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Chairman ttf :he School Board qf New mslminster, B. C, and a Mfmber of the Institute of CharUred Accountants, Out., Etc. -.->*-^-i- Wl NEW WESTMINSTER: LEWIS & ORBIO, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS. 189I. .^^^^^>2^©^^gCO*30O0tQO< S^M & % V SOME THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS — O N — <^ CI PAL REFORM — IN — British Columbia, By alderman W. J. WALKER. eilk€if»taH of tht ScMcil Board of tVam U^tttminjett, B.C., and a Member of the Imtilutf of Chartered Accountants, Ont., Etc. *>4<* NEW WESTMINSTER: I. KWIS ft QRRIO, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER! 189I. PROVINCIAL UBRARt VICTORIA. B. C. p 352-0-7 I "What constitutes a State?— Men, high-minded Me7i, With Powers as far above dull brutes endued, In forest, brake or den, As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude ; Men, who their Duties know But know their Rights, and knowing, dare maintain Prevent the long-aimed blow And crush Corr^cption, while they rend its chair : These constitute a State." SOME THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS OM Municipal • Reform • in • British • Columbia. BY ALDERMAN W. J. WALKER, Chairman or the School Board of New Westminster, B. C, and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Out., &c. -•->*<^ It is probable that more controverey is occasioned by different meanings attached to certain words, by the disput- ants, than by any differences of opinion between them, as to the ideas which those words are supposed to convey. So it is necessary to have a clear under- standing of what is meant by Municipal Reform. Primarily, the term is intended to convey the idea of the correction of the abuses of (and an attempt to develop into perfection) the government of the civic communities, and the management of the different corporate woikn under- taken by them. Broadlj', this governing power may be described as the legislative and execit- tive functions. These functions fere of e widely different nature, and it may be roughly laid dowti, that most of the abuses which have arisen have been occasioned by a careless and unbusiness- like confusion of these powers, in one body of municipal representatives. A radical reform would, therefore, be initiated by separating them, and insist- ing that the people should elect one set of men to make the laws, and that an- other set of men should see that they are carried out. The former would be a legislative body, and the latter an ex- ecutive body. The one would be a local home-rule parliament, and the other a local cabinet or executive council. It may be well, in order to clear the way, and disarm criticism, to state that members of the Privy Council of Eng- land are not necessarily members of either house of parliament, and that the practical government of the country is carried on by permanent heads of de- partments or commissioners. But, considering the commercial works which all modern political and social economists more or lees agree should be in the hands of municipalities (t. e., gas worka, water works, electric lighting, street railways, etc.), the ex- ecutive councils should aiuo be, if those works are to be successfully carried on, as much as possible of the nature of boards of directors of incorporated busi- ness companies. 107405 — 4~ %Vh*t U m MunlclimlltjrT It is also necessary to understand tlie nature of a corporate municipality, and to realize liow it came into existence. It is the creation of the Htate. It was not evolved to its present condition from a primary creation. Just as we see it now, with all its blemishes, the State made it, BO the Htate is responsible for it, and to the Htate we must look for corrections. Just as in the creation of the world, certain evolutionists confine the work of a Divinity to the First Cause, so certain apoloKists for Judge Lynch and other irregularities in districts over the line, describe them as the birth throes and growing pains of a young and vigorous (because American) people, from which will be evolved, in process of time, ii peaceful and perfect community. And until then they are to be severely left alone. But those who believe in an active and beniticent Providence, guiding and guarding the affairs of men and nationn, will reaaily admit that a Htate which creates a municipality is morally bound to protect and guide its creature. If the Government of British Colum- bia had fully recognized this obligation, instead of leaving the Municipal Act of last session to be introduced by a private trember, it would have brought in a public bill. And rumor states that the Attorney-General had been working three months in preparing such a meas- ure. The Government of Ontario has been more mindful of its duties, as the Royal Commission on Municipal Institutions shows, whose First Report, issued in 1888, will be largely drawn upon in the following pages. The Imperial Government, too, has a Local Government Board, wliich exer- cises considerable control over the muni- cipal corporatious in the United King- dom. What are the Abuses ? The abuses of the present system may be divided into two classes. First: Those arising out of the personal chaiacters of the corrupt members of the represent- ative bodies; and, second: Those which may be charged to the imperfec- tions of the system. But the former may be said to be re- sultant from the latter. This is true to a great extent, but no security ran be created which can protect the people's interests from unscrupulous men, whu are false to the cause which they have been elected to serve. It is true that, occasionally, unscrupu- lous representatives grow leHS careful, anti the history of the word "boodle," and. at times, the inside of a penitentiary cell, illustrate the result. But, as a rule, the bar of public opinion is the only one before which they are arraigned. In certain cases, it is just poi>sible, that the native iiiHtincts of tlie great .American people may be correct, and that there is, after all, some justification for Judge Lynch. The Kvils of the Hyntein. The Ontario Commission, if it proved nothing else, eatabliMhed beyond doubt, that the municipal system, such as is still in existence in British Culutnbia, has led, in other places, to great eviKs. And a wise Legislature, instead of leav- ing the infant nuinicipalities to struggle i>inidBt their difficulties, trusting t.:> the instincts of the people to evolve a per- fect system from amongst themselves, would profit by the experiences gained in other places, and, by force of law, create in this Province ihe most modern and the completest form of municipal system as yet ascertained. In the United States. The Commissioners report as follows, couoerning cities in the United States; and, as human nature is pretty nearly the same all the world over, what took place in the States, is a fair criterion of what will take place elsewhere, under the same conditions : The government in other American cltleg was organized under charters long before any one had ventured to suggest that Boston could not be governed properly by its town meetings and its select men. A charter was given to Phila- delphia, by William Toiin, in ir.'Jl. All early charters neciessarily bore a general resemblance to one another, but they differed In several im- portant particulars, and' all were many times amended. There i> scarcely a single point on which each does not dift'er from several others. After the close of the civil war an era of large expenditures began, and the value of the different sygtems, as a means of procuring what was best, to be done at a reasonable cost, was severely tested. Not one withstood that test satisfactorily. In all the cities extravagant and wasteful expenditures led to heavy taxation, and iu many corruption was said to lie rampant. Many cities found that a thorough ' hange of system was necessary for their protection. It is remarkable that in all the great cities in which — 5— •y PHI) t,e l"^'". who J'wy have .unaorup,,. F'». an.J. Jas a rule, Jt'n'y one Ined. j„ l"'Ht the J^mericaii jt'iere is. prowd 'Joubt, as ij, H'Jibia, •'viJs. 