Evening star., 1934-01-13

| Mayor La Guardia of New York
| aroused interest in his administration
| by a request for dictatorial power. in
! order that he may reform the financial
| and political conditions in the city.
Tributes are paid to his ability and pa
triotic purpose, but some observers
agree with Gov. Lehman, who has
now compromised with Mr. La Guardia
! on a new program, that 1t would be
dangerous precedent. likely to lead
! to similar action in other communities,
| il the new mayor were to exercise
dictatorial powers
"A real emergency exists in New
York" thinks the Rockford Register
! Republic and powers asked by the
mayor would undoubtedly make for
| efficiency" That paper comedies that
/ he has gathered a group of aides
who. for sheer ability. integrity and
general high caliber could hardly be
surpassed" but raises doubts with the
! statement: There is considerable
doubt that New York citizens ana
| those of other American cities are
ready to grant such sweeping powers
| to one man. There might be consid-
| erable doubt as to the qualifications
| of the average American mayor for die
! tatorship But if dictatorial powers are
| given to the mayor of New York-the
| largest and wealthiest municipality in
| the Nation-then the time may not be
far distant when similar powers will
be asked for other State or municipal
officials
with a budget estimated to be
, out of balance as much as S25 5000, 600,
SAYS the Roanoke Times, the mayor
is justified in asking for such powers
to cope with the situation The
ho1i hn
the opportunity he seeks and then he
should be held strictly accountable for
the results; that such powers should
be granted only under the most un-
usual circumstances"
He would be virtually receiver for
the CITY of New York an insolvent
corporation and in such capacity
would probably do an effective piece
of work" in the opinion of the Yakima
Daily Republic, which makes the gen.
eral commont on the conditions pre-
sented: 1T is another indication of
the admitted impotence of the people
to govern themselves. 1t is one of the
anomalies of the times that the mass
of the people are raising a great hue
and cry against the corruption OF
their government and the perf1dy OF
their officials while at the same time
they are relying more than ever upon
the government for support and vest
ing more authority in those holding
official positions"
That he would be a corporate re-
ceiver is emphasized also by the. DAN
bury News-Times, although that paper
holds that "the power he seeks is con-
siderably less than is vested in such
an official" The News-Times is con-
vinced that under such move the
city would soon be on a basis that
bore some relation to the ability Of
New York taxpayers to meet the
cost of Government" while the Lowell
Evening Leader points out that ''he
asked this extra authority chiefly
for the purpose of making economies
in the government" and thinks "the
taxpayers, who have long been raided
by the extravagant management of
affairs, would second the motion" The
Leader voices the estimate Of the
mayor: Somebody describes Mayor La
Guardia as an aggressive idealiSt. And
it will be agreed that it takes that
combination to put ideals into effect.
Too many of our idealistS are dream
erS, apt to be content with a vision.
And mixture OF energy. determina-
tion and practical common sense helps
to transform ideals into actualities,
The Lowell paper would hesitate in
acting on full dictatorship, but main
tain safeguards.
why should the mayor of New York,
misled perhaps by the Rooseveltian
precedent. or by that of Mussolini, seek
to dramatize himself as the only man
who can kaep municipal affairs noy-