QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT.

Give an account of city government in the United States, under the following heads:—­

1.  The American city:—­

a.  The mayor. b.  The heads of departments. c.  The city council. d.  The judges. e.  Appropriations.

f.  The power of committees.

2.  The practical workings of city governments:—­

  a.  The contrast they show between theory and practice.
  b.  Various complaints urged against city governments.
  c.  Their effect upon the old-time confidence in the perfection of our
      institutions.

3.  The growth of American cities:—­

  a.  The cities of Washington’s time and those of to-day.
  b.  The population of cities in 1790 and their population to-day.
  c.  City growth since 1840.

4.  Some consequences of rapid city growth:—­
  a.  The pressure to construct public works.
  b.  The incurring of heavy debts.
  c.  The wastefulness due to a lack of foresight.
  d.  The increase in government due to the complexity of a city.
  e.  An illustration of this complexity in Boston.
  f.  The consequent mystery that enshrouds much of city government.

5.  Some evils due to the fear of a “one-man” power:—­
  a.  The objection to such power a century ago.
  b.  Restrictions imposed upon the mayor’s power.
  c.  The division and weakening of responsibility.
  d.  The lack of unity in the administration of business.
  e.  The inefficiency of committees for executive purposes.
  f.  The alarming increase in city debts.

6.  Attempts to remedy some of the evils of city government:—­
  a.  The power of veto granted to the mayor.
  b.  The limitation of city indebtedness.
  c.  State control of some city departments.

7.  Difficulties inherent in state control of cities:—­
  a.  Lack of familiarity with city affairs.
  b.  The tendency to “log-rolling.”
  c.  Lack of time due to the pressure of state affairs.
  d.  The failure of state control as shown in the rule of the Tweed ring.

8.  The government of the city of Brooklyn:—­
  a.  The elevation of the “one-man” power above that of the “ring.”
  b.  Officers elected by the people.
  c.  Officers appointed by the mayor.
  d.  The principle of well-defined responsibility.
  e.  The appointment of certain boards by the mayor.
  f.  The holding of the purse-strings.
  g.  The inadequacy of the township elective system, in a city like
      Brooklyn.

9.  Restriction of the suffrage:—­
  a.  The dangers from large masses of ignorant voters.
  b.  The responsibility for the debt of Philadelphia and other cities.
  c.  The dangers from large classes who feel that political rights are
      denied them.

d.  Suffrage as a “safety-valve.”