CITY INCREASE WAS NOT ANTICIPATED
CONSTITUTION FRAMERS DID NOT FORSEE CONDITIONS
Editors Lawyers and Clergy Re sponsible For City Government Universal Suffrage in Future
In his fourth lecture delivered this afternoon Dr. Charles Zueblin traced the course of municipal progress from the framing of the constitution to the present time. He said in brief:
The hope of American politics lies in the evolution of municipal government. The rapid increase of urban population was not anticipated by the framers of the American constitution. There has consequently been a constant experimentation in charter making, with predominately futile results. In course of time, however, the simple principle has emerged that the charter should be adapted to the functions of the city.
The first consequence of establishing the government of a new country on the principle of a new constitution which made no provision for the administration of cities, was that the constant erudacy of citizenship expressed itself in a chaos of charters. Whenever a municipal government has proved ineffective, enthusiastic municipal reformers have begun tinkering with the charter without any well devised political philosophy, and without trying to make the existing charter more effective. The original plan of municipal government borrowed from the mother country, was the simple one of a council, a central, representative, all powerful body, unemembered by any cheeks or vetoes, such as make national and state governments ineffectual.
This council, called "selectmen"—or by some other designation in different parts of the country—retained its integrity only a little while, when its service proved unsatisfactory. The first modification suggested was the addition of a mayor, with minor executive functions, but with the power of veto over legislation. There was thus introduced what was regarded as a correlative force for the impulsiveness or inadequacy of the councilmen, but it proved to be the first of the destructive forces, making city government increasingly ineffectual.
There are three classes of citizens that are responsible for the manner in which the government of a city is conducted. They are the business men (including lawyers), the clergy and the editors. These citizens generally fail in the accomplishment of their civic duties through fear of business consequences. They have not the courage to do what they know is right. The business men are afraid of the interests in which their financial success is concerned. The clergy are afraid of offending their influential parishioners, and the editors are afraid of their advertisers.
The general tendency in charter making has been toward home rule and simplicity, but with even an exaggerated emphasis on the separation of the legislative and executive. This results in giving the mayor large powers, such as he has in the city of New York, defended by many people on the ground that one man power is the source of all success in the great private corporations. The breaking down of that last device of despair has facilitated recognition of the admirable results achieved through the frank abandonment of all this American tradition, such as one finds in Galveston and other Texas cities, and, more recently, in Des Moines. The flood which destroyed Galveston left the people of that city in industrial and political chaos. To build a new city on the ruins of the old, among the distracted and discouraged people, it was proposed to have what is called a commission, of five
men, to whom should be entrusted all the municipal functions. It is unfortunate that the term "commission" has been applied to this form of government as commissions in America suggest those supernumerary organizations intervening to do the work left undone, or badly done, by council and mayor. This Galveston plan is, in fact, a reversion to council government, such as one sees in Great Britain. Under the pressure of an emergency, these cities have compromised on a very small council, whose performance can easily be observed. Experience will doubtless lead to the enlargement of this council, in larger cities; but the step is epoch making.
There is a prospect that in the near future many American cities will be governed by universal suffrage which, with direct legislation and unharmed administrative methods, under the pressure of growing municipal functions and lofter civic ideals promises to mark the development of truly democratic municipal administration. The ideal cherished by many municipal reformers today is that one which is happily set forth in the titles of two of the most notable books on municipal questions,—"The City for the People," and "The City, the Hope of Democracy."
"Picture Sale."
Seventy-five cent values for 40 cents each. One day only, Saturday, April 29. See display in south window. Wolf's book store.
Squires for your picture, $5.00
to $8.00 per dozen.
Think twice before you buy that new straw hat. Elkay's Straw Hat Cleaner will freshen up the old one. 10e at McCulloch's drug store.
Lowneys Allegrettis Douglas Morses & Johnson chocolates at Wilson's Drug Store. Always guaranteed fresh.
Special Friday and Saturday, Caramels at 20c per pound. Our own make. Wiedemann's.
We charge 60c a pound for original Allegretti chocolates. We could charge 80c, but we don't. This is our loss and your gain. Smith's News Depot.
Everybody has poetry in his heart. Every student should have a book of poetry by K. U. poets on his book-shelf.
Ripple Linen Writing Paper 25c the box. Wilson's Drug Store.
Elbert Hubbard Says
that those who minister to the well being of others are saints. We must be saints, because we are looking after the comfort and adornment of men in this community by showing Woolens and taking measures for good clothes, tailored to order by Ed. V. Price & Co., of Chicago.
Samuel G. Clarke,
910 Mass. St.
STUDENTS CONTROL IN DORMITORIES
AT COLUMBIA AN ELECTED COMMITTEE RULES.
All Disputes Between Boarders is Referred to Board—Snokers and Rushes Given.
In this the second series on eastern dormitories, which is told by one who is acquainted with conditions there, the management of the dormitories described.
The management of these dormitories is under the superintendent of buildings and grounds of the entire University. The man immediately in charge of the hall is a local superintendent who is present in his office most of the day. The rooms are engaged from him; the keys are given by him; and all complaints are lodged with him. The payment of bills is made to the Bursar of the University, the bills coming from the office of the local superintendent. Under this official are the porter, who attends to the trunks, the laundry representative, grand chamber-maid, maids and elevator boys. The superintendent also gives out the mail to the students at his office.
