How A City Should Be Run

Some Maxims Given by Mayor Carter Harrison

As A Private Business

With the Mayor as Business Manager - Opposes Contract System - Some Good Thoughts on Municipal Problems.

Mayor Carter H. Harrison. of the municipality of Chicago, delivered a very interesting and instructive address to a large number of students in University Hall Friday evening. Mayor Harrison took for his theme, "Some Phases of Municipal Problems," and the manner in which he handled his intricate and somewhat comprehensive subject showed him to be thoroughly in touch with the new movement which is at present sweeping through the governments of the principal American cities.

The address began with a comparison of the city's conditions under the old regime and under the later order of things; and of the manner in which the ideas changed with time. He likened the municipality itself to a vast private business organization, with the citizens as stockholders, the taxpayers holding the preferred stock while the common stock is in the hands of the non-taxpaying citizens; the common council or board of aldermen may be the board of directors, while the mayor, comptroller and recorder perform the duties of the president, treasurer and secretary. It is the duty of the  officials to husband the means, care for and increase the resources and provide for the comfort and needs of the citizens who are the holders of the municipality's stock.

In discussing the next phase, Mr. Harrison drew up a set of six principles for the correct management of municipal affairs, principles which should be in force in municipal governments as well as in private concerns.

"1. Public property is worth to the people dollar for dollar what private property of the same character is worth to its owner.

"2. The municipality is greater than any Corporation to which it grants rights.

"3. The demands of the individual whether it be a single man or the artificial entity known as a corporation, must be subordinated to the requirements of the mass of the citizens.

"4. Public service should be directed towards providing the greatest good to the greatest number.

"5. The commandment 'Thou shalt not steal' should not be applied merely to the property of individuals.

"6. The boodllng of a franchise through a city council is no less dishonest than the burglary of a neighbor's house.

"7. The corrupter of a public official stands no higher in the sight of God, nor should he stand higher in the eyes of man, than the official who betrays the confidence reposed in him by the acceptance of a bribe.

"These statements hardly seem open to controversy; yet in some circles the person who utters them is accused of anarchistic leanings."

Board rule and "one man" rule next came up for discussion, and after enumerating the advantages of the latter as compared with the disadvantages of the former, Mr. Harrison struck at the real root of the failure of municipal government in his statement that it was caused by the indisposition of the American citizen to embroil himself in city politics. Business had more charms and returns for him than had a seat in the common council. The citizen paid no attention at all to city affairs, leaving them instead to a class of commercial politicians who found the pursuit congenial and remunerative. As to the question of how to rid the city of that pest, Mayor Harrison suggested two ways: First, by crowding him out, and second, by making his calling unproductive. The latter plan, which is by far the more expedient, could be done only by a comprehensive system of city government, by making franchises yield their value in returns to the city, and by eradicating the numerous evils which creep into tho city affairs.

Municipal corruption, to a large extent, can be traced to the contract system, and the speaker argued at length on the advantages of departments of construction, basing his conclusions upon the experience of Chicago in the past five years. He told in detail the chances for corruption and stealing in the letting of contracts, the cheating in the performance and the impossibility of securing good work, following with a detailed statement of the work performed by the city departments with day labor. As an instance, he cited a 16-foot sewer in process of construction at $2 less per foot than had been asked by the lowest bid, with labor receiving the highest price.

Mayor Harrison, in suggesting a remedy for the bad governments which are everywhere found in American cities, dwelt at length upon the necessity of keeping a firm foundation for our politics, both national and local. This could only be done, be said, by building from the township and precinct governments. As the foundation is, so is the superstructure and nothing can endure except upon a good, broad, liberal foundation.

In conclusion Mr. Harrison said to the young man going out into the world from the schools, strong in heart and buoyant with hope and ambitious aspirations, the republic sends a message. This message says: Neither professional record nor financial gain constitutes the highest good in life. The American citizenship is not a mere prerequisite. It is not a pure gain and profit. The advantages which it confers demand return. The opportunities carry their obligations. The message says even more: What your fortunes have done for you you should do for posterity. Thus you will make yourselves a vital force in your communities. You must accept the cares and obligations in your course. You must be American. The republic appeals to you and to the others who like you are in the schools and colleges. Shall the appeal be in vain?