'eav- truggic t^ the a Per- ec/ ves, Kaiiied >f Ian-, Dodern "ioipaj •f -ates; earjy took 3no/ "der Was orio ' not and ifla- »rJv nee i ni- nes on !rs. •^e be at lis St (i ■• t. I 3 such chAtiR?!) havo b«en mailo thcjr are In tlie HAine nd illrot lininelliitu perxonal rcgpun- sibility either did not oxist or waH not felt. In the Dninlnlon. And, if it be answerud tlmt, although the above ho true of the States, yet such a state oi thiuKs is not possible under British rule, the report of the same Commissioners upon their own Pro- vince, the Province which is supposed to be the leading one in the Dominion (Ontario), will have convincing weight: While the work of the civic departinentH Ih done under ihc immediate HUi>ervi8ion and di- rection of committees of the Council, It cannot he expected that men ol InrRc business experl- enc» will be fount willing to become memlmrs of the Council. We have not in this country, as thcv have in KiiKland, a larKc number of men who. having ac(iulrud a competency, havo much time at their dlsiioHil and sutUdent. streiiKlh and enertry left to enable them to take an active part in municipal nifairn. devoting their time to the liencllt of their fellow citizens. Tlie demands of business on the time and at- tention ol even our most .su^fnl business men is so Rreut that there are lew who must not make a sacrifice in order to devote even part of one or two afternoons or evenlUKS in the ween tu the general business of the city. To expect that men of that clasi will tinderiake the wi>rk of canvassing the electors in the manner usu- ally roost successful In order to obtain a posi- tion requiring su much teU-Bacrifice. seems ab- 8unl. We, ttK). hear complaints of extravagance and waste, and sometimes of petty or of gross job- bery. Taxation and expenditure Iniirease enor- mouslv, but our system of sevveraue remains imperfect, our pavements and sidewallis In wretched condition, the streets uf some of our to«vns indescribably filthy, our water supply unsatisiactory. Can anything be done to secure a better and more eeonomlcal administration of the atfdlrs of our cities and towns? Should we adopt the principle found to work so well In several cities of the United States, or any modi- fication of it? If not, what should we do? In British Columbia. Seeing that we have the same system of municipal government in B. C. that has been found impertect in other places, and not claiming that we are any better, and protesting that we are no worse, than our neighbors, it is natural to ex- pect that the same evils and abuses which have arisen elsewhere are exist- ent amongst ourselves, or would be ex- istent under the same conditions. The fact that a commission of enquiry has issued in connection with the city of Victoria is a sufficient admission of the above. The presence of the New Westminster Enabling Act, and of cer- tain p6culiar indemnifying clausea of the Municipal Art, 1801', in our statute book, is corroliorative eviject of spending the city's taxes, not so much for the good of the whole city, but in the improvement of the wards they represented, and more particularly in opening out new streets and laying down sidewalks adjacent to the property which they themselves possessed. It is also a matter of strong suspicion that other Aldermen and Councillors represent the interestsof sections of rale- piiyers, strong monopolies, labor organ- izations, private companies, an«l even private firms, more than they do tliose of the whole people at large. It may, for instance, be not true, or it may be quite the reverse, that, in one ot our cities, the C. P. R. and all its interests, at one end of the city, predominate in the minds of a few Aldermen, to the de- triment of the city at large, and especially of the other end of it. How far such a state uf things may be due to the system, and how much it may be a natural outcome of imperfect human nature, it would be difficult to estimate. But il is, nevertheless, true, that, in order to minimize such evils, the host plan is to make the system as perfect as possible. A municipal government by angels would be perfect in spite of the system ; what is required is to make the system — 6— perfect in apite of— well I nuch men as are usually elooted into municipal cotincili. In N«w Waatmlnatcr. One would naturally suppose that a city posscsflintr a special charter of its own, of so recent a date, and having, besides, the advantage of the provisions of the general Municipal Act, when not contradictory thereto, would have no reason to complain of imperfections in the system. But it is no secret that a revision of the charter is considered ab* solutely necessary. Fortunately, and it is much to th? credit of the Council, nocliarge amount- ing to more than a technical irregularity has ever been made against it. And, as these technical irregu[arities,l>eing most- ly expenditures in excess of the appro- priations under the annual estimates and the loan by-laws, were by their very nature contrary to the provisions of the charter, it may be said that the system is in no wide to be blamed. Practically, it would seem to prove simply that sufficient provision has never been madein the annual estimates and the loan by-laws for the annual ex- penditure ; and that the Finance Com- mittee has simply been guilty of bad management. But,as will oe seen here- after, the Finance Committee, having no means of controlling the expenditure, has not been in any way to blame. And, as the taxpayers have always promptly voted the money, when asked to do so, and so indemnifled the Council, it may be said that all is perfectly correct, and there is nothing to complain about. But, suppose the taxpayers had refused to vote the money? What then? A neight>oring rural municipality in this Province is just in that position. The money has been spent, having been advanced on loan, in good faith, by a banking corporation ; and the financial aflfairs of that municipality are at a dead-lock. Apparently, nothing but a second intervention l>y the Legislative Assembly can straighten them out, and enable the bank to get its own again. Can anythinat be more discreditable to the system, or more damaging to the credit of the municipality ? BxoeHlve Expenditure In General. It cannot be expected, in the nature of things, that actual expenditure can always be kept under the estimates. A Chancellor of the Exchequer may obtain a brilliant reputation amongst the masses, et>|>ecially those of his own poli- tical party, by presenting a handsome surplus at the end of his financial year. But a handsome surplus condemns him in the eyes of financial men, just as much as a dreadful deficit. In either case, unless unforeseen contingencies ha .'e ar'sen, he is a fool, and has made errors in his estimates. Or else, his handsome surplus convicts him as a political charlatan and a financial quack, who has in his budget either deliber- ately under-estimated his income or over-estimated his expenditure. 