Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 1.djvu/107

 Rh  5. The essentials to be provided for in any city, in order to secure maximum results for the stockholder, are:
 * (1) Abundance of pure air and pure water and of street lights, involving the whole business of sanitation and public hygiene.
 * (2) Cheap, rapid, and safe transportation of goods and of persons.
 * (3) Security against contamination and adulteration of food and drink, particularly of milk.
 * (4) Easy and swift transmission of ideas.
 * (5) Efficient police service.
 * (6) Efficient fire protection.
 * (7) Sufficient and rationally administered charities, including all kinds of philanthropic relief of mind, body and estate.
 * (8) Equitable assessment and honest expenditure of taxes.
 * (9) Adequate guardianship of the interests of stockholders by their representatives in the city government, with ready legal means of fixing responsibility.
 * (10) Adequate provision for schools, recreations and culture, including moral progress.
 * (11) Provision for acquaintance, with common understanding and coöperation, between the different elements of the citizenship.

6. The fact that the laws place some of these interests under official charge and leave others to take their chances of voluntary attention, does not necessarily answer the question, "What must be done to get these interests better protected." Experience has shown that in private or public corporations, irresponsible constituencies make irresponsible officials. The stockholding citizens must influence the selection, audit the accounts, and control the conduct of every paid servant, as well as organize means of performing public services which government has not been commanded to perform.

7. The impulse in Chicago which has called our committee into existence is of the same nature with municipal attempts in other cities. If we understand the motives which are at work among Chicago citizens, however, civic federation here must have wider scope and draw to itself more different kinds of interests than either of the organizations which might be named in other cities. The present demand of public-spirited citizens in Chicago appears to be for a