmcnt.
The sphere of influence which To-
cal self-government affords il still
wider. Local and municipal boards
and corporations constituted on a rep
resentative basis and exercising self
governing powers, cover, the country
in a network. While these bodies are
not free from public control, the pol
icy is TO relax it az the level of pub
lie morality and public spirit rises. as
1t undoubtedly is rising. T
In a recent resolution the govern
ment of India has expressed itself
as satisfied that the system Of
local selfgovernment has been
justified by results. They report vi
tally and growth on all sides. In
creased reliance on the official
element in local bodies is declared to
be one of the cardinal principles in
the governments policy. That this
declaration is of great importance will
be better understood when il is borne
In mind how largely the official
element in India preponderates. Take
the latest figures for municipalities
as an illustration; there are more than
700 of them in British India, repre-
senting total population within mu-
nicipal limits OF 100000 people
Out of 800 members of municipal
committees nearly 80 per cent are In
dams. In rural districts the proper
ton Of Indians on the local bodies is
even greater.
Many Natives i'm Service.
In these and other ways the people
Of Indian take a large, active and in
part In public affairs and
in the making Of the laws under
which they live. Although the gov
eminent may be called q bureaucracy,
or government by officials, II should
be remembered that the vast majority
Of the officials are Indians them
selves. Indians are found almost ex-
in the lower ranks Of the
service, while in the higher ranks the
OF Indians continues
steadily to increase It should be real
zed that the responsibilities and duty
of officers in each of these services
IRE considerable.
There have long been Indian
members Of the council of the secre-
AIRY OF state In London and on the
executive councils of the local gov
srnments in India. In the executive
council of the yiceroy himself, which
'orms the supreme government in In
liza, the important department of ed
lcation is under the charge Of dis
inguished Indian, Sir Chettqr Sanka-
AN Nair, and before his appointment
he legal membership was twice held
by Indians. The executive councils
Ire bodies that somewhat resemble
he United States cabinet, but with
he important difference that mem
,ers Of the executive council are also
members OF the corresponding legis-
atlve council. and must answer for
heir departments, and meet the criti-
,isms of the elected members in pub
lie debates"