8uch things may be fiossible in Eng- land, where a certain man's personality may cast a glamour in certain people's eyes, and party principles have degener- ated into man-worship; but such things are impossible to a Finance Committee in B. C. Earl^ in the year, each committee sends in its estimate of annual expendi- ture, and upon these estimates, less, of course, the estimated income, the an- nual rate is struck, on the recommenda- tion of tlie Finance Committees. The law insists that no payments shall after- wards be made, unless it is provided for in these estimates ; and, if the Councils obeyed this law, there would be no abuses, at any rate in the way of exces- sive expenditure. But the Councils do nol obey the law, and no Finance Com- mittee can make them do so. Nor are the taxpayers altogether blameless in the matter. Later in the year, after the rate is struck and every- thing fixed, petitions for opening out new streets, laying sidewalks, grants-in- aid, advertising dodges, etc., etc., come in shoals, and the members of the Coun- cils grant some of them. What else could be expected of them ? They wish to keep their seats in the Councils, al- though they may have no "axes to grind," and they know perfectly well that to refuse means to sign their own civic death warrants. It means more. It means an amount of personal abuse, in and out of the Councila, that w . ' ' startle many admirers of human i n^.'^cr out of their blind opf imism. What can be said of a systni:. iuni offers no protection to a fair-deniing ar. 1; honest man, in his official cnpirltvT in EiiK- lonality wople'a egener- 1 things iiiuittee nmittee xpendl- leee, of he an- nienda- 8. The II after- ded for ouiicils be no exces- cila do Coin- aether ti the Jvery- K out Its-in- come 3oun- t else wish h al- es to well own lore. mse, tliai: ar J Itf*" Why shniiM n rp0|H*vtHl)l« citiMn, ac- (■tiatoined williiiKly in private life to as- HotiiHlti only with fuir-HpenkinK and hon- vst-deaiing in»-n \h> compelled, beeauee, out of a I'onsdfiitions deRire to benetit his fMllow-t:itiK«*nH, he has weakly con- eenli'd to act H8 an Alderman or Coun- cillor — why Hhoiild nuch u m.m be com- pelled to Hdhhiit t<>un|>m, how is thechairman to atop then Practically, he cannot, and tlie qniet-loviuK memiwrs of coun- cil L.iow it, and govern themselves ac- cordingly. New WoMmlnB'er tn I'artleulitr. The above general remiirka may be particularly illustrated by the financial hiatory of the Board of Worka Commit- tee for 1891. Ita estimated expenditure, as presented to the Finance Committee on May 31et, amounted tof20,065. But, na some confnaion seemed to have arisen between ordinary street repairs and new work, the expenditure in the estimates was put down at f26,186, and a loan by-law for ♦25.000 was passed by the Council and the people, to cover tiie es- timated new work. Then came the usual flow of petitions, as described un- der the preceding heading. The Board of Works Committee, to which they were referred, reported favorably of moat of them, and, on its recommenda- tion, they were granted. On the 27th July a return was called for by the Council, of the expenditure already made, and to which the City waa committed for the year, under the superintendence of the Board of Works. This waa submitted on the Slat Auguat, and referred back for the addition of the Aug 1st pay-r-^Hs. Tlic amended report was presented on September 7th, as fol- lows: New Streets $38,688.04 Street Repaira 14,876.92 T.iabllities 8.000.00 Total »56.0fi0.66 On October 12th, the Treaaurer, in ac- cordance with inatructiona, reported to the Council the actual expenditure of 7— the Board of Worka to the end of Hep* temlwr to be aafnllowH: Authorlxerl hv CoiiixMI |27,«'JH.70 (hiaiitliorlMKl by Council 'JU.MK.in Total „ |«!i4».IW Ah the amount provided by catimatea and loan by-law together wua onl^ f45,- ISd, it will be aeen that an excessive ex- penditure of $12,010.80 waa made up to Septemher 30th. To thia amount, of courae, uiuft L"- "'ded the expenditure for the three nio' < ' a, October, Novem- ber and Decemhei , The moral to le trawn from the above ia ( 1 ) The ht ': of any controlling power by the Co'''.;* d of liiu expenditure ol the comniittoea, and ('2' Th. lack of the like control by the Kimince Committee of the expenditure of the whole Council. KxpcitflUiire by Cnmmllteiit. The executive functiona of the Coun- cil are moatly exerciaed in commilteeH, which generally conaiat of five Uieinbera. The difficulty of conaulting every mem- ber, and of obtaining a quorum at every meeting, throwa a considerable amount of power into the hands of the chair- man ; and it often happens that an aggressive chairman, of a strong porson- ality, will commit the committee to an expenditure which possibly would never have been sanctioned by the majority. The committee-men being also mem- bers of the legislative body, rely upon their power as such, at a future meeting, to pass a resolution through the Council to authorize the expenditure irregularly initiated, and so indemnify them against any personal responsibility which may have been incurred thereby. How far the exceaaive expenditure of the Board of Worka Committee has been due to the personal energy of the chairman, and how much to the whole of the membera, ia a personal matter amongst themselves. BxpeiKliture by the Council*. The tendency of members of Councils, acting as auch, to pass reaolutiona which are ultra vireit, could not be better illus- trated than by an incident which oc- curred in the New Westminster Council on the 2nd Nov., 1891, and is duly re- [)orted in the Morning Ledger of the fol- owing day. An application waa made by a certain firm for permiasioii to store exploaivea within the city limits. It was — 8— pointed out that sucli a thing waa con- trary to the Explosivea Act. Ikit an Alderman iiravely arose and coolly atutt^d that the Conncif should not be particu- lar about obiierving the law. If such a spirit is shown regardinji; the statute law, now can we wonder at the by no means uncommon disregard of their own by-laws. Illustrating the adage, that truth ia often spoken in jest, there was a great amount of veracity sliown in the recent trades procession at the Annual Exhibition in September, wheu a car, containing living represen- tatives of the eleven meml)ers of the City Council, was drawn through the streets, displaying a motto, "We make the laws, and we break them." The only control provided In the charter fieems to be the refusal of the Mayor to sign cheques ; and this power the Mayor of New Westminster had to exercise in October, 1891. As a result of thia, the discreditable situation a^ose of the em- ployees of the city, "engaged in street work, not being able to obtain tiioir wages. Such a position was intolerable, and the whole of the members of the Council thereupon raised over $4,000 on their personal security, until a loan by- law could be passed, to defray the obli- gations incurred by the Board of Works Committee. When, in the following month, the same situation occurred, some of the very members of the Council who were responsible for the irregular expendi- ture refused to take the same steps to get over it. Eventually, the Mayor signed the cheque, the whole of the Al- dermen having executed a bond of in- demnity in his favor. But, if the by-law is vetoed by the tax-payers — What then? At any rate, the members of the Council are drawn into a personal retponsibility which is unfair, at the least, to those who are not members of the Board of Works. And who is to blame? The men or the system? If the former, should not the innocent minority be protected against the consequences of the reckless ma- jority? If the later, it is the duty of all loyal citizens to inaugurate a sweeping system of municipal reform. Remedy by the State. It has already been laid down, that, as a municipality is the creation of the State, the State is responsible for its