The element of student control over the conduct of the students of the dormitory is exercised by the Hall Committee which is elected every semester. It is composed of students elected by universal suffrage of all in the Hall, the members of each floor electing their representative to the committee. This committee meets at stated intervals and receives complaints from the local superintendent and the students and discusses the troublesome situations that occasionally arise between students between the management and students or between the students and the help. The decision of the committee is sent to the general superintendent of buildings and grounds who usually acts on their recommendations. This council investigates the bad conduct of any of the occupants of the rooms the representative from each floor being held responsible for the order preserved on his individual floor The superintendent always refers questions concerning the discipline of the occupants of the rooms to the Hall Committee. All the students' smokers rallies bon-fires, flag rushes, football games, tennis matches, relay races and other athletic affairs between the members of the Hall are also managed by the Hall Committee.
Lowneys Allegrettis Douglas Morses & Johnson chocolates at Wilson's Drug Store. Always guaranteed fresh.
Allegretti original candies at 60c per pound is within the reach of everyone. Exclusive agents Smith's News Depot.
FOR SALE: A $25.00 scholarship in one of Kansas City's best commercial colleges. A bargain. Call 1952 Bell or 270 Home.
For Rent after July 1, a 16-
room house on the hill, two bathrooms,
large dining room and parlors.
Call Bell phone K. U.
142. or Main 2121. 82-4.
Try the ice cream sodas and sundaes with fresh crushed straw berries at Wiedemann's.
Fine writing paper at Boughton's.
Fresh strawberry sundaes at Soxman & Co.
Northwestern Mut. Lift In. Co.
L. S. Beechy. 1224 Tenn.
INTERESTING MEETINGS
Tapped a fresh keg—of Hire's Root Beer at Wicdmann's.
K. U. Dames Have Profitable Series of Entertainments
The K. U. Dames have had several meetings recently of unusual interest and profit. On March 22 Mrs. U. G. Mitchell entertained the club at her home where Mrs. Preusner gave a talk on Harriet Beecher Stowe and her husband and told many interesting things of their homelife that one could not learn elsewhere. On April 5 Dean and Mrs. Marvin entertained the ladies and their friends at their home when Dean Marvin showed them his collections of etchings.
Next Wednesday, Mrs. W. J. Baumgartner will entertain the club at her home at 1601 Tennessee street. The early history of Lawrence is the subject that will occupy attention at that time.
"Gainsborough Linen" stationery. Contents as good as the box is pretty, 10c a box.—Kress.
If you like strawberries try the fresh berries with sundaes and sodas at Wiedmann's.
Buy the original Allegretti chocolate creams at Smith's News Depot.
Students' Preference
The Grand
(The daylight Theatre)
AN UNEXCELLED
Rex and Reliance
TODAY
THE YOUNGER FELLOWS
State Secretary to Speak at Y. M.
Tonight.
Order Now!
American Beauties, Roses, Carnations, Violet, Sweet Peas, Palms and Ferns for decorations. We cater to students for all University functions.
Dainty erepe napkins, 5e doz. Kress.
John Dadisman, who is the state secretary of the Y. M. C. A. in connection with the work that the association is doing among the high schools of the state, will talk before the University Y. M. C. A. this evening at 6:45 o'clock. This is the last time, he will talk here before he goes on the trip that he will make next summer to Shanghai, China, where he will take up the same kind of work among the schools of that country that he has been doing in the state of Kansas. Every spring for the past six years, Mr. Dadisman has made a talk before the students of the University.
KLINE FLORAL CO.,
Bell Phone 55, Home Phone 655
1447 Margo St
one 55. Home Phone 655
1447 Mass. St.
He will talk Thursday evening at Myers hall on the subject of "The Younger Fellows." This is the work that has engaged his attention since he graduated from Washburn College, and he has done work in the secondary schools of Kansas that has not been accomplished in any other place in the United States.
ORDER NOW
Flowers for the Prom
THE FLOWER SHOP, Both Phones 621
Summer Tourist Round-Trip Fares to the Pacific Coast
From Missouri River gateways to California and North Pacific Coast Points
From Missouri River gateways to California oneway via North Pacific Coast Points . . . . .
From Missouri River gateways to California and North Pacific Coast Points
$50
From Missouri River gateways to California oneway via North Pacific Coast Points. . . . . .
Tickets on sale June 5 and 6, June 10 to 22, inclusive, and June 27 to July 5, inclusive. Final return limit September 15.
$65
Tickets on sale same dates as $50 fare. Final return limit September 15.
$60
Tickets on sale to California,
April 18, 19 and 20. Final
return limit June 30. Also
May 12, 13 and 14. Final return
limit July 31.
To North Pacific Coast Points,
May 29, 30 and 31. Final return
limit July 31.
To both California and North
Pacific Coast Points, June 1
to September 30, inclusive.
Final return limit October 31.
$75
Tickets on sale same dates and limits as $60 fare.
Union Pacific
Standard Road of the West
Standard Road of the New and Direct Route to Yellowstone National Park
Electric Block Signals Excellent Dining Cars on All Trains
For all additional information, and illustrated California and Pacific Northwest book, call on or address
E. E. ALEXANDER Phones 5 City Passenger and Ticket Agent