protection. A Local GovcrnnuMit Board should be formed, and its head made a member of the Provincial Cabinet. The accounts of the rural municipalities cer- tainly should be subjected to a Govern- ment audit, as in England. No loan by- law should be in force until sanctioned by the Local Government Board. And, seeing that the Province tan borrow at a cheaper rate than the .liunicipalities, it would be sound policy for the Govern- ment to guarantee the local debentures, if not to loan the money direct, as i<> England. And, most certaiidy, the same safe- guards shoulility com- panies and other corperations, under the " Companies" and other Acts. And last, though not least, the Local Government Board should be continually adding to its experience, and amending and reforming the mnnicipai system, until such an amount of jierfection is secured as is possible in matters mun- dane. Separation of Kxeciitive and LegrlKlallve Tunctldua. The first step is to profit by the ex- perience of others. The Ontario Com- missioners, after recording the failure in the United States of the municipal system as at present existing in British Columbia, go on to report the remedy: Within n few yenra, clianses have been made in the charters of New Yoric, Broolilyn, Phila- delphia, Itoston, Baltimore, St. Lou;s, Chicago, And other cities, for tlii; express purpose of separating; the executive from tlie legislative worlc in tboRe cities, and malting the powers and duties of the councils merely legi iiative and supervisory, or inquisitorial. Undt- this sys- tem tlie councils determine what now worljs or improvements shall bo uudertalvcn, malce the necessary appropriations, determine what rates sliall be "ievlod, and, in the first instance or olherwise, wliat sums, it any, sliall lie borrowed. Accounts of all expenditures made are submit- ted to tliein for inspection, and in all cases they have power to call at any time for such statements, explanations or documents, as they thinic it desirable to have. In the cities of the United States, after the Kreat war, the expenditures for improvements, useful or ornamental, became enormous. Ex- travagance prevailed everywhere, and this led to corruption. KesiDectable men were excluded from the city councils, the control of which fell into the hands of a few, wlio suddenly became rich. Various changes of the law regulating municipal government were made for the pur- pose of remedying tliese evils. Governor Hart- ranft, of Pennsylvania, in a message to the leg- islature recommending that a commission be appointed to enquire what sliould be done, ad- ^9- ^•''it Board "lade a |!'.«f- The I'Hies o("r- Govern- I" Joan |)v. Ii'ictioiieci H- And, l>rrow atrt f«'itie8, it Ctovern- P'OiitiireH, r- as i., >'« eafe- f!"g the ialitif.8 as I'fy coM)- ". under ta. 'e i^cal I'tinuallv '"ending ^.V9tei)), Section 13 fs niun- f'le ex- Com. fa i hire inicipal British ^medy : -n made . PhUa. 'OicaRo, pose of ■isJative ■ers and [ve and 'lis sys- orks or Ike the '' rates lice or 'owed. 1 bin it- eases '•such 8 they r the ents, , *^*- Is led uded ifell (ime ting pur- "art- leg- be ad- mittfd that "'honest men can not be made by leKislatliin," bnt Hivl i that "to the power for 6vil of those who are dishonest and earelcss a limit can and should he fixed," and that "ilie principal sonrco of ahnse is not In tlie disposi- tion (o do wronK. but in the license to peculate and plunder." When tlie belief that the nm- jorllv of those who sought election to the coun- cil oi a city had dishonest motives became ^en cral, rcspectuhlc men shrank from positions which would subject them to such an imputa- tion, and very many would not participate in city government even so far af! to vote at city elections Other means having failed, i>.any cities of the union have soufjht, in the absolute separation of legislative and executive func- tions, a remedy fur both those evils. They be- lieve that it will prove eHicadous. And, writing of evidence given before the Coinmissionera by a large number of Toronto gentlemen, they say: "Ail " aureeti that the time has come when " tiie Mayor should have more power " and more responsibility, and when the " legiitla'iie and eTecutire functions should " be separated, wholly, as some thonglit, " or to a very yreat extent, as a few " would prefer." After deseribing the evils into which Pliiladelphia had fallen, tiiey report: " Could any mere change in the system *' of government rescue a city from such " a condition? The people thougiit it " could, and the main change to be " wrought by the measure on which " they placed such reliance was the ** contplete separation of the executive ^ from the legislative functions. They re- " solved to entrust the legislative func- " tion to the Council, but to do away " with the old committee system, and to " entrust to the Mayor all executive " functions, and to hold him responsi- '' ble for their proper discharge." In the cily of Buffalo, the dnties of the Council ate chiefly legislative, and in Walthair- all the actual work is done by boards, o" which no Alderman can be a member. The ". .t.'/ i:.i;si8latlve C<>un';II< "One of the beneficial results which " would arise from the separation of the " executive functions would be that the " members of the Council would be re- " lievrd from tfie work which now re- quires 80 much time and attention, and which no mati actively employed in business can afford to give. The power of legislative appropriation and general supervision would still re- main in the Council. All by-laws necessary for the good government of the city would still be passed by them. " No work could be undertaken, no tax " imposed, no due or toll charged, no " money borrowed, and no money ex- " pended, unless perhaps the interest on " the debt, without their exoress sanc- " tion " The number of metnbers could be with advantage considerably increased. Jn the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom. There is safety in numbers, safety against corruption and jobbery, "rings," and otiier injmoral collusions. Most of the business nteti of the city could afford time to attetid the Council meeting, especially as they need not occur oftener than fortnightly, or perhaps only once a month. Home Rule fur CltleR. The committal of legislative functions to civic municipalities, by the State, should be as complete as possible, re- serving only such control as is necessary to keep the hom^ulers within the limits of their charter. The present power to pass by-laws seems to include an ample range; but there are one or two statutes in force which hflve a most mischievous ten- dency, and f hould be instantly shorn of their dangerous clauses. For all public purposes, one incorpora- tion IS sufficient within the municipal limits. And, seeing that an incorporated municipality by its very nature includes all the citizens, other corporations are not only unnecessary, but are positively deleterious. This is, to a certain extent, adtiiitted by the constitution of the City Councils, as the sole taxing powers for school and free library purposes. Why, then, should the Board of School Trus- tees and the Board of Management of Free Libraries be alsp corporations and bodies politic. Cannot the whole citi- zens be trusted to manage and to be trustees for their own atfaivs, in their corporate capacity as a municipality? Why multiply corporations withiii acor- poration? The itlea is irrational and absurd. The School Act h KetrogresNion. There is also an uncalied-f jr invasion of the rights of the people in the School Act, 1891. Previously, the school trus- tees were elected by the jji-ople direct; but now the City Countnl elect three and the chairman, anil the (jovernment Ill appoint three. What have the people done that they should suffer this latter indignity, and be deprived of the sole elective power? The evil does not rest here, for the Board of School Trustees have the power to elect three members of the Free Library Board. And yet, further, comes the monstrous imposition, that these two separate corporations may compel the City Council to pay them, whether it be advisable for the good of the whole community or not, whatever money they demand, for the maintenance of their corporate works. True, the maximum library rate is limited to half a mill on the dollar, but the demands of the School Trustees are unlimited. Whatever they ask, the City Council is bound to pay. Under what principles of political economy or commercial morality can one corporation be compelled to pay for the maintenance of buildings and property which are vested in other corporations? It is dishonest financiering. It may be said that it all comes to the same thitig, the three corporations all represent the same body of people, it is simply robbing Peter to pay Paul. But, if this were true (which it isn't, on account of the Government nominees), why not be con- tent with the one corporation, in which all property would be vested, and confine the unnecessary School and Libmry Boards to e^xecutlve functions. I say " unnecessary," for there is no reason why the City Councils should not, di- rectly or indirectly, manage schools, libraries, and every public work what- ever, that comes under popular con- trol. Aldermen and Counoillora in CltieH. At present there are two classes of voters, one assessed at $100 to ^300 each, and the other assessed at $300 and over each. The former votd for Mayor and Aldermen only, and only the latter have power to vote on loan oy-laws. It may bo doubted whether $200, more or less, make any appreciable difference in the capabilities of the taxpayer; but, still, it is an important matter that only own- ers of real f ""operty should vote on by- laws which indirectly mortgage that property. Tlie Municipal Act, 1891, makes an arbitiary difference in the terms Alder- men and Councillors, the one being members of civic, and the other of rural, Municipal Councils. But the two classes of voters suggest two classeB of representatives, the object of wnich will appear as we proceed. Qaallfloatlons of Members of OounolU. The property qualification in England has been abolished. The Ontario Com- missioners report that in Canada, prac- tically, it seems to matter little wiiether it is rc.ained or aboliiehed, and that in Montreal the intention was to abolish it. The different offices, however, should be limited to those quulified to vote for them. Qualifloatlona of Electors — Counoillora. Broadly speaking, the nearer we ap- approach to universal suffrage, thi^ more perfect becomes our electorate. But, under a system of compulsory education, illiterates stiould be disfranchised, that unhapppy position being in itself evi- dence of a breach of the law. Once ad- mit ttie principle of the people — not property — being represented, then all disqualifications appear as disfranchise- ments for crime, neglect to regirter, or other reasons. Poverty is no crime, therefore, that alone is no reason why one of the people should be deprived of a vote ; unlefis it be broadly stated, as at present, that none but property holders may vote. ''No taxation without representation" is an established political axiom. "No representation without taxation," is equally axiomatic, on the principle that "It's a poor rule that won't work both ways." All who pay road tax, provincial revenue (school) tax, and any city tax whatever, should have the right to vote for Mayor and Councillors. This would enfranchise the two former classes, and abolish the $100 qualification of the latter. Qualification of Bleotors-— Aldermen. This qualification should be the same as that for voting on loan by-laws, at whatever limit the assessment might be fixed. The number of Aldermen should be small ; only one for each ward, if the ward system be retained. They might form the executive council, if such were elected direct by the people. But, if not, then to them should be limited the right to vote in the legislative council on loan by-laws. If the executive functions were no Council. tbi-m eh dermen. Fin.mce should ottice, ai would uiaiiship lin.»» • -II — he two If 8868 of lich will »noIu. filmland Coin- prac- Miethur |iiat ill ibolJHh fwever, ffietl to were not wholly alienated from tlie Council, then whatever ia refierved of (liein should belong of right to the Al- dermen. Practira'ly, they would be the Fin.uice Committee of the Council. They sliduld have al^o the longer terms of ofHee, ant e'Rpxe tx;- fore even the most iMtellijiness man can learn all that a nicnil>er of the (Council must know about the worUinjf of the citv kov- erninent am' the alliiirsof theciiy In or^ler to be re-illy useful. The Rciieral foelinR nppoars to l-e In favor of a term of more than one year for members of miinicipal couiu^ils and boards, the object beuiR app..rently to ensure that a lar^e number of the members sh.'dl have suilleient experience to con- duct municipal affairs prudently, and to imluce men to ac- ept seats who are averse to luider- KoInK the turmoil and excitement o aniuial ele.-tious. As there has lieen no a'.'itatlon for u shortenluKof the term in Ureat Britain. the feel- injr there must be that councillors and commis- sioners holdiuK their seats for three yeart are siifflciently amenable to public opinion. In none of the cities of the United States, in which aldermen or councillors are elected for terms lotiKcr than one year, has a reduction of the term, as far as we have learned, been proposed as a means of obtaining the reforms which have been found absolutely necessary In several coses to prevent Insolvency. This principle has been conceded in the Public Schools and Free Library Acts; but the longest term of office of any one member should be limited to three years. Ward Repreii«ntHtltuiu of ele^^tlons is absolutely ustiential to the success of any atteinpt at reform. And, on page 4S of the report, the whole question ia eunuiied up, in the ful- ]owin(! inciaive words: " VVlint broad- " minded and upriglit man," aaka one writer,"will care to nit in the Citv Coun- " oil knowing that he is expected to se- '* cure as large u slice aa possible of the " public fiiiids for improven»ents in his '* locality — jobs which will bring money " into his ward and into the pockets of *' tlie clique that worked for hisnomina- " tion? How can any but the small- " minded man set himself to represent " or to uphold the alleged 'interests' of " a few square feet of ground." The Mayor. The general duties of the Mayor are stp-Led in the Municipal Act, 1831, (P. ).) t'j be as follows: The person elected as Mayor or Reeve shrtll be deemed one of the Ifunicipnl Council, and the head and chief executive otllcer of the Corpora- tion, and it shall be his duty to cause the Uiws for the improvement of the Municipality to be duly executed an-l put in force; to in.spect the conduct of all subordinate oiUcers, ami, as far as may be In his power, to cause all neifliRcuce, carelessness, and positive violation of duty to be prosecuted ana punished, and to communi- cate from time to lime to the Council all such information, and recommend all such measures as may tend'^to the Improvement of the finances, health, security, cleanliness and comlort of the Municipality. Ah the principal executive officer, he Hhould preside over the executive coun- cil ; but whether he should be chairman of the legislative council, or should com- municate with it by message, is an open question. Probably, as a link and a means of communnication between the two councils, it would be preferable for him to preside over both. As chairman, he should be clothed with more ample powers for the preser- vation of order. At present, an Alder- man may be removed by order of the Mayor for misconduct during the sitting of the Council. Presumably, this would be done by the police, but the situation would bf^ too strained, especially if the chairman ot the Police Uoinmissioners, or the other Police Commissioners, present should order the police not to interfere. A better plan would be to make the offence contempt of court, and follow the English precedent in the Ecclesias- tical and, pt-rpapa, other Courts. There the ofTiMi'lrr is presented to th't Court of Queen's IkiicIi, and the judge hears and deals witli the case in proportion to its merits. So, an Alderman, refusing to obey the chair, would have to ansvM'r therefor to a judge of the Countv or Su- preme Court. Ami ii presentment un- der 1 lie hand and seal of the Mayor, should liH sufficient proof of the con- tempt. The question of trie powers and re- spoiiisiliilities of the Mayir seeniH lo be the warmest corner in the battlefield of municipal reforc Some, disgusted with ihe abuse of the executive function by Aldermen and Councillors, rush to the opnosite extreme, and \%oalii council, said: "Nowliereim tiiis continent is it so essen- tially a condition of good government as in the city of New York, thut the chief executive of- ficer should be clothed with ample powers, have full control over subordinate administrative de- partments, and be subject to an undivided re- sponsibility to the people and to public opin- ion." On another occasion he said: 'Have no provision in your charter requiring the consent of the ' ommon council to the mayor's appoint- ments of heads of departments. That only opens the way for dictation by the councils, or for bar- gains." But, surely a Mayor is but human, and just as of>en to corruption as any common councilman. There must, therefore, be of necessity a thorough check upon his actions; and thid, apart from the general inquisitorial power of the legislative council, would be best served by the appointment of an execu- tive council. The following practical recommendations in this report are so strong that they demand thorough at- tention and consideration : The Mayor is now directed by the Municipal Act to have supervision of all the departments of the civic government, and to see that all perform their duty, but no power is given to —13— Tliore I Court ot' [Pai-8 uri.l J>n to i:.« anHv\er fvor Sii- ^«iit wri- Mavor, I'liecon- Jinid re- |B to be I tile fie I, J •unci ion jrmli to l'<' limit for, and appoint "'"giiiiig |'*^tate,ta » he JieJd ,'rrinieiit, |urferfiu.o T'strntive to tiaa for any 'e. The uoinina- onlyone »rm8her to nunlHh liini for cloint; wronX' He IS, in fuel,, litlli- more than <-linirinin. end any ono ov m-tre itc ns in any appropria- tion, and that a two-thinls vote of all the mem- bers oV the council— not merely ot those present at any nieetinx— should lie necressary to override the iMayor's veto. Some thon)?ht ih it even If the Mavor had this power ho should continue to preslcie over the meetluKs of the conncil. as ho mav of'.^u exercise a salutary inlluence over itsileltberations. and do much to guide it to sound conclusions. Others thoughtit improper that 111-' Mayor should have the power to veto tlu! decisions of the body in whose deliberations he had taken part, and that the American sys- tem, which makes the Mayor a distinct branch uf the city government, and allow.s him to com- innnicatc' oHicinlly with the council only by message, i-i better calculated to piixluce good results. In lioston, the Mayor was. until very recently, chairman of the Ijoar I of aldermen, but the last reform of the charter removed him from that position. Both branches now elect chairmen, who hold that position for tlie year. The Kxecutlvo Council. We are nol without precedentfl of the existence of separate ext^cutive bodies in our present municipal system. The Cominiesioners of I'olice have sole con- trol of tlie police, and the Council can- not interfeie. The Board of School Trustees have simit.ir powers. The Commiasioners of Waterworks and Pub- lic Library (at pre9»»nt) act subject to the approval of the City Council. There t o reason why the whole of Iheir powers should not be vested in one ex- ecutive council. If one man, one vote, be good fi)r electoral purposes in the city, so one comoration, one administra- tion, is Kood for the government of the whole city. Th( advantages of having such a sep- arate body, subject to the criticism and healthy jealousy of the legislative coun- cil, have been proved dnrinj? the past year. The Water Commissioners have several times been required to furnish returns of their work and expenditure, and the Library C -minissioners have been debarred from expenditure which the Council considered inexpedient at present, in the interests of the whole community. And, although ihe need for such enquiry regarding the School Board and the Police Commissioners has not arisen, yet it is most expedient that they, also, should be subjected to this like liability. The latter, being appointed entirely by the Coun<-,il, have acted with great usefulness on several occasions, as a coliimiltee, and decided itiatters referred to them ; and generally, though not strictly required to do so by thy charter, have reported regularly to the Council. Whether the executive councillors should be directly elected by tiie people, or indirectly by the appointment of the leginlative council, may be left an open question. The formerseems preferable; but there is some strength in the plea that the Council would he more likely to confine their choice to "experts, and to exclude all social, political and other extraneous considerations. Possi- bly, if the Council nominated double the number required, and the people elected the executive council outol those nominees, a double security would be created. As to the number, that is entirely a question of the work to be done. At present, three, exclusive of the Mayor, would be amply sufficient. It is no secret that the bilk of the executive work of the present Council has been done by four Aldermen, and more than half their time has been occupied by the necessary explanations and attendances at their committee meetings. It is just as well not to name those four Alder- men, so that each of th'j ten niny felici- tate himself as being reckoned one of the four. The name is not important, "Execu- tive Councillor," though a somewhat clumsy term, yet is lionest as signifying exactly what it says; but in process of time each Councillor would naturally be called by some name derived from his own particular functions. The present committees of Council are Board of Works, Water and bewerage, Parks, Finance (including I^aihvay and Ferry), Fire and Light, Police, and Health, seven in all. Their work naturallv groups itself under three head- ings, m.: Public Works (construction and maintenance). Finance, and Depart- ment of Public Safety. It would be easy, therefore, toappoition the work to three executive councillors, each directly re- sponsible to the peopio for the due per- formance of his duties. If the cnnncil- lors were paid a saiaiy, n jiropir g laran- —14- tee shouM be demanded, under bonds with sureties. Besides the inquisitorial (tower? of the legislative council, a further check upon each executive councillor should be pro- vided in the powers of the Mayor, as the chief executive officer in the municipal- ity. It should be his duty to overHee the work of each department, and to veto any work which he should think fit, pending an appeal to the whole execu- tive council. A further appeal should lie, in certain, or perhaps in all cases, to the legislative council. This would be natural whenever the dispute were as to the interpretation of any by-law or reso- lution of that council ; but the appeal would not lie, with so much propriety, if the matter in dispute were entirely of an executive nature, that is, as to the manner of carrifing out the indisputable orders of the legislative council. In very grave cases, as a last resource, there should be power to dismiss an executive councillor, permanently by the legislative council, and temporarily, until that council should meet, by the Mayor. This would seem to be contrary to the good principle that none should dismiss except be who appoints; but exceptions tuust be made, and the au- thority which creates both councils can do so with what differing powers it chooses. To provide for vacancies, from the above and other reasons, the executive functions should be legally vested in the whole executive council, and not those of each department in the head of that department. So that, in the absence of one executive councillor, his authority conld be exercised by the others, either by the Mayor, as the chief executive officer, on his own official responsibility during the vacancy, or through him as the mouthpiece of the councillors. But perhaps this contingency would be bet- ter met by a special provision in the statute, that the Mayor should have the requisite full powers in case of any va- cancy. In any case, however, it seems necessary that the executive council should consult together, as the separate functions of each are bound to overlap, I g. : Financial matters and the en- forcement of the by-laws affect all pub- lic works. And the whole executive 30uncil would form a board of directors for the commercial undertakings of the city. ComnilMHlnn of Public Works. The Ontario Commissioners' report speaks to the point upon the question of the drriingument of civic depart- ments, though it is bat fair to ptemiKe that it looks upon the heads of depart- ments more as paid otHcials timn as members of an executive council. But experience proves that, although a city may be happy in posflCHsing a city en- gineer of acknowledged meritand worth, yet it is not wise to pluce authority in his hands vvhicli should only be exer- cised by the City Counoil. The more competent and painstaking a man be- comes in his work, the more he insists on receiving plain decisive orders, and desires to be relieved of responsibility. The report states : It is obvious tliat much would he Ruineii by placing the control of all works ol construction, the milking and repairinti: of streets, the mak- ing and repairing of sewers, ihe construe ion of sidewalks, the putting down of wa'er pipes, etc., under tlie control of one competent per- son, il only because the repeated brenking up and repairing of streets that now goes on would then be prevented, and paveineiit.^ would not be spoiled almost before tlie work of laying them had been completed. Gas companies, telegraph companies, and all others should t>e required to obtain permission of the head of this department befoi-e opening any street or erecting anv posts, and this permission sliould be applied /or at the opening of each season, cases of em>Tgeu(!y, of course, excepted. The construction, repairs, and maintenance of all publi' buildings and other erections should also be assigned to this depaitraeiit. In the city of Philadelphia the department of public works has charge of water works and gas works, of the repair and ligliting of streets, of the construction and mainteiianc- of public buildings, bridges, and other 8tru«;tures, of pub- lic squares, of the real estate of the city not used for the police or educational works, of surveys, engineering, sewerage, drainage and dredging, of highways, wharves and docks. In New Westminster the waterworks are being constructed and, under the present by-law, will be managed, when completed, bv a beard of three commis- sioners, directly elected by the people. Although nothing but praise can be said of the manner in which the work is be- ing executed, yet what the Ontario re- port says of other places is equally true of this: There is something to be ssid in favor of that system, as if competent, respectable, earnest men were selected as commi'-siouers, a work would be varrled on to completion without those changes which often mar the design and always involve much additional cost when change of control is frequent. But experience seems to have shown that, on the whole, the disadvantages of such a system outweigh its advantages, and that Is wholly unnecessary where the properly or the generall pommlss'"'! any munlc^ NVhere tU is I'r^D^rJVj erH,andbi appointind any publlq The Cl would, t| whole oil Westmif Park8,>M and the tions of and Fin The ol theE and she pliee, a item of depart" Ontarit to the City- Itsha renderli which t by whii mentsl be mac of the ' filed ir drawn and ( c troUei setvle; porati amou orailj BU<'h inth insp« parti said favo coui Noo e«fe< thei pen 8er> exT trol we< ofl h« P« 6( tl t fka. report lnestion depart- P'emise [depart- f'lHn as I'. But a citv •ity en". «oith, >nt.v in exer- more |an be- innista "i and if'ililv. — 15- where the (jovernment of the municipality is properly orManlzecl. In Pennxylvunift the constltullon now forbins the Keneml assembly to •'deletrateto any Hpwlnl rommissiliin, private corporation, or aHFOciatii'n, any power to make, supervise, or interfere with anv niuiilclnal improvement. \Vliere the pullic worlth department of a elly is properly orRanized, posscsHes sufliilent pow- ers, and has a competent man at its head, the appointment of a commission for carryintr on any public improvement should be unnecessarj-. Tlie CommisHioner of Public Works would, therefore, bave cbarjie of the whole of the work now done in New Westminster by the Board of Works, Parks.Water, and Sewerage Committees, and the li>«ht, railway, and ferry por- tions of the work of the Fire and Litjht, and Finance Committees. The City Comptroller. The Coihptroller should be the head of the FinancV' Department of the city, and should exf rcira, as the name im- plies, a controlling influenoe over every item of expenditure. The duties of the department are clearly stated in the Ontario report, in the remarks relating to the svBtem in vogue in New York City. It shall proscribe the forms of keepinf? and rendering all city accounts, the manner in which all salaries shall be drawn, and the mode by which all creditors shall be paid. All lay- ments by or on behalf of the corporation shall be made through the proper disbursing officer of the department of finance, on vouchers to be filed in said department by means of warrants drawn on the chamberlain by ihe comptroller, and countersigned by the mayor. The comn- troller may require any person presenting for settlement an account or claim against the cor- poration to be sworn before him, touching such amount or claim, and when so sworn, to answer orally as to any facts relative to the justness of such account. All accounts rendered to or kept in the other departments shall be subject to the inspection and revision of the officer of this de- partment, and subject to the conditions afore- said; it shall settle and adjust all claims in favor of or against the corporation, and all ac- counts in which the corporation is concerned. No contract shall be binding, or of any force or effect, unless the coniptroller shall endorse thereon his certificate that there remains unex- penied of an appropriation made for such service a sum sufficient to pay the estimated expense of executing such contract. The comp troller furnishes to each head of department, weelily, a statement of the unexpended balance of the appropriation for his department. Audit SaU-Departinent. A few remarks upon the audit system would not be out of place under this heading. At present, the Auditor is ap- pointed by the City Council, and would seem, therefore, to be a mere check upon the corporation oflSciale. But, just as the shareholders in public coripanies elect auditors to be a check upon the board of directors, bo the taxpayers in municipalities should elect Huditors to be a check upon the municipal councils. But, inasmuch as the asual municipal- ities could not aiiord to engage a compe- tent accountant, a (lovernment Auditor should be appointed by the Lieutenant- Governor-in-Council, to audit their ac- counts. The Auditor should have all the powers of a Royal Commissioner under the Public Enquiry Act, to take evi- dence upon oath, compel the attendance of witnesses, and the production of books, etc., and, most certainly, the power to mrcharqe, as in England. By this last is meant the authority to com- pel any municipal repreeentative or of- ficer to recoup to the municipality any Bum of monov which may have been ex- pended by liim without proper au- thority. But, in cities which possess a separate executive council, the Auditor should bo appointed by the legislative council. The following remarks of the Cntario Commissioners are well worthy of re- production : The auditor should be competent, energetic, and thoroughly honest, and he should be ab- solutely independent. How could the services of such a man most certainly be secured, and how could his independence be protected ? The majority thought that he should be nominated by the mayor and appointed by the council for three or live years, and that he should not be removable unless by a two-thirds vote of the whole council. In that way they thought a competent man would probably be selected. Others thought that the auditor should be selected by the whole body of ratepayers, for one or three or five years. They contended that none but a competent man could be elected, and that an elected auditor would be thorough- ly independent oJ all tlie influences which an appointed auditor moy find irresistible. Oiheis thought that, although it may seem an infringe- ment of municipal independence, the auditor should be appointed by the Lieut. -Governor-ln- Council, and hold officeduring good behaviour. In all the cities of the dominion, the city councils still appoint the auditors. We seldom hear of frauds, or misappropriations discovered ».nd reported up n, or of surcharges made in any of those cities. Department of Public Safety. Under this heading group laturally the duties now discharged by the Police, Health, and Fire Cominittees. In fact, it seems ".stonishing liow it has been possible to separate them. The police are not only charged with the detection of crime, but also with toe prevention of iniury to the health, both moral and corporeal, ami to the property i — 16— efflcieiit. Probably, tliu bust courae of the people. It Ih their duty to nee that all the laws are put in force, and moat especially those by-lawH which are in- tended to prevent the rise ami spread of bodily disaaao, of immorality, and of fires. Mens sana in corvore sano, is a Kood police motto, an«l a sanitation which svould keep the streets and lanes of the city in a cleanly state, and yet permit the minds and bodies of the citi- zens to revel in every description of un- rleanliness, is but a one-sided policy. It is unfortunate, in one sense, that the cause of morle nations, which are not Oiinatian, are, perhaps, just as (aoral as tnosa who profesa ami call themselves Christiaiis. Their mo- tive is not so high, but they have learned that the safety of the community damandsthatthe iMtizana, whatever thair religion or no religion tniy be, shall be C) npelleil, by force, if need be. to think cleanly, to speak cleanly, and to aut cleanly. The whjle gist of tha above mentioned misfortune is containel in the popular delusion that the eminent saying of J<>hu VVeiley, "Cleanlined^ is next to Godliness," is part of Holy Writ. In these days of religious liberty, men will not ba made religious by Act of Par- liament; but, for their own temporal welfare, and for the good of the whole people, every State insists that they shall be healthy both in mind and body, that is, in one word, "moral." The Pub- lic Schools' Act mo8t distinctly lays down this power of disconnection between morality and religion, by ordering that the highest morality should be taught in the schools, and also that no minister of religion shall be a school trustee. And so, statute after statute, declare? that the highest morality shall be practised by all subjects, although tUere be no es- tablished church in the Ian 1. Of courae, many believe that Christianity is the highest form of morality; but their Christianity is often put to shame by a Socrate^, a Buddha, or a John the Bap- tist. Sub-Department of Polloe> Tna present boird of Police Com mis- nsrs stiould be abolished, it for no er rea?ou than that ic has proved in- would be to give the sole control to the Mayor, so far as concerns the duties of the police. It may be bad in theory, that the dett>ction and punishment of crime HJionld both be vcsttMi in the chiif magistrate of the city; but as, in prac- tice, the latter is attended to by a special Police Magistrate, the ditticnlty may be only in theory. Even by him the graver cases are committed to the assizes; and it would be a distinct gain and save valuable time, even in petty cases, if tne Mayor should be empowered to examine and decide whether there is sufficient evi- dence to carry a case into court. 8ul>-D«partinent of Law. No expenditure is so begrudged as that in law charges. Yet little nas been at- tempted to keep it within necessary bounds. The appointment of a local firm of solicitors does not work well, nor is it eeonomical. The amount spent in law, in any one year, would br* ample salary for a competent City Solicitor*, wiio would devote th ) whole of his time to the city's interest. How many suits and injunctions against the city would have been prevented, if the Council had been assisted by the presonce of their legal adviser at all th jir meetinifs. There is in enorm ous am »unt of work waiting to be done, th it cm onlv bo efficiently performed by one who has had a legal training. The amendment of the city charter, coiirtcation of the by-laws, prosecution of offenders in the Police Court, legal instructions to the police, all require special attention, be- sides bue ordinary advising uE the Council. It may be. that a salary alone would not attract the most competent mem- bers of the p>-ofession ; but, seeing the great number now in the city, some of them must very soon see the necessity, as in other places, of taking up a special department of law, in order to attain a special efficiency and authority in it. And municipal law, leading on as it does to parliamentary practice, is a splendid opening for any one of them. The draft- ing of municipal by-laws ia the beat training for drafting parliamentary bills, and, after a generation of municipal lawyers, we might hope to see a cessa- tion of the ambiguous and loosely word- ed statutes, which must give old parlia- mentary hands a poor opinion of Pro- vincial Legislatures, and, most of all, deter English capitalists and business men from making investments which would be at the mercy ot eacli hurried and careless legislation. ., •WW tlie